Pre-trip - Party in the Pan Yards

Before the Students have flown South to Trinidad Dr. Laurent do Verteuil (University of Toronto alumni and senior adviser for the trip) is already in Trinidad doing early preparations for the students arrival. As carnival is only a few weeks away the famous pan yards of Trinidad are already in full swing!! 

As part of early boots on the ground and checking the perimeter, it seemed a good idea last night to head over to Phase II’s panyard in Woodbrook and take in their performance before the judges for the Preliminaries. Led, as always, by their famous pan arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Phase II played their energetic composition for this year to a packed yard. The vibes were savoured over rum and coconut water, and the performance followed with a cup of corn soup with dumplings.

Boogsie leading incomparable Phase II Steel Orchestra

Afterwards the pannists dissemble. The gent at the end of the video is the famous nuts man “Jumbo”

The corn soup man