By CECILY ASSON Sunday, January 17 2010

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PAN WOMEN: These women of Jah Roots beat out Super Blue's "Wine on Something" during single pan preliminaries in San Fernando....

Carnival 2010 officially kicked off in San Fernando on Friday night with a major event — the National Panorama Preliminaries (Single Pan Bands) which turned into a big street party going on into the wee hours of yesterday morning.

Thousands of pan lovers from across the country converged on “D Coffee” (Coffee Street), San Fernando, which for Friday night only, was renamed “Tinnin Alley” by officials of Pan Trinbago for presentation of nine single pan bands.

In officially declaring Panorama 2010 open, Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz told spectators that things were being done differently this year with the pan competitions, in an effort “to get the people back to support pan”.

With the knock of the first iron in Self Help Marines (Point Fortin), the pace was set for the night’s entertainment with performance of an Elvin Stafford arrangement of De Fosto’s “Smooth Sailing”.

Among the bands which stood out on Friday night were Shades In Steel with an energetic rendition of Poser’s “Ah Tell She” which was arranged by Alvin Gittens. Fyzabad 4th Dimension also performed “Smooth Sailing”, arranged by Chester George and Highlighters of Gasparillo presented “Magic Drums” arranged by Kevin McLeod. Highlighters came with their own “magic” drummer who whipped up the crowd into a frenzy with a solo drumming interlude.

After spending considerable time setting up the band in front the judges, the Chaguanas-based Pan Revival Steel Orchestra redeemed themselves with a strong performance of Crazy’s “Gimme More”. The music was arranged by Sean Ramsey.

However, it was not all that smooth sailing for the pride and joy of the south-eastern county, Rio Claro Koskeros who broke down several times while performing De Fosto’s “Smooth Sailing” arranged by Kenny Pascall.

Also turning in good performances for the night were La Romaine Supervibes with “Fiery” (arranged by Garvin Williams); the youthful New Age Trendsetters of Chaguanas whose youngest member is eight years old. They performed Kitchener’s “Margie” (Glenford Sobers) while the only “Pan Round D Neck” steel orchestra Jah Roots paid tribute to Super Blue with their rendition of “Wine on Something”. The tune was arranged by members of Jah Roots who were dressed in T-shirts with the face of Super Blue emblazoned on the front.