The qualifying round of the FCB International Steelpan Jazz Challenge will take place at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Sunday 21^st October from 5:00 pm with the Grand Finals on Sunday 4^th November the same venue.

Thirteen (13) ensembles with a minimum of twelve (12) musicians and at least 50% of the ensemble must be playing steelpan instruments will perform for six (6) minutes.

The Challenge will focus on the ensemble’s ability to take songs chosen and perform them in a jazz idiom but not deviate from jazz at any period during the arrangements.

For the qualifying round, the ensemble must perform one (1) song from the list of approved songs whereas for the Finals, they must perform two (songs).

At the draw for playing positions yesterday (October 9^th) at The Normandie, St. Ann’s, title sponsor, First Citizen Bank (FCB) presented a cheque for $500,000. to the Organizing Committee.

The order of appearance is as follows:-

1. Sforzata                                                                      TBA
2. Codrington Pan Family                                                Pan Night & Day                   Aldwyn Roberts
3. Moyenne                                                                     Mambo Inn                          Machito
4. Curepe Scherzando                                                    The Carnival Is Over              Aldwyn Roberts
5. Couva Joylanders                                                       Be Careful                             Dennis Williams
6. UWI Caribbean Contemporary Workshop                   Sweet Music                         Garfield Blackman
7. Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille                           Be Careful                            Dennis Williams
8. Bptt Renegades                                                           Magic Drum                         Machel Montano
9. Golden Hands                                                              Mambo Inn                          Machito
10. Trinidad & Tobago Police Service Band                         Love in the Cemetery          Aldwyn Roberts
11. Arima Golden Symphony                                             Pan Night & Day                  Aldwyn Roberts
12. Tamana Pioneers                                                         Mambo Inn                          Machito
13. Our Boys                                                                     The Carnival Is Over            Aldwyn Roberts

Eight (8) of the highest scoring ensembles chosen by adjudicators Dr Dawn Batson and Ron Reid will play in the Finals.  Adjudication will be determined by musicality of the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic inventiveness of the presentation.

First prize is $50,000, whilst the second to eighth places will receive $25,000.each.

Objectives of the event are to deepen the relationship between the Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan and Jazz Festival and the steelpan community and further promote the integration of the steelpan with conventional musical instruments utilizing the jazz idiom.

Photo credits: Gary Cardinez