Dance music filled the Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, panyard of bpTT Renegades Steel Orchestra last Friday when Pan Trinbago held the first in a three-part series of concerts to raise funds for its Children's Christmas Party.Dubbed Pan For the People, the event featured performances from Witco Desperadoes, Codrington Pan Family, Uni Stars, Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille and bpTT Renegades.
There were special appearances from calypsonian De Fosto (Winston Scarborough) and Chucky (Roderick Gordon), as well. They rendered new selections for the upcoming Carnival, while steelbands in the spotlight focused on the melodies that heralded the yuletide season.
These choice presentations were delivered before a small, but ever appreciative audience, who made use of the charmed melodies that resonated from the steelpan–the national musical instrument of T&T.
But, despite the legacy selections from Desperadoes, and the party-focused outpouring by Renegades, the night clearly went to The Codrington Pan Family. Fielding just seven musicians, the petite outfit's high calibre panmanship and superb orchestration compensated for what it lost in size.
It was a performance that secured the undivided attention of the audience as Pan Family supplied a polished repertoire laden with Christmas treats, as well as an intriguing mix of items to win the hearts of the gathering. Trailing on last Friday's upbeat pan feast, all roads will now lead to the panyard of four-time national Panorama champion Sagicor Exodus, located on the Eastern Main Road, St Augustine, tomorrow where the fund-raising venture continues. Steel orchestras advertised to join the host band for this worthy cause are Caribbean Airlines Invaders and four-time national Panorama champion Solo Harmonites. Showtime is 8 pm.