Keishaun Julien
BPTT Renegades pannist Keishaun Julien stormed into the May 22 final of the 2021 NLCB PanoGrama competition to take home the spoils that were up for grabs in the overall competition.
Performing Ken "Professor" Philmore's "Pan by Storm" to near perfection, Keishaun enhanced his semi-final performance by ten points to jump ahead of nine rivals, including defending champion Earl Brooks Jr and semi-final winner Mathieu Borgne of France.
Dejean Cain
T&T pannists filled the top four positions as Keishaun was followed by Dejean Cain of Road Block and Desperadoes; Tyeesha Alexander (Shades of Steel); and, Brooks Jr (Hatters and Exodus), respectively. The lower placings were filled by Borgne, Andre Forde (Barbados), Hanif Goodridge, Charlton Alfonso and Jamel Cadette (T&T), and David Yundi (USA).
Keishaun was a convincing winner as he embellished his well rehearsed and scintillating interpretation of "Pan by Storm" with relevant visuals including storm alerts and memes of his nine rivals, all vanquished by his storm. On the backdrop of his set was a large motif of the song's title.
+ Tyeesha Alexander
Runners-up Cain and Alexander also showed their mastery and dexterity of the instrument. I was also impressed by the performance of Goodridge who chose the intricate "Caribe," a Michael Camilio composition as his tune of choice. The special prizes for overall Best Dressed and People's Choice were won by Alexander.
NLCB PanoGrama 2021 was a well packaged show, the final opening with the PanoGrama anthem being performed by tenor pannist Mark Forde, composer of the piece. Hosted by PanoGrama Entertainment CEO Nevin Roach and Aundrea Wharton, the opening also included endorsements by Pan Trinbago Inc President Beverly Ramsey-Moore and Northern Illinois University music professor Liam Teague, one of five adjudicators.
B PanoGrama 2021 was also judged by Ojay Richards (T&T); Andy Chichester (Grenada); Victor Provost (US VI); and, David "ZigE" Walcott (Barbados).
At the end of the final, there we guest performances by Australian songstress Lady Red and Tobago saxophonist Ricardo Seales.
Next on the agenda for PanoGrama Entertainment is the virtual production of Pan Motion.