By Lincoln DePradine

For Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra of New York, it’s a first. However, for musical arranger André White, the band’s victory at the 2024 New York panorama, held as part of the annual Labor Day weekend carnival celebrations in Brooklyn, just enhanced his status as a musician, especially in the steelpan community.

White’s arrangement of Mical Teja’s “DNA” received the judges’ highest score, 278 points, allowing Pan Evolution to capture their first New York pan title last Saturday.

White, who studied at the Berklee College of Music in the US, began playing pan at age six with ADLIB Steel Orchestra of Freeport, New York.

He later became the ADLIB’s arranger, winning the New York Panoramas of 2008, 2011 and 2012.

His panmanship and arranging talent have allowed him to work with various bands, including famed Trinidad and Tobago orchestras such as Desperadoes, Pamberi and Skiffle Bunch.

Since 2008, White has been associated with British-based Mangrove Steelband, delivering victory to the band in London’s 2024 panorama on August 24. He also arranged for the band when they won in 2011.

However, this year’s London panorama has been marred by controversy, involving a last-minute change – implemented on competition day – in the adjudicating of the bands.

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

However, first place was later awarded to Mangrove Steelband, with organizers explaining that it was based on the “judges’ majority” of three out of five adjudicators – the late change made to the competition’s rules.

A former tenor pannist, now a music student who follows pan competitions closely, called the situation with Notting Hill Carnival’s panorama in London a “fiasco” and a “mess”.

“The whole pan world is laughing at pan in the UK,” Julien Andrew, speaking from London, told The Caribbean Camera.

“What a mess. The rule change took place at 5 pm on the day of competition, unknown to the players and arrangers. While all the bands were lining up for a rain-delayed start at 8 pm, they changed the rules.”

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

“Andre knocked it out of the park,” he said. “The margin of points wasn’t big but musically, it was; nice, nice musicality.”

Pan Evolution, who received the PanTrinbago Challenge Trophy for its victory, was three points better than Metro Steel Orchestra that performed a rendition of “Lorraine”, the 1982 hit by the late Winston Henry – the calypsonian known as “Explainer”.

Apart from “Lorraine” and Farmer Nappy’s “How Ah Livin’”, all other bands played either “DNA” or Olatunji’s “Inventor” at the competition on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum.

It was “Inventor”, arranged by Roger Greenidge, that garnered 274 points – good enough for third position – for Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra.

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

Panorama is one of the major events of Brooklyn’s carnival. Like Toronto’s carnival, Brooklyn’s was founded in 1967, with events now organized by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA).

Brooklyn’s carnival culminated on Labor Day with the usual parade of bands along Eastern Parkway.

At around 1.45 pm, police reported a shooting in Crown Heights in which one person was killed and four others injured.

The deceased, a 25-year-old from Texas, was shot in the abdomen. 

Mayor Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader in the United States Senate, were among top political officials that participated in Monday’s carnival parade.

“I’m pained and troubled by the horrible shooting that took place as we were marching together at the West Indian Day festival and parade in Brooklyn,” Schumer posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you to our first responders on the scene. I pray for everyone affected. We must keep working to end gun violence in America.”