Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra wins New York panorama

For Pan Evolution Metal Orchestra of New York, it’s a primary. Nonetheless, for musical arranger André White, the band’s victory on the 2024 New York panorama, held as a part of the annual Labor Day weekend carnival celebrations in Brooklyn, simply enhanced his standing as a musician, particularly within the steelpan neighborhood.

White’s association of Mical Teja’s “DNA” obtained the judges’ highest rating, 278 factors, permitting Pan Evolution to seize their first New York pan title final Saturday.

White, who studied on the Berklee School of Music within the US, started enjoying pan at age six with ADLIB Metal Orchestra of Freeport, New York.

He later grew to become the ADLIB’s arranger, profitable the New York Panoramas of 2008, 2011 and 2012.

His panmanship and arranging expertise have allowed him to work with varied bands, together with famed Trinidad and Tobago orchestras equivalent to Desperadoes, Pamberi and Skiffle Bunch.

Since 2008, White has been related to British-based Mangrove Steelband, delivering victory to the band in London’s 2024 panorama on August 24. He additionally organized for the band after they received in 2011.

Nonetheless, this yr’s London panorama has been marred by controversy, involving a last-minute change – applied on competitors day – within the adjudicating of the bands.

It was first introduced that Ebony Steelband, below ace arranger Duvon Stewart, had retained the title of London panorama champions.

Nonetheless, first place was later awarded to Mangrove Steelband, with organizers explaining that it was based mostly on the “judges’ majority” of three out of 5 adjudicators – the late change made to the competitors’s guidelines.

A former tenor pannist, now a music scholar who follows pan competitions carefully, referred to as the state of affairs with Notting Hill Carnival’s panorama in London a “fiasco” and a “mess”.

“The entire pan world is laughing at pan within the UK,” Julien Andrew, talking from London, instructed The Caribbean Digicam.

“What a large number. The rule change befell at 5 pm on the day of competitors, unknown to the gamers and arrangers. Whereas all of the bands have been lining up for a rain-delayed begin at 8 pm, they modified the foundations.”

Julien, who monitored the New York panorama, praised White’s profitable association with Pan Evolution.

“Andre knocked it out of the park,” he mentioned. “The margin of factors wasn’t massive however musically, it was; good, good musicality.”

Pan Evolution, who obtained the PanTrinbago Problem Trophy for its victory, was three factors higher than Metro Metal Orchestra that carried out a rendition of “Lorraine”, the 1982 hit by the late Winston Henry – the calypsonian generally known as “Explainer”.

Other than “Lorraine” and Farmer Nappy’s “How Ah Livin’”, all different bands performed both “DNA” or Olatunji’s “Inventor” on the competitors on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum.

It was “Inventor”, organized by Roger Greenidge, that garnered 274 factors – adequate for third place – for Philadelphia Pan Stars Metal Orchestra.

Roger Greenidge is youthful brother to well-known Trinidad pannist and champion arranger Robert Greenidge.

Panorama is without doubt one of the main occasions of Brooklyn’s carnival. Like Toronto’s carnival, Brooklyn’s was based in 1967, with occasions now organized by the West Indian American Day Carnival Affiliation (WIADCA).

Brooklyn’s carnival culminated on Labor Day with the same old parade of bands alongside Jap Parkway.