Trinidad
- When the dust cleared after the semi-final phase of
the national panorama competition,
figuratively speaking, in the medium and large conventional
steel orchestra category, the biggest surprise - or perhaps 'shock' would be a
better word - for many, was the non-inclusion of southern powerhouse Skiffle
Bunch steel orchestra among the final eight large bands to vie for championship
glory on February 17. Not only is what appeared to be the 'sure shot'
orchestra (going by their performance, and general consensus) out of the
running and generating furious debate within the global steelpan community, but
the people of Trinidad and Tobago's second largest city from where Skiffle Bunch
hails - San Fernando - "are hurting very, very badly" says the orchestra's
captain and city Alderman, Junia Regrello while speaking with
When Steel Talks. The band placed ninth, just
outside of the finals arena.
According to Regrello, his main concern now is for the very young members of Skiffle Bunch, and what it
[the official results] could do to them, along with the impact of the overall
situation on the wider steelband community, especially in the southern region.
Skiffle Bunch has made it to final night for the past few years, and for 2007
had retained the very skilled and savvy Ken 'Professor' Philmore to be their
arranger of the Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe composition Sharin' Licks.
Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra on Finals night for Panorama 2006
In the semi-finals, Skiffle Bunch received a score of 90 from judge one, 90 from
judge three, and 72 from judge number two. Regrello added that the
orchestra received no negative
comments from judge three, whose only feedback on his score sheet was 'well
done, good.' The band captain further stated that "we weren't criticized for anything at
all by him."
For 2007 there are only three judges and all their scores
count. The previous adjudication procedure
which had been in place for a number of years, was characterized by the
employment of more judges, whose the highest and lowest scores were then discarded.
Of the revision in the rules, Regrello likened it to the appearance of 'a thief in the night...as
it was not discussed openly.' He did acknowledge though that Pan Trinbago, according to their constitution, had the
authority to make decisions from time to time, and they did. The revision
was apparently agreed upon by the Events committee and included in the 2007
version of the rules. Regrello is of the opinion that had the motion
been moved in a general meeting, the change would not have been so easy.
Ironically Junia
Regrello caught the change and had raised concerns about the new
three-judge-only system, but there seemed to be a type of apathy, a 'good for
one, good for all' attitude which basically meant that there was little or no
dissent. Added to that it came to light in the usual last-minute flurry of activity surrounding
the submission of band participation forms, and in the rush to meet the submission
deadline, Regrello is certain that 'some people didn't even see
it.'
While Skiffle Bunch may be out of the final night competition
preparation frenzy, as Alderman in the San Fernando City Council, Regrello
continues to be busy with his involvement in readying the Skinner Park venue for
the February 17 competition. The southern event planners will actually
have the chance to preview their preparation one week prior, this Sunday
February 11, when the South Steelband Showcase will unfurl at the Skinner Park
venue. About twenty-three bands including conventional orchestras and
single pan bands all hailing from the south/central region, are expected to take
the stage. The event is not a competitive one, but "an opportunity [for
the all the regional bands] to go out and
perform and keep the [steelband] artform alive for the season...I don't think it
should be called a panorama," says Regrello.*** The buzz this Sunday's event
would have normally generated, had there been a large south/central orchestra band
in the finals, has dwindled somewhat, though many pan lovers are still expected
to attend. Of his fellow southerners, Regrello said they may still go,
though "the energy they had one
week ago [just prior to the shock semi-finals results] is not there."
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Live
Exclusive follow-up Interview with Junia Regrello,
captain, Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra |
Regarding the historic upcoming national panorama finals
being hosted by San Fernando for the first time ever, Regrello says that though
the "feeling in San
Fernando is very, very bad at this point [and] the whole city has been hurt by
some poor decisions," he is adamantly "urging people to go out and support the show,
because it [panorama finals] is a national event; it's all about Trinidad and
Tobago, which is the bigger picture.
Contact Junia Regrello at
skifflebunch@tstt.net.tt or 1 (868) 689-4990
Click here for
related interview with Mayor
Kenneth Ferguson of San Fernando
*** Editor's note:
When Steel Talks
subsequently spoke with Elton
Bain, vice-chairman of Pan Trinbago's South/Central region, who provided
additional and updated information relevant to the upcoming
South Steelband
Showcase on February 11. Slated to begin at 6:00 PM, twenty-one
conventional bands and eight single-pan bands will participate in the showcase
appropriately entitled 'You Be The Judge,' Bain wryly noted, this - a
'play' upon the resultant controversy over the non-qualifying of Skiffle Bunch
for the final round of competition. Though the showcase will not be a
panorama in the traditional sense of the word the bands will still compete, but
for "bragging rights" rather than prize purses. Additionally, the top
three bands in both categories receive trophies. "To level the playing
field" Elton Bain told
When Steel Talks,
the twenty-one conventional bands are not participating in 'small, medium and
large categories, but rather in groups ranging from forty to seventy players.'
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