Republic Bank Exodus?

I am back having spent some months in the USA with family. You know that Carnival is not far off once the rumour mill begins churning about pan and calypso, and mas of course. Just a lil teaser for Panorama 2012. A birdie whispered to me this week that Exodus, the most successful steel orchestra in East Trinidad, will appear in next year’s competition as Republic Bank Exodus. Exodus was previously sponsored by Sagicor. Songs for Panorama 2012 are flying like bullets from a bandit’s machine gun.
Early out of the blocks are Carwash (Dunstan Lawrence), Jason  Isaac’s (Peanuts) Pan Turbulence, and, De Fosto’s An intervention of Hope.

Alston Jack is in the fray as well with Voodoo Woman. This year, he paid tribute to the Bamboo Man and, in 2009, thrilled us with Time. London-based bass woman Debra Romain (Pan Diva) debuts with Trials of a Pan Woman. Crazy, the Loveable Lunatic, has Kamla the Greatest and already steelbands are looking at this one. Duvonne Stewart, who campaigned successfully with single pan band La Horquetta Pan Groove, has reportedly been given the baton at bpTT Renegades. He steps up into the big league after parading in the minor conference of pan in which he led Pan Groove to five successive wins in the single pan competition.

Meanwhile a Brooklyn-based arranger/composer/pannist is awaiting word from a heavy roller south band to arrange for them. And, the buzz is that a big Tobago steelband is interested in his services to maintain their winning edge as well.