CARNIVAL 2K8 is fast approaching and panmen have begun the race towards the Greatest Show on Earth on February 2.

 Reigning champs from behind the bridge Neal and Massy All Stars is all but ready after the band's splendid year of music with American pannist Andy Narrell.Narell fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams in October, when he directed All Stars as they performed his compositions at the annual Steelpan and Jazz Festival, on October 19-27, 2007 at various venues in Trinidad. All Stars’ performed with special guests, Luis Conte (Cuba/US) on congas and percussion; Jacques Schwartzbart (Guadeloupe/US) on saxophone, Mark Walker(US-Berklee College Faculty) on drums and Narell’s son, Isaac on percussion.“I’ve been working toward this my whole life,” he said. “Getting a top Trinidad steelband to play a whole repertoire of my music was a serious accomplishment. I sent them the first 45 minutes of music by email and they had already learned it all by heart by the time I got to Trinidad!”

Narell’s confidence comes from decades of playing and arranging with his authority to constructively criticise recent developments in the industry, including the much-talked about “G-pan“. “I went to see it, when I was in Trinidad,” he said, “and I think it’s a work-in-progress. I don’t want to slam anybody, but I think it’s unfortunate that they put the cart-before-the-horse and announced that this was the future of the pan and that all the other pans were extinct because it’s really a work-in-progress still." Narell slammed proponents of the new steelpan and affirmed his opinion that the instrument was not at all ready to revolutionise the industry.

All Stars is yet to decide on what tune it will perform for the competition, although manager Beresford Hunte said that the band’s longstanding arranger, Leon “Smooth” Edwards is already working on something special in a move to claim its seventh National Panorama title in 2008. The band began rehearsals during the first week in December, which was unavoidably late to other bands.  With Exodus leaping to “Puncernelly,” DeFosto’s sequel to Superblue’s “Rebecca” in a bid to win its fifth National Panorama title. Ace arranger Pelham Goddard and Pat Bishop are arranging the tune for Exodus and pannists are already waxing warm. "We Not I" Starlift Steel Orchestra has call for the "musical brain" of Annise "Haffers" Hadeed to arrange its 2008 Panorama song. Starlift manager, Keith Diaz said the band is, “Coming with pace to make everyone jump up.” "Haffers" has selected three songs and will meet with Starlift "top rankers" to make the final selection when he arrives in Trinidad. “Starlift is not going for any laidback music this time. Only jumpy music," said Diaz. Ray Holman was the arranger for Starlift in recent times.

After being  denied a hattrick in the 2007 National Panorama, in San Fernando, Phase II Pan Groove is coming out with “Vengeance” to take back its title in 2008. The song was composed by Dr Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and sung by Anselm Douglas. Already members of the band are learning the song. Twice Phase II has been denied a hattrick, 2007 and 1989 when Renegades won. Dr Boogsie says its "Vengeance" for "Sharing Licks".