Ignoring the few criticisms of the made-in-T&T movie Girlfriends’ Getaway, I found the movie, which premiered on September 2 at MovieTowne, really enjoyable. 

With four American actors (Terri J Vaughn, Essence Atkins, Malinda Williams and Garcelle Beauvais) in lead roles and a number of locals supporting, the movie is your typical African-American comedic flick that showcases the idiosyncracies black people are sterotyped by.

The movie’s storyline is not unlike the popular 1998 movie How Stella Got her Groove Back, where four black women, each unhappy with their lives in the US, decide to visit Jamaica for a fun getaway.

One of the criticisms of Girlfriends’ Getaway was that Trinidad is portrayed as an island where “the natives” sell marijuana on the beach and break into hotel rooms to commit robbery while guests are asleep. 

I had to remind the volunteers of such criticism that Girlfriends’ Getaway could easily have been filmed in some other place, like the Bahamas, Antigua, Jamaica or Brazil, and that it wasn’t a travelogue to promote T&T as a tourism destination. 

Another critic found there were too many Jamaican “rhythms” in the movie, a criticism film director Roger Bobb quickly put to bed by saying that the movie actually contains five soca songs and one reggae item.

I found the criticisms to be vacuous and without foundation. They reminded me of some of the criticisms levelled against Home Again, the movie that was filmed in Trinidad in 2012 about a story set in Jamaica. At the time, one critic said there was nothing to identify as Trinidad in the movie. A friend had to set this critic straight by reminding them that Star Wars wasn’t actually filmed in space.

Any movie can be criticised for one thing or another, whether justified or not; like soon-to-be-released Ridley Scott film Exodus: Gods and Kings which has been knocked for having white people cast as all the major characters with black actors getting minor roles and being cast as criminals and rogues.

I prefer to look at the positives of Girlfriends’ Getaway. Almost 80 per cent of its crew are local, some of them holding down key posts, like supervising producer Lisa Wickham; director of photography Sheldon Felix; and production designer Renee Pollonais. The movie has a local crew of 57, as well as 275 extras. At least four supporting roles went to locals who shone incredibly opposite their Hollywood counterparts.

Local actors in key supporting roles include Frances De Lancey who, as Ruth, is a remarkable new find; Russell Wilkinson as Ralph; Andrew Friday as the contest host; and, Penelope Spencer as the housekeeper. Kevon Brooks is outstanding as Skully the drug dealer. A familiar face in a minor role is former T&T cricket captain Daren Ganga.

This movie has great potential if screened in the Caribbean diaspora of America and Europe, as well as being distributed regionally. There is no hint of Americans trying to copy a Trini accent or vice versa as the dialect and language are kept simple and natural ensuring an easy imbibement of its script and flow.

The locations used, including Maracas Bay, Piarco, Hilton, Crews Inn and O2 Park in Chaguaramas, were well chosen and effectively used.

​

Perhaps I like Girlfriends’ Getaway as much as I do because it also reminds me so much of one of my all-time favourite movies, Herbert Ross’ 1995 flick Boys on the Side which starred Whoppie Goldberg, Drew Barrymore and Mary-Louise Parker.

​Girlfriends’ Getaway stars Essence Atkins (Smart Guy), Malinda Williams (Soul Food; Moesha), Terri J Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show), and Garcelle Beauvais (The Jamie Foxx Show).
The film is showing at the following cinema locations: MovieTowne PoS, Chaguanas and Tobago, Cinemas 8 in Trincity and Hobosco in San Fernando.

When I remember Holly Thomas, I recall his soothing bass voice on the radio on a Sunday morning, asking, “Who loves you, baby?” Also, I remember him admonishing those in the kitchen preparing Sunday lunch, reminding all that callaloo required swizzling and must not be pureed in a blender.

Like some of his colleagues in the era of the 80s, including Rennie Bishop, Billy Reece, Jim Sutherland and Phill Simmons, Thomas had a distinctive voice and manner of broadcasting that endeared listeners to him and his programmes.

Having made a name for himself in the New York tri-state area, initially with Ken Webb on New York’s WBLS frequency, and subsequently on WLIB, Thomas returned home and hitched his wagon to Trinidad Broadcasting Company’s Studio 730 in 1982. He worked for 15 years in the United States and, after a stint on Radio 730 transferred to Radio Nine Five in 1988, making his Magnificent 7 programme, specialising in “soft jazz,” a must-listen-to feature.

Simmons, fondly remembered as “the Thrill” on the TBC network, left Radio 610 to join Radio 730. He said: “Holly and I worked together when I returned to Radio Trinidad 730. He was one of the last of the ‘real breed of radio people’. What we have today is actually a cheap copy of what we used to have. Holly stood for quality and professionalism, from way back in the callaloo days on a Sunday morning on Magnificent 7. In fact, Mavis John’s hit single, Jazz in the Callaloo, was inspired by Holly.

“Holly and I did the first radio station J’Ouvert band, Mas on the Radio. It was a successful venture. All our masqueraders used to get a taste of whatever the bandleader had in his pouch, making us even more popular.

“Life is a funny thing. The last time Holly and I spent any time together was at Frankie Dixon’s funeral earlier this year and he was fine, as he was when I saw him during this year’s Carnival.”

Current TBC personality Chris Boynes, who also worked with Thomas, said: “Beside being a colleague, Holly was a brother, adviser and mentor to me. Although he met me here at TBC, I still regarded him my senior, as he was a full-time broadcaster when I was just a DJ.

“Holly was from the old-school camp of radio and was a true professional and perfectionist.

“He helped me to understand some of the key elements in radio and the musical clock, the concept which helps with your daily programming, and not just from a DJ’s point of view.”

TBC senior producer/broadcaster Eddison Carr is one of the people who has history with Thomas. He said: “One of the best voices on radio has gone. We worked together at Radio 730 but also did Magnificent 7 on Sundays for about five years on Radio 95. I remember his consummate radio persona. Not everyone has that.

“Holly had that radio personality that touched everybody in terms of his voice and style. He always reminded me of Barry White as both had that same kind of arresting, gravelly, warm voice that drew you to listen to Holly religiously.”

Adrian Don Mora is one of today’s top radio personalities who learned at the feet of Thomas. The assistant programme director, morning show host and sports editor at Ebony 104.1FM said: “I heard the news of Holly’s passing this morning (Wednesday) while I was on the air and was really taken aback. I remember as an aspiring radio announcer Holly Thomas stood out so much because his voice was like no other on radio in T&T; deep and rich. And, he knew how to use it to full effect. When I eventually got my foot into the door at Radio Trinidad I marvelled at the ease with which he operated. 

“His shows like the Magnificent 7 and Candlelight & Wine will always remain the standard for radio shows in my mind, especially 

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as they were in the vein of what I wanted to do. Holly’s inclusion of jazz in his programming was always a breath of fresh air. As a newbie he was always helpful and encouraging to me. He was the real deal.”

Former Woodbrook councillor Cleveland Garcia, who was Thomas’ friend for the past 15 years, said on Wednesday: “I remember Holly as a fun person. He was an ardent bird lover, who devoted much time to his birds. He also had a green thumb and grew a beautiful kitchen garden, giving most of his produce to friends.”

Garcia remembers that Thomas found joy in making others happy. He said: “The last dream Holly realised was The Wardrobe, his clothing establishments in Shops of Arima and Picton Street, which catered to plus sized people. He opened them last November and used to be happy making big people happy with his line of clothing.

“Though being a Piscean, born in March, Holly preferred to celebrate his birthday in May, with guys like Robert Greenidge and (Carl) Beaver Henderson.”

A friend of Thomas for decades, Henderson said with a chuckle: “Holly and I go back to since the days Tyrannosaurus rex roamed the earth. We have been friends since the days of Semp recording studio, even before Fire Flight was formed. Holly’s golden voice is lost and will be missed. Seems that the great ones are going.”

Masqueraders in Peter Minshall’s carnival bands would remember Thomas as being the voice emanating from the Charlie’s Roots music truck, keeping the band in order by intsructing, “get in your section.” Taking time off from cooking lunch on Wednesday, Minshall said: “What a good human that man was. The spirit of being in the mas has taken wings and flown elsewhere. Better that he took wing and flew than being part of this poultry farm that we are now in.”

One of Thomas’ students who had great admiration for him is Denise Zephrine of Caribbean Airlines. Expressing shock over Thomas’ passing she said: “I was one of his students many years ago and he was one of the influences that got me into journalism in the first place. Holly recognised my potential and, using his contacts, organised a week-long course for me in DJ announcing and speech at WBLS in Manhattan. 

“After that, when he was on 105.1FM he introduced me to Winston Maynard’s six-week journalism programme at TBC on Maraval Road. So, Holly was my prime mentor in journalism. Holly recognised the ability in young people and moulded young aspiring radio announcers. I will always remember him as ‘the voice’. 

“One thing which stood out with him and impressed me is how easily Holly attracted people to him.”

The turnout was huge on Saturday night when Trini Revellers launched its 2015 presentation—D’Jammette Carnival—at Lions Civic Centre, Port-of-Spain.

In all, the former band of the year title-holder launched 13 sections at its cooler event. Inside the Lions hall and in its car park, coolers dotted the space. Patrons also had their fill of doubles and corn soup, dancing to road DJs Atomic and KC Class is Class. Other road music in 2015 will be by DJ Production Sounds and JMC 3Veni, with lead vocalist KI, the reigning Chutney Soca Monarch.

D’Jammette Carnival is a unique production as it marries designs from yesteryear to today’s beads, feathers and bikinis. I found it refreshing to attend one of these events without having to endure a profusion of feathers. The designers seemed to have made a concerted and deliberate attempt to create costumes that are reminiscent of yesteryear. 

The portrayal is inspired by the Jammette carnivals of 1860-1896. D’Jammette Carnival is one of the few mas productions I have seen that one can trace a distinct storyline throughout, with designs staying true and authentic to most of what probably existed more than a century ago. To come up with this portrayal and to maintain authenticity, extensive research was done at St Mary’s College Library.

Some of the beautifully-designed costumes and their section leaders are The Governor’s Ball (Brian Chin); Les Mamselles (Kathy Kanhai); Les Maribones (Christine John); and, Peau de Canelle (Ainsley Mitchell). Other sections are produced by Rugeri (Les Mousselines); Carnival Mystique (Don’t Care a Damns); and, Savage Productions (Le Diametre). Chin’s Governor’s Ball is really a thing of beauty.

The band’s king (Fernando Marchan) and queen (Peola Marchan) costumes will be designed by popular southern artist Dawad Phillip. A second king costume will be portrayed by Brian Chin who will design his own costume. Peola is the reigning Queen of Carnival. The designers of the sections include Timothy Bootan, Jameel Beharry, Christine Sadler, Kirby Mohammed, Sophie Jacques, Jennifer McIntosh, Chin and Phillip.

Deja vu at The Arena

I have discovered a new watering hole in the middle of Port-of-Spain. Under the new management of Phillip Cox, The Arena, atop Cache’s on Henry Street, reopened a fortnight ago. The spot is reminiscent of Upper Level and Impact Disco primarily because of the DJs contracted on a Friday evening.

On its opening evening, music was supplied by former 105.1FM disc jockey Black Coffee, and last Friday it was Darryl at the controls. Cox said he intends having a different guest DJ and his list for the future includes DJs Mr Q, King Papa Rocky, Howie Tee and Cutting Crew.

Patrons danced through the night last Friday until way past midnight to Darryl’s selections, especially when he introduced his “Upper Level Hour.” Back in the day, he and DJ Richard Simply Smooth used to have Upper Level rocking on weekends.

Golden Hands of pan

In celebration of its 21st anniversary, Golden Hands steel orchestra has designed a distinctive initiative—I Am Pan: The Inaugural National Steelpan Pageant 2014. The preliminary round of this event takes place tomorrow at 2 pm at Naparima Girls’ High School’s auditorium, San Fernando. This will be followed by workshops on the September 20 and 27, culminating in the finals on October 4 at National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa, South), Todd Street and Rienzi-Kirton Highway, San Fernando, at 7.30 pm.

Golden Hands is a registered non-profit organisation located at 134 Independence Avenue, San Fernando. This group focuses on the development of the latent potential of youths in T&T, employing the modality of music education with the steelpan as the instrument of choice. 

The organisation has been largely successful and has prepared a cadre of young, highly skilled and well-established musical ambassadors of the steelpan. Among these are Vanessa Headley, Richarde Bereaux, Pete Braxton, Daron Roberts and Joshua Bedoe.

Miracle on the stage

Miracle, a new play by Ronald John will be staged at the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Belmont, at the end of October. The play’s director will be Theresa Awai. The play, which John says was inspired by the Vidia Naipaul-Coolman’s kidnapping and murder of 2006, is about a woman who’s kidnapped. It is for adults only. 

John is a veteran of theatre. His play Dance Me, Lover was staged with gala fanfare at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa) in 2009.

Awai is another veteran. She’s a Cacique Award-winning actress and also a playwright. Her play Coming Home was produced and directed by Raymond Choo Kong at Queen’s Hall just a few years ago.

Performance dates for Miracle are October 24–26, 31 and November 1–2. For more info: 624-8502.

The Black Caucus Movement (BCM) was launched yesterday at the premises of businessman William Munro on the Western Main Road, St James. The movement’s mission statement includes “creating a healthy, holistic and wealthy African community that actualises its fullest potential.”

Coinciding with the opening of the BCM office, the launch featured many speakers, including its chairman Munro, CEO Ronald Nathan, Orisha elder Oloye Oranke Massetungi, former senator Muhammad Shabazz, TV network director O’Brian Haynes, Nation of Islam’s David Muhammad and talkshow host Mike Jones. Proceedings were hosted by Keenan Munro. Some of the aims of the BCM are the establishment of an African credit union, a real estate co-operative and a multi-purpose co-operative.

Disclosing that the BCM already has two radio programmes and one on television, Nathan said the timing of the launch of the organisation was “because we love our T&T and believe in its highest ideals.” He added: “In this country, not every creed and race finds an equal place. African people are at the bottom of the social ladder and live in an island of poverty in a sea of prosperity.

“Our children, even with degrees, after going through the education system, struggle to secure jobs. We can no longer depend on the official arms of state to help us. We need to say, ‘Enough is enough,’ and begin to help ourselves.” Nathan implored the large gathering to begin generating “inter-generational wealth.” He said: “We need to support each other and our own financial organisation.”

Haynes, a BCM executive member, said another goal of the organisation was to initiate a business registry of African-owned enterprises to encourage networking within the African community. “BCM is about economic independence,” said Ruthven Jack during his address. “We need to learn the value of legacy planning and entrepreneurship,” he added.

Staying there were over 400,000 citizens of African descent in T&T, Munro suggested that if a portion of that figure invested $200 a month for six months the BCM multi -purpose co-operative could accrue in excess of $300 million. He also said included in the BCM plans was the formation of its own media network. The gathering was also addressed by former soca monarch Iwer George.

Since recovering from the coma he suffered in New York in August last year, the Mighty Sparrow has been flooded with torrents of accolades and acclaim at home and abroad. The latest of these tributes—Sparrow: A Special Someone—will be held Tuesday night at SWWTU Hall, Wrightson Road, at 8 pm.

The show is being staged by David Bereaux & Friends, and will feature Sparrow and a cast of Sparrow fanatics, including Nigel “Temples” Galt. A veteran contestant in Queen’s Park Oval’s annual calypso competition, Galt was inspired by his brother, fellow Sparrow fanatic Randall “Swami” Galt, to hold the show.

He explains, “In a nutshell, my brother Swami decided it was high time that someone pay a special tribute to Sparrow other than what is the norm. He approached me with the idea and then spoke with David Bereaux and from there the concept was born.

“The idea was for a bunch of us ‘amateurs’ who, apart from our love for calypso, have a great admiration and respect for Sparrow, to do something significant and tangible, thus Sparrow, A Special Someone. 

“On Tuesday night we would all sing a few hits; only Sparrow music, and then have him sing a few songs at the end of the show. David contacted Sparrow and once we got his blessing we decided to go forward and for the past two months we have planned the show.”

Aside from Bereaux and his band, the rest of the cast includes Queen’s Park and Kaiso House calypsonian Wayne “Doppy” Dopson, Gary “De Dozie” Almandoz, Chris Garcia, Black Sage and the Galt brothers. They will all be performing various songs from different decades with an emphasis on “real, authentic calypso.” 

Nigel Galt added: “Even though half of us are amateur performers, with the exception of Chris, David, Black Sage and Doppy, we have all been very successful at various amateur competitions over the years. 

Wayne and myself have won the QPCC monarch title on nine occasions each, Gary three times, and Swami once. I also managed three corporate clash victories (BWIA, RBC and QPCC) and Wayne went on to sing in the tent whilst I retired.”

Nigel said: “The atmosphere is for fun and enjoyment with a lot of love and respect going out to our beloved Sparrow.

There will also be unlimited drinks and food on sale, with secured parking at the rear of SWWTU Hall for those who are concerned about parking on the Wrightson Road stretch.

Tickets are priced at $150 and are available from Swami (678-73230; David (389-2373); Tilly (382-4018); Nigel (317-6537 or 295-3976); and, also at QPCC, Crosby's, St James; Cleves, Port-of-Spain; and, Trade Winds Hotel, San Fernando.

Culinary awards

Perhaps the most significant event this decade in the field of tourism and the culinary arts, the Gala Awards, to recognise excellence in tourism, will be held tomorrow at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, at 6 pm.

Hosted by the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants & Tourism Association (THRTA), the dinner, awards and dance event will preceded by a champagne cocktail hour.

The THRTA believes service is key to this industry’s success.

After all, it is because of outstanding service that visitors choose to stay longer, tell their friends, visit us again and locals feel like there is no better place to live.

This week THRTA president Andrew Welch said that outstanding hospitality is best described as any random act of kindness that goes above and beyond the expected to meet the needs of an individual. He added: “We hope to elevate our industry by recognising true excellence in tourism.

“While the spotlight will be on the winners, patrons attending will also have a delectable treat as T&T’s top chefs will be influencing a special menu with the support of all ingredients from HADCO Limited.”

Guests will be welcomed by a very special Champagne Cocktail hour featuring canapes by chef Debra Sardinha-Metivier, head chef at DSM Creative Cuisine and former National Culinary Team captain.

The dinner menu has been crafted by chef Joe Brown, Jaffa at the Oval; Chef Khalid Mohammed, Chaud Restaurant; chef Raymond Joseph, head chef Courtyard by Marriott and former National Culinary Team captain; and, the Hyatt Regency Trinidad team led by chef Fernando Franco.

Live entertainment will be by Denyse Plummer and Louis & The Lynx. The evening’s keynote speaker will be distinguished Bahamas tourism luminary Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace. Vanderpool-Wallace is a 1975 graduate of Harvard University (BA, cum laude) and a 1980 graduate of the University of Miami (MBA) from which he graduated at the top of his class.

​He has won a number of awards including being named at the 50th Anniversary of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation as one of the 50 most influential people in Caribbean Tourism in the past 50 years; being selected by Fast Company magazine as one of the Fast 50 global champions of innovation as well as awards for Lifetime Achievement from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) and from the Association of Travel Marketing Executives International (ATME).

Trinidad Hotels Restaurants and Tourism Association (THRTA) Award categories:

· Hotelier of the Year Award

· Outstanding Industry Employee Award

· Business Excellence Award – Direct Tourism Services

· Business Excellence Award – Tourism Supporting Services

· Lifetime Achievement Award

Saving the Rosary

Holy Rosary Church of Henry Street is hosting a tea party and fashion show, entitled Soiree d’Elegance 2 on September 28, at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s, from 3 pm to 7 pm. In addition to the tea and fashion show, there will be entertainment by the likes of H2O Phlo, Spontaneous Sounds, an instrumental group composed of youths from the parish, members of Massy Trinidad All Stars and more.

Three fashion houses will be on display, including Dexter Jennings of Concept Studios, Shurnel Oliviere of Shurnel and Shaun Griffith Perez Designs.

Concept Studios, situated at 32 Pointe-a-Pierre Road, San Fernando, is the jewel in Jennings’ crown. He has been in the design business for the past 20 years, and is recognised for his work in Carnival, queen shows and is franchise holder of Ms Mature T&T and Ms Emancipation Cultural Pageant.

Shurnel Designs, situated at La Rue, Jerningham Avenue, Belmont, spans a period of over four decades, having commanded runways in New York, St Vincent, St Maarteen and the Guadeloupe Fashion Week.

Shaun Griffith Perez received the Award Excellence Fashion Innovation, from Karib Nations Inc in Washington. He has shown his collection in Jamaica, Bahamas and on runways up the islands.

The proceeds of this fund-raiser is to assist with the restoration works of the church. This old and beautiful church which has been a part of our religious and social heritage is now in urgent need of restoration. Its architecture symbolises magnificence and grandeur. This church is one of the architectural jewels to be preserved and restored to its former glory. It is the legacy of Abbe Francis de Ridder who in 1829 purchased the land the church and schools now stand on. He started a school and an organisation with the aim of human liberation.

The Rosary restoration is estimated at $15 million, therefore the parish is obligated to assist in the venture, hence this project. The parishioners along with parish priest Fr Clyde Harvey are asking the public to assist by purchasing tickets for the tea party and fashion show.

For more information contact Paul Massiah (789-8540) or Dianese Coker (764-9703).

Members of the  media turned out in their numbers yesterday for the funeral of popular radio personality Holly Thomas at St Theresa’s RC Church, Woodbrook. Thomas’ eulogy was delivered by his daughter Shaleem and niece Tatum, the latter remembering him for his “giving nature” and for moulding young people in the radio broadcasting industry. She added that Thomas was extremely loving to his family and had left them in want of nothing. Shaleem said her father was the first man she loved unconditionally.

The service was conducted by Fr Jason Leetang with assistance by Deacon Lennox Toussaint. In his homily, Leetang said Thomas’ passing ought to be a wake-up call to members of the congregation and lauded Thomas for assisting others. Following communion and a collection, the proceeds of which are to be given to the Cancer Society, the Ave Maria was sung by Denyse Plummer, accompanied on keyboards by Pelham Goddard.

Among the numerous media personnel mourning Thomas were Jones P Madeira, Neil Guiseppi, Andy Johnson, Chris Boynes, Phil Simmonds, Emmett Hennessy, Edison Carr, Tony Lee, Sookram Ali, Sandra Maharaj, Jenny Francois, John Benoit, Harold Saldenha Jnr, and New York-based Eric St Bernard. 

Also in attendance were Minister of Community Development Winston “Gypsy” Peters, former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing, renowned New York record producer Rawlston “Charlie” Charles, Hollis Kam and Shirley (Beulah) King. Thomas died of lung cancer on September 10. He was the founder of the Announcers Broadcast Academy and worked with the Trinidad Broadcasting Company (TBC) for many years. 

He began his broadcasting career in the 1970s in New York, working at WBLS and WLIB, before returning to T&T in 1982 to join Radio Trinidad’s 730 AM. He also worked on 95.1FM and Tempo 105.1FM, eventually opened his own radio station, 107.1FM. Thomas, who was buried at Mucurapo cemetery, leaves to mourn his mother Edris Thomas, Ria Roopchandsingh, eight children, six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 

In the conclusion of Roy Cape’s interview with Peter Ray Blood about his musical adventures and milestones, he talks about the formation of his band, the Kaiso All Stars and his pride at being conferred with an honorary doctorate by UWI, St Augustine. 

In 1968, Cape went to New York with Roy Berridge’s band for Independence celebrations there. Cape said: “Some Trini brothers doing security at the UN had an organisation and they did a party at the New York Hilton. When we got there Ron told us that he would not be returning to Trinidad. After 17 days I returned home not knowing what my musical future would be. Toby told me of an article Sparrow placed in the newspaper that he was looking for musicians. Bert Inniss had died so the band’s bassist, Conrad Little, and myself went to Sparrow’s house and told him of our interest in working with him and he was interested in a few members of our band. But, we convinced him to keep the entire band together. Sparrow agreed, went into his bedroom and came out with a dictionary. He showed us the meaning of the word ‘troubadours’ was ‘a band of roving entertainers’. Our of that dictionary emerged the name of the band—Sparrow’s Troubadours. 

“I played on Sparrow’s ‘68 album with Ron, as well as on Kitch’s ‘66 —’68 albums. Then the competition was so fierce between Sparrow and Kitch it was unthinkable to have the same arranger could not arrange for both of them.”

“In September ’68 Sparrow took us on tour through both sides of the Caribbean. I stayed with the Troubadours until 1970. The Wednesday before Carnival 1970 I left the band and right after Carnival went to New York. In New York. Once landed in the Big Apple we reformed Ron Berridge’s band. After some time Ron became disillusioned as it was difficult to run a band with musicians who also had eight to four jobs so he packed up and went to California.” 

Upon Berridge’s flight to the US west coast, Cape joined Hugh Hendricks & The Buccaneers in New York. The band was patterned after the style of Byron Lee & The Dragonaires. “It was in this band that I met The Blue Busters and got to know Phillip James, a singer in that group.”

Cape stayed in New York until 1974, working eight to four as a porter. He said: “I did the whole nine yards, complete with a mop and pail in apartment buildings. I ended up being a super. From being a super I became a maintenance man. The four Carnivals I spent in New York playing very little music, I used to cry every time Carnival Monday came around. I got fed up in 1974; I was missing home, my mom had died, and my son and wife were back in Trinidad alone. I returned home in April 1974 and as I reached I began hearing of Shadow who was a big hit with Bassman and I Come Out to Play. I got a little place in River Estate and I fixed it for my family with what I could afford then. By that time in September I was broke, and I was very scared to stay home, especially not knowing how I would survive. Most of my age group friends had migrated, so I had very little musical friends in Trinidad.”

By September 1974 Cape left his home and family again and returned to New York as he was forced to find a way to take care of his family. “I stayed in New York for three unhappy years and, in 1977, I got a letter from Trinidad, the contents of which placed me back on a plane, back to Trinidad. I landed in Trinidad with US$125 when I thought I’d return here with thousands. I got a job with URP through Dr Rat (Winston Bruce). Calypsonian Struggler was an area foreman in Harlem, East Dry River, and he went to the director and told him that we attended school together and of my rough upbringing. They made me a tradesman assistant and I stayed.”

In 1978, Cape became more aggressive in securing work as a professional musician. He said: “In 1978, I heard that William Munro had a store, Cinderella Shoe Store, opposite Royal Castle. I went to him and introduced myself to him and he directed me to Art De Coteau, his calypso tent’s musical director. I got a job in the tent to play in Mr Munro’s Kingdom of the Wizards tent. In 1980, I approached Mr Munro to lead the band at Kingdom of the Wizards. 

“I also met (Carl) Beaver Henderson that year and they were doing an album with Denyse Plummer at Semp Studio. Beaver and I became good friends. I must admit that Beaver was one of the few people who helped me to eat a food in Trinidad. We formed a band called TnT Rainbow. 

Our engineer was the very enigmatic Wayne ‘Horrors’ Jameson. We did Poser’s Road March (Ah Tell She) album and Lord Shorty’s Om Shanti Om album. We also did Explainer’s Positive Vibration album, Brigo’s Long Ago and Abbi Blackman’s Young and Moving On.

“In 1981-82, Claude Martineau, who I knew for several years, decided to open a calypso tent–Calypso Spektakula. Claude and I played in the CYO band together in 1958 so we knew each other. It was easy to get along with him. I ran the tent show there for the next 12 years.”

If Cape’s musical career had been on cruise mode, gradually igniting subsequently, from 1982 onwards it was blast off time for this experienced musician. He reminisced: “Although all parts of my career have played an important part I think that this period played the most important part. 

Spektakula had a lot of shows. Claude brought Kool & The Gang in the Savannah, with Chalkdust, Nelson and Explainer as guest artistes. Somehow our music mashed up that show and the local acts upstaged the American superstars. After that we did Nelson in Concert. The response was so overwhelming that we held several repeats of that concert. This ushered a flood of concerts, featuring artistes like Black Stalin and David Rudder. There were also international concerts starring Evelyn Champagne King, Shalamar, and Third World. This exposure gave us the opportunity to showcase and prove that T&T had the best calypso had to offer. We even experimented with paying musicians a fixed salary. We tried that for six months but it couldn’t work as productions couldn’t be sustained every weekend.”

So how did his band get its name? Cape explained: “In the ‘80s, a southern impressario staged three shows at Sparrow’s Hideaway featuring Leroy Calliste (Black Stalin). When I saw the poster it read Roy Cape Kaiso All Stars. That name was given by Black Stalin. He said to me, ‘if you are not taking care of yourself, I will have to do it for you’. I had been calypso for so long so it was an honour to have a calypsonian of such great standing to give my band its name, in the tradition of how calypsonians derived their names.”

The All Stars didn’t only excel in the calypso tent and at concerts, but on the road as well. Cape said: “While at Spektakula, in 1989, Earl Patteron offered me the job to provide music for Wayne Berkeley’s mas band. I took the job and played on the road in 1989-’90. I realised I could not compete with bands like Charlie’s Roots, Shandileer, Sound Revolution and Fire Flight, having to also play in the tent. They were playing soca music for 40 nights in fetes while I was playing in the tent. I could only fix music for the road when Carnival Sunday came around. By that time I was eying the dancehall and fetes. I wanted more challenges and the remuneration was more attractive.

“In 1994, Robert Amar offered me the job with Kisskidee Karavan and I signed a three-year contract with him. The Karavan, which had singers like Sparrow, Stalin, Shadow, Duke, SuperBlue, Denise Belfon, Supa Child, Ozzy Merique and Kindred was a nice experience and I enjoyed the season with them very much. What we had was a blend of the youths with elders. The show was too big to be a calypso tent and we didn’t do too well at Carnival. Amar called it quits in ‘95 and he gave me a release from the contract.

“For the 1995 season, Mr Munro had The Socathon at The Spectrum, where MovieTowne currently is, and he asked me to be part of it. Other pluses for the All Stars were Nigel and Marvin Lewis, the frontmen of the All Stars, winning the 1996 Road March with Movin’ to the Left, leaving in 1997 and making room for Kurt Allen and Derrick Seales. Kurt was also a Soca Monarch winner.”

Always behind the singer, Cape eventually decided to venture upfront and be a frontline vocalist as well. He decided to compose and sing his own song. He said: “In 1998, I had another new experience by having the song Jam Mih Mr Cape come to me like a dream while in the bath. I called Stalin as I came out of the bath and he told me that I already had a complete song and wouldn’t need his help. I made the Soca Monarch final that year with my own song and placed ninth.” Chuckling, Cape added: “I beat a lot of the more seasoned soca stars of the day in that final. I had the time of my life.” Cape has published four compositions with Black Stalin.

In addition to supplying musical accompaniment for Soca Monarch finals for 13 years Cape also developed a healthy relationship with Guyanese superstar Eddie Grant and with greats like Calypso Rose, SuperBlue. He also did an album – 1990, First Time – which was produced by Ottie Mieres. Cape’s second album – Highway to Calypso – was recorded in 1997 and was produced by Eddie Grant.

Cape has sustained a burgeoning fan base with his All Stars in the party circuit, regarded today by many as the “number one calypso party band on the planet.”

Reflecting in this accolade, Cape said: “I have been in the dancehall since 1997. I have seen them all come and leave, but the All Stars is still here, very strong and looking towards the future. I regret very much that in the changes since then to now, horns have been ejected from the music. I don’t criticise young people because with every era the new generation makes a valuable contribution to the music, which comes along with changes to the music. 

“We the elders would have known of Aretha (Franklin) or Gladys (Knight) or the Temptations has now given way to Beyonce, Nikki Minaj, Jay Z, Rihannas and P Diddy. Although I hate to say this, they are not of the same standard of Aretha and those artistes but they have done something to the hip hop music that has made it attractive to this generation and today’s young people. Soca music is in the same kind of realm as hip hop as it is the music of young people and if we can live with reggae music we can live with calypso music.”

Looking back on his life, Cape said: “I was given a Humming Bird (Gold) National Award in 2004, ‘for loyal and devoted service to the nation’. In 2011, I was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from UWI. We, the musicians, are the unseen heroes of the land. In today’s times no one cares who plays for who. I would only hope that me getting a UWI doctorate would be the beginning of the door being open for musicians to be respected and recognised. Since we have nobody to speak for us whenever I get the opportunity I always say something on behalf of my musician brothers because nobody sees the player behind the singer. If you are being shunned, and not being given due credit, it brings great pain to see that you are giving your best without any credit or just reward. One observation, if you go from Toco to Port-of-Spain you will never see a musician driving a Range Rover SUV, yet there is the perception that we make big heaps of money. If that was happening you would see it in our lifestyles. Musicians have lots of humility.”

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Roy Cape: A Life on The Calypso and Soca Bandstand will be launched on September 26, along with the Cape CD – Roy Cape: A Calypso and Soca Anthology – at Carib Woodbrook Playboyz panyard, Tragarete Road, Newtown, at 6 pm. Published by Duke University Press, the book will have its international release on October 3.

A full house crammed the Central Bank Auditorium on Republic Day, for a screening of the groundbreaking 1970’s local film, Bim. Seen in the audience were Ralph Maraj, producer Suzanne Nunez-Robertson, screenwriter Raoul Pantin, St Lucia-based musician Gene Lawrence, Christine Tanker and daughter Zo Marie, Pearl Eintou Springer, Verna St Rose and Robert Mayers.

The film’s cast included Ralph Maraj, and deceased actors Errol Jones and Wilbert Holder.

Wednesday night’s screening was the first of three being held under the auspices of the Lloyd Best Institute, and was introduced by Sunity Maharaj of the institute. The movie was last screened in T&T in 2007 at the T&T Film Festival. 

Pantin said he is surprised that the movie, which was screened in 1975, is “still relevant 40 years later.” He made the movie in collaboration with American director Hugh Robertson, his wife Suzanne and musical director Andre Tanker.

In the movie, the late Errol Jones played the role of an Afro-Trinidadian political leader in Port-of-Spain, with former parliamentarian/actor Ralph Maraj cast opposite him in the lead role as Bim. 

This week, Pantin said one of the movie’s profound exchanges between these two was Jones’ character meeting Bim at a party at the governor’s house and asking him to come out of canefields to join him in “town.” Bim replied: “Niggers and coolies don’t get together in politics in Trinidad.”

Pantin reminisced: “The head of the Censors Board then was Police Commissioner Tony May and the board was livid over much of the movie’s language and censored it. We protested outside the premises of the board, then located inside the police barracks. They wanted us to omit a lot of the expletives and what were termed ‘racist phrases.’ Eventually we did cut some of the obscene language.” 

Prior to Bim, Pantin had written four or five plays, one of them being the very popular comedy Radio Republic 555.

“I wrote Bim entirely out of my imagination,” recalled Pantin. “The Robertsons approached me to write a screenplay based on the book The Murders of Boysie Singh, written by an Englishman. Hugh went off to England to negotiate for the rights of the book but that fell through. I told him that having a good knowledge of crime in Trinidad and badjohns of the era, and Boysie Singh, I could write a story in my sleep. That is how it all came about.

“Though named Bim, the character’s name was actually Bheem Singh. But, when he came into Port-of-Spain it was creolised to Bim. I was playwright and was excited to be given the chance to write a screen script. This opportunity was something I wouldn’t let pass.”

Pantin said the idea of doing the movie was actually Suzanne Nunez-Robertson’s idea as Robertson, being an American, wouldn’t have known about Boysie Singh or crime and murders in Trinidad.

Pantin wrote a second screen script, Hans Boos’ The Haunting of Avril. He said: “That one was renamed Obeah and for some reason was never shown in Trinidad.”

Pantin said this week that he plans to reprise Radio Republic 555. Disclosing some of his trials, he said: “After my experience as a captive in TTT in the 1990 coup attempt I became a full-time alcoholic because that was my way of coping with the pressure. But, in 2005, I just stopped drinking alcohol and I have not had a drink since then. It’s also been 13 months since I placed a cigarette in my mouth.”

Pantin sounded crestfallen when he said that the local film industry has not progressed in the past four decades. He said: “The local film industry is virtually non-existent. How many feature films have we made in Trinidad since 1974? We have made documentaries, but no feature films. There is no tangible support in this country for a local film industry.”

Veteran actor Ralph Maraj said his lead role in Bim was one of the benchmark achievements of his career. He recalls that in the 70s, actors were enthused by the move to do movies. He said: “It was a period of great optimism for us all. When we got the opportunity to do the script of that movie with Mr (Hugh) Robertson and Sharc Productions we were elated. 

“I must pay special tribute to Raoul Pantin for the script. I think he deserves being recognised for his work, in addition to producers Suzanne and Hugh Robertson for their vision. I enjoyed working with Wilbert Holder, Hamilton Parris and the entire cast of Bim.” 

Speaking to the T&T Guardian from his home in San Fernando, Maraj said: “Back then, my optimism was high because I thought Bim would mark another step forward for the local film industry. We must also remember that it was Harbance Kumar who really produced the first movies – The Right and The Wrong and Caribbean Fox – for T&T. In those movies I acted with actors like Jasse Mc Donald, Angela Seukeran, Holly Betaudier and Tony Maharaj. So, that when Bim came along we assumed that the local film industry will be energised and moved forward. But, the government never actually facilitated our film industry, giving it no incentives. The government only got into the act during the last Patrick Manning admininstration by the establishment of the T&T Film Company which, in addition to giving tremendous support to the film festival, also helped in the development of film scripts and other areas, like training.”

Like Pantin, Maraj bemaons the inertia of the local film industry for more than three decades. He said: “Sadly and tragically very little progress has been made before the advent of the T&T Film Company. The film company is now incubating a film industry in T&T. We lost over 30 years with virtually no progress being made in local film. Very little or nothing was done by successive governments for the local film industry.”

Maraj feels a sense of pride with this weekend’s reprise of Bim. He said: “I think that Bim is one of our cultural treasures. I want to heap praise on those responsible for its revival and that of the local film industry. I continue to feel honoured to be given the lead role in Bim. In addition to the plays I did with James Lee Wah as my director on stage, and my own works which I have revived, I consider doing the role of Bim as one of the highlights of my artistic career.”

With five months still to go, Randy Glasgow is one events promoter who is ready for Carnival 2015. The big boss of Randy Glasgow Productions (RGP) told Pulse this week: “I am not joking next year. I have secured the services of some heavyweight sponsors for my events in 2015, including Super Industrial Services Limited (SIS) and Angostura, and this has allowed me to have everything on ready for the shows.”

One of the more lucrative signings Glasgow has had is with SIS which is sponsoring a “gift” of $50,000 to the largest and most impressive single group of patrons attending next year’s Chutney Brass at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, scheduled for Saturday, February 7. The Biggest Lime competition is open to all patrons attending the event in a group of over 100 people.

Glasgow said this week: “Over the years Chutney Brass has seen groups of friends and families attending wearing either T-shirts of the same colour and or with personalised designs on them. We decided from next year to foster and encourage this display of unity and pure enjoyment by offering a reward to the biggest, best co-ordinated and most exciting lime at the event.

“We are looking to encourage patrons coming from across the island to represent their communities, cricket, football and other sporting organisations, youth groups, UTT, UWI. We are also encouraging those folks coming in from other countries such as Guyana, Suriname, Canada, United States, London to make their ‘Big Limes’. They can hopefully be the group that returns home with that extra $50K in their pockets.

“With the general elections taking place next year some people who heard of the plans for the competition have already indicated to RGP that they and their big limes will be donning T-shirts bearing their choice of candidates from the various political parties and for their respective constituencies. RGP welcomes this as long as it is all done in the spirit of good fun and with mutual respect towards one another at the event,” Glasgow said.

Next year will see more than ten chutney bands, an international guest band, over 20 chutney artistes, top chutney DJ's along with dance troupes, comedians and more taking the stage at Chutney Brass. 

The other exciting development for RGP is that rum giant Angostura Ltd has signed on one of their leading brands (White Oak Rum) as a major sponsor for three big Carnival events next year and in 2016. The official signing took place last month at Angostura headquarters, Eastern Main Road, Laventille.

Angostura senior marketing officer, Ricardo Bideshi signed on behalf of his company, while Glasgow did the honours for RGP.

The two-year deal made White Oak Rum the official rum and gave Angostura's subsidiary company (Servic Ltd) exclusive pouring rights for Ladies Night Out—International Edition (Hasely Crawford Stadium, on Friday, January 30); brand new Sunbern Festival, featuring 15 soca and chutney bands on Sunday, February 14, at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre; and, SIS Chutney Brass.

Special invited guests at the signing were entertainers Nadia Batson, Raymond Ramnarine, KI Persad, NCC CEO Michael Guyadeen, and Lonsdale Advertising CEO Ken Attale, Angostura's Giselle La Ronde-West, Romesh Singh, Andy Vieira, Keiron Gomez and Dale Garraway also participated in official signing.

Angostura has been a long-standing supporter and sponsor of RGP events spanning 12 years.

Mas goes along the Mohawk

Along the Mohawk will be the 36th mas presentation of Lionel Jagessar & Associates (LJA) come Carnival 2015. The celebrated southern mas man will launch his band on the night of Saturday, September 27, at Space la Nouba, South Trunk Road, La Romaine.

This week Jagessar said: “Our organisation is family run, owned and operated on the premise of providing customers with the most affordable and beautiful product. In addition to our Carnival band on the road we design and produce costumes and products for other groups, schools and bands for Carnival day and other types of costumed events and parades.” Over the Independence long weekend, Jagessar’s beautiful native American Indian characters were seen in the north at Pan on the Avenue and at Carib Woodbrook Playboyz Independence Day lime LJA has produced and displayed costumes and even done performances internationally as well most recently in Zimbabwe and BVI, and previously in Germany, many other Caribbean islands.

Jagessar said: “We have even won Band of the Year for the West Indian day parade in New York.” 

LJA holds many prestigious titles, the most notable being the Humming Bird (Silver) national award, presented to Jagessar in 1999, for his service to culture. Other titles include, Band of the Year (Large) in San Fernando; multiple San Fernando Queen and King of Carnival titles; and 14 Individual of the Year titles.

“We were the first competing in a traditional Native American costume, to win the National Queen of Carnival title on Dimanche Gras night at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain,” Jagessar said. “We hold fast to traditional costumes, fancy Native American to be precise and, not forgetting our roots, we also produce modern costumes to cater to customer needs.” 

Along The Mohawk will comprise of seven sections, with a minimum projected membership of 500 masqueraders. 

Jagessar has several targets for LJA. He disclosed: “I want us to be the first band in San Fernando Carnival to be fully all-inclusive.” 

Music at the launch will be by Karma.

Comedy for charity

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Yangatang Comedy Tent will be presenting a special gift of entertainment and treats to children of the Princess Elizabeth Centre, Woodbrook, and the St Mary’s Children’s Home, Tacarigua, on September 28.

At the shows, the children and staff will be entertained by top comedic artistes along with extra surprises. They will enjoy performances from Tommy Joseph, Peter Joseph, Lady Aiesha, the Caribbean Maccometre Comedy Group, Princess Margaret and Gerard Weekes, Granny X and more. 

The event at the Princess Elizabeth Centre begins at 1 pm and the other in Tacarigua is scheduled to start at 4 pm. At the end of the shows the children will all be treated to refreshments. 

The management and staff of Princess Elizabeth Centre and the St Mary’s Children’s Home extended the opportunity for Yangatang to provide a day of fun and entertainment for the children.

The last time I saw such a large audience at the SWWTU Hall in Port-of-Spain was many years ago at Carnival time for the opening night of Kitchener’s Calypso Revue tent. Fans of Mighty Sparrow turned out in numbers and packed every nook and cranny of the Wrightson Road showplace when members of the Queen’s Park Oval, calling themselves Friends of Sparrow, held a musical tribute titled Sparrow: A Special Someone—to the Calypso King of the World.

I found the show to be a very entertaining one, held in a convivial ambience, except that the venue was too heated because not one of the electric wall and ceiling fans was operational. But, everyone endured the show’s duration, including Sparrow, his wife Margaret, daughter Karen and granddaughter Ashley. The event showcased seven “amateur” calypsonians, some of them past monarchs of Queen’s Park Oval’s annual calypso competition, singing Sparrow’s songs.

Music accompaniment was outstanding throughout the show, nostalgic even as the band under musical director African drummer Louis Mc Williams, as the music was akin that which used to be heard in the calypso tent in years gone by. Holding it together up front on guitar were Steve Neaves and Marva Newtown, and bassist Alliford Phillips. Some of the best horn licks I have heard in years were played by saxophonist Sylvan Sylvester and trumpeter Allan Nelson, with former Blue Venture keyboardist Patrick Johnson on the ivories. Keeping everything tight and together was drummer Richard Joseph. It was something of a homecoming with veteran trumpeter Errol Ince’s return to the Revue stage to do a cameo with the band.

The band was actually a collection of friends of show emcee, retro kaiso virtuoso David Bereaux who did a remarkable job when he performed a dramatic interpretation of Queen’s Canary and other past vintage Sparrow calypsoes. Bereaux also featured later on the programme when he joined Randall “Swami” Galt in a fun exchange of Sparrow’s Madame Dracula and Melody’s Belmont Jackass. This item vitalised the audience.

Nigel “Temples” Galt and Wayne “Doppy” Dopson were also on top of their game, Galt singing Lying Excuses and Dopson reprising BG Plantain and Dan is the Man. The latter has long relinquished his amateur status and has been a performer with the Kaiso House tent.

The audience sang along with the performers for almost every song with one—Pan Jam Fete—stumping patrons. Even Sparrow seemed surprised when Swami sang this ditty. Galt also performed 60 Million Frenchmen, The Number is 69 and Drunk and Disorderly.

Past national extempore monarch Black Sage also performed doing Maria, Jane and Melda. Chris Garcia, whose Chutney Bacchanal of yesteryear still remains a crowd-pleaser, changed the mood of the evening by rendering a soulful interpretation of Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn’s Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart, a popular gold record single by Sparrow on the European circuit.

The one glitch as far as performances went was when Gary “Dozy” Almandox forgot the lyrics to Sparrow’s Water the Garden, but he concealed his omissions effectively.

By the time all the artistes had performed, a seemingly jaded Sparrow mounted the stage and performed just Saltfish and Congo Man. Though tired and obviously dehydrated Sparrow maintained strong timbre and pitch in his voice. The show ended with the performers returning on stage to sing 1956 Road March Jean and Dinah.

Seen in the hall were Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee; Justice Malcolm Holdip; COTT CEO Josh Rudder; TUCO president Lutalo “Bro Resistance” Masimba; anthropologist Ray Funk; New York producer Rawlston “Charlie” Charles; popular disc jockey Donald “Sugar Fingers” Browne; Hollis Kam; radio programme director Gerald Agostini; former National Calypso Monarch Duane O’Connor; and, JP Ackbar Khan.

BBQ for a cause

Very inclement weather almost completely washed out last year’s event, held at the National Hockey Centre in Tacarigua. That day there were persistent heavy rain, thunder and lightning, and high winds but the organisers stood firm and the first ever held Tongs On Fire turned out to be a much-enjoyed and successful charity event. The weather was so threatening that hockey players on the field scampered for safety.

This year, Tongs On Fire 2 annual barbecue cook-off competition is being held at the Scout Association Grounds, St Ann’s tomorrow from 4 pm. Organisers are planning to man their pits of fire and ignite their hearts of gold once more, to battle any threat of formidable weather for the cause. Competition is expected to be tough between barbecuers of chicken, ribs, pork, fish, beef and pig tail.

This year, the beneficiary charity will be Fire Prevention Awareness Drive/Burn Victim’s Assistance, as well as national hockey players. Last year’s beneficiary was Malvern Sports Club’s Schools Outreach and Development Programme.

Tongs On Fire is driven by the organisers’ commitment to make a relevant and meaningful contribution to society. Its goal this time around is to distribute mini fire extinguishers and smoke alarms to the public, especially to families whose homes are vulnerable to the threat of fire.

Organiser Nicole Patrick said this week: “Proceeds of this competition will be funnelled into fire prevention awareness. The distribution of this equipment would in conjunction, with assistance from the T&T Fire Services as the Fire Services Department has planned a list of events for October 5-11, with the theme Smoke Alarms Prevent Fires.”

Apart from excellent food, tomorrow’s family event will also include live entertainment by popular artistes, a rhythm section and tassa group, moko jumbies and DJs and a premium bar.

Tributes continue to flow in for world-acclaimed Trinidadian dancer, choreographer, actor, designer and painter Geoffrey Holder, 84, who died of pneumonia on Sunday evening, even as his family planned a fitting farewell for him. Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas said the nation had lost a favoured son.

“For me I have nothing but admiration for his work, as it had to do with his pioneering spirit in the field of arts and culture, especially at a time when we in T&T were not that savvy of those fields. Artistes like Holder made a significant impact in a wide range of disciplines; in art, film, dance, not just locally and regionally, but worldwide. 

“His passing is a tangible, symbolic loss to our nation. For us in the ministry we will look forward to doing something to honour the memory of Geoffrey and his brother Boscoe.” Yesterday, dancer, painter, calypsonian and comedian Bill Trotman said: “Geoffrey Holder was my mentor and his death has hit me very hard. “All the work I have done—my art work, singing, dancing—were turned on by Geoffrey Holder. 

“The first time I ever saw him dance I was about 17 years old and that was in the Port-of-Spain Hospital. He, Julia and Stretch Cox were dancing and that left a lasting impression on me to become a dancer. The next time I saw him was in Poisson Rouge at Little Carib Theatre. Then I saw his paintings. 

“Geoffrey, my father and Mr Boothman used to live in the same area in Corbeaux Town. We grew up sorta togetherish. He inspired me to try to get into the Art Society, in which they did everything, painting, singing and dancing.  “His death hurts me a lot. He was a very special kind of human being.”

Playwright, actor and the star of local movie Bim, Ralph Maraj, said: “It is sad to know Geoffrey has departed. He was clearly a trailblazer of phenomenal talent; a versatile man, skilled in various fields. He was a dancer and choreographer but was also a very impressive actor and visual artist.  “I saw him in the James Bond movie as Baron Samedi, a very towering presence with a unique booming voice. I didn’t have the privilege of seeing him on stage as an actor but I’m sure he was quite amazing.”

Veteran dancer/choreographer Linda Pollard Lake, Danse Assemble artistic director, said: “I had the pleasure of being in Geoffrey Holder’s company in the living room in a small house in Belmont, where his brother Boscoe lived many years ago, when he visited Trinidad.  “It was a terrific and unforgettable experience to be in his presence. I sat in awe and never said a word. I was completely dumbfounded by the power of the man. 

“It was like being in a class at the feet of a teacher as he spoke about the arts and dancing. He eventually took me aside and said, ‘My dear, you must never let them know your mystery.’ I have never forgotten that encounter.”

Look Who? is a new monthly feature that tells the stories of cultural pioneers who have been off the scene for a while. These features try to answer the question, “What ever happened to...?” This month’s instalment features one of the region’s most talented guitarists, Gene Lawrence. 

Gene Lawrence, 75, is hailed as one of the Caribbean’s most versatile and accomplished musicians, and every musical thread he has woven throughout his illustrious career has turned into gold. 

Born in St Vincent, he has the unique pleasure of being a citizen of T&T, St Lucia and St Vincent. Lawrence, who has been married to Katherine Buxo for 51 years, is the father of Barry Lawrence and Jodi Phillips.

Lawrence has fond memories of his childhood in St Vincent and in Trinidad, an experience which endears him to both countries. “I left St Vincent at the age of nine,” said Lawrence this week. “My family owned Brighton & Connery estates up in the country in Georgetown, but we lived in Kingstown. I lived close to a place named Victoria Park where all the major sporting activities on the island took place, like football and cricket so, as a child I enjoyed the things all boys enjoy. When the family migrated to Grenada I attended Presentation College where I wrote GCE. 

“Most of my holidays were spent in Trinidad but I came to live in Trinidad around the age of 16. A lot of guys remember me from school holidays and think that I was Trinidadian. I grew up with guys like John Henderson, Syl Dopson, Willy West and John ‘Buddy’ Williams, all good musicians. The steelband and guitar were my big entry into music.” Lawrence recalled playing pan in St Vincent and subsequently adopted the guitar as his instrument of choice.

He said: “When my father went away to fight in World War II, unknown to us, he left behind a guitar which was given to me at the age of ten. At that stage I couldn’t play a guitar but I had a good ear for music. I used to tune bottles, filled with different amounts of water, and played music on them. My musical colleagues and I did a record—Kaiso 1—which was released in Trinidad in 1958. Of the guys that played on that record I am probably the only one alive. It was a super recording and was done upstairs a residence in Woodbrook. The record had only traditional Trinidad calypsoes on it.

A finger-style acoustic guitarist, Lawrence is versed in classical, folk, popular music, calypso and jazz. An original member of Silver Strings Combo, one this country’s foremost musical aggregations, a composer and arranger, Lawrence has also played with the Troubadours and was a pan player in the early days of Silver Stars steel orchestra. 

He was also a guitarist in Olive Walke’s La Petite Musicale folk choir for many years.

He recalled: “I was very much involved in Olive Walke’s choir. We made songs like Mangoes and Zingay Tallala which became very popular. Denyse Plummer’s father, Buntin, and myself were the guitarists of Walke’s La Petite Musicale. We did a tremendous number of shows before I went to England to study.”

Lawrence said idleness and the restlessness of youth caused him to eventually go to Britain. He disclosed: “I was on a fast track in Trinidad, partying every night. I worked then at T Geddes Grant and used to find myself falling asleep on the job every day as almost every night I’d be out somewhere liming ‘til morning. I realised I was wasting time so decided to go to London. I didn’t have money then and bought my passage to England by selling my car. I did Building Construction at Hammersmith School of Building and Arts in Shepherd’s Bush, London.”

The late 50s were heady times for Lawrence as he played music in perhaps then the country’s top combo. “Before 1960 we started the very first combo with electric guitars and called it Silver Strings,” recalled Lawrence. “The group’s leader was Kenneth Pinheiro and the band also had Stanley Pinheiro and Dennis Garcia, known as the Elvis Presley of Trinidad. Dennis, who was from Belmont, combed his hair like Elvis, and danced like Elvis. Silver Strings became extremely popular. 

“Before the electric guitar and amplification of instruments, which came into focus after the second world war, horn instruments held the spotlight. The electric guitar became something of a new instrument, taking over the lead in a band and pushing horns in the background. Coming fast and furious thereafter were combos like Cassanovas, Group Solo and Esquires. The combos had a new sound and new approach to music. It caused a marriage between combos and the big band sound. A real revolution took place in the music in the late 50s. The big bands had very little vocalists but the combos made vocalists very popular in fetes.”

Saturday Night Sunday Morning, recorded at Semp Studios, was Lawrence’s first solo LP. This disc included a unique version of Rio Mansanare. Lawrence has since done four more LPs, namely Sunset to Sunrise, Special Delivery, Together and Spirit of the Caribbean. There are several original compositions on each album.

Through the years Lawrence has worked with artistic luminaries like Aubrey Adams, Beryl McBernie, Helen Camps, Peter Minshall. 

He has done it all, teaming up with Group Solo leader Robert Bailey to produce several shows, including a special performance with opera singer Monica Ortiz Ruck at Queens Hall; opened for the Spanish duo of composer Jose Greco and flamenco dancer Nana Lorca; and toured with Paul Keens Douglas on various occasions. He was the original “singing emcee” for Keens-Douglas annual Talk Tent Theatre for three years, and was a special guest at the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Talk Tent in 2008.

Having done feature performances at the Queens Park Oval in 2003 and 2004, Lawrence has accompanied several popular calypsonians including Mighty Sparrow, Relator, Terror, Gypsy and Bill Trotman.

Overseas, Lawrence formed the Triniana Quintet in England, a popular Caribbean group in London in the 60s. In England, he performed at the West Indian Students’ Centre, Oxford and Cambridge May balls, town halls, and other venues. He also played and entertained the touring West Indies cricket team at the prestigious Waldorf Hotel. Lawrence has appeared on British television, and composed and performed a special calypso for a show called This is Your Life, hosted by Eamonn Andrews, for the late Sir Learie Constantine.

Lawrence’s musical career is one that has to be the envy of many, one rarely accomplished by most. He has toured many Caribbean islands, and performed live and on radio and TV in Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada, St Lucia, St Croix, Martinique and T&T. He also performed for the first and third editions of the Story Telling Festival of the Caribbean, held in Barbados.

While resident in St Lucia, Lawrence has performed at the St Lucia Cultural Centre and other venues for that island’s Folk Research Centre, Cancer Society, Sickle Cell Association, Drug Rehab Centre, the government and numerous hotel venues. 

Lawrence has the honour of composing and arranging music and lyrics for St Lucian musical The Hewanorra Story which opened at Pigeon Island Ampitheatre, and was subsequently performed through the year at local theatres. Excerpts of this work were used for the opening of the 1998 St Lucia Jazz Festival. Lawrence said he has done many compositions and arrangements of theatrical works in St Lucia. He said: “I composed and arranged music and lyrics for the plays La Chunga and Mary Could Dance, performance at Eagles Inn through the month of October 2000 and again at Bay Gardens Hotel, St Lucia. I was also presented and was featured in A Man for all Seasons, staged at St Lucia’s Tent Theatre in December 2002. This work was a two-hour long performance of mainly my own compositions. For this work I received the M&C Fine Arts Award for Best Performance 2004.”

In more recent years Lawrence has continued to create and produce excellent music, collaborating with the best in the region. He recalled: “I worked with Derek Walcott in the very early days of the Little Carib Theatre in Trinidad, and more recently in arranging and presenting the music for his play Steel as its musical director; as well as composing and arranging the music for Walcott’s play Odyssey which was performed in Italy and Spain.

“At the Trinidad Jazz Festival in March 2010, I was the featured performer at Jazz on the Greens, along with greats like Ray Holman, Douglas Redon and Michael ‘Ming’ Low Chew Tung. Three years later, I performed for the international Literary Festival (Word Alive) at Samaans Park, St Lucia. Also in 2013, I was the sole musician in the stage performance of Walcott’s Starry Starry Night, staged at Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain, in November, to sold out audiences.” 

Lawrence received the prestigious music award as Honoured Composer in 2013 from St Lucia’s Cultural Development Foundation. His most recent work is the CD Melemelanj, released last month. This disc consists of several original compositions using authentic indigenous Caribbean rhythms.

Musing on the evolution of Caribbean music, Lawrence said: “The music has changed and has become much more technically sound. A lot of the young fellas now have taken the trouble to learn, to read and score the music. They have come to learn the importance of musical notation and putting proper arrangements together. 

“Today’s musicians, like Dougie Redon, are much (more) proficient in music than we were back in the old days. This has also happened with the steelband and has made a significant impression on my own music. When you listen some of the intricate arrangements in Panorama are comparable to any classical piece of music you will hear.”

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Gene and copyright associations

Apart from playing on stage, Lawrence has notched many other accomplishments. He was a director of the Copyright Organisation of T&T (Cott) for three years, and is currently the PRS representative and director of the Hewannorra Music Society, St Lucia’s copyright organisation. A founder/member of the National Association of Musicians and Entertainers (NAME) in Trinidad he holds the same post in the St Lucia Jazz Society. Lawrence has been chairman of the St Lucia Jazz Festival Committee from its inception in 1992 to 1994, and was the first chairman of ECCO, the copyright organisation of the Eastern Caribbean, until his retirement in 2010.

One Caribbean Voice (OCV) is a concept that was spawned in 1997, based on John Arnold’s composition by the same name. It has since been registered as a Sanch Electronix trademark and evolved into a business paradigm.

This year Sanch is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Signal Hill Alumni Choir with the event OCV Tobago that includes a commemorative magazine. 

Sanch Electronix founder/CEO Simeon Sandiford summed it up best when he explained: “In 2003, a business model was proposed entitled One Caribbean Voice (OCV) ™. The essence and vision of this message are captured in the theme song by the same name composed by John Arnold, musical director of the Signal Hill Alumni Choir, Tobago. Graphic artist Kenneth Scott conceptualised and created the trademark imagery for OCV. 

“The prominent theme articulates Caribbean stability, represents the peoples of the region and evolves from a backdrop of things Caribbean. OCV seeks to preserve the sovereignty of each island through messages and a brand of sophisticated cultural products and services. These capture the essence of a unified Caribbean, show support for each island, bridging cultural, economic, ethnic, social, political and religious barriers. The portfolio has universal appeal with unlimited potential for foreign exchange earnings. The first tangible project to have evolved under the OCV umbrella is a Virtual Education software suite. 

“This consists of the Pan in Education Business Model (PIE) and the animated instructor Pete the Panstick (affectionately called Pete) that incorporate ICT, animation, indigenous rhythms and instruments of T&T into a Learning Management system Pan Online, for creating music industry professionals. 

The curriculum encompasses music literacy, music production, technical English, steelpan manufacturing and business modules, appropriately supported by the social sciences.

Sandiford continued: “The vision is ‘to improve the quality of life of all stakeholders through education by using indigenous rhythms, musical instruments and software to develop and nurture a sustainable Caribbean Music Industry in blended learning environments’. The mission is ‘to create globally-competitive music industry professionals emanating from the classroom in tandem with other sectors of the Caribbean economies’.”

Sandiford believes that, apart from music and entertainment, many other facets of culture are commercially exploitable under the aegis of OCV. These include art and craft, cuisine, fashion, jewelry, sport and recreation, high-profile individuals and literature. With tangible public/private sector support, many opportunities are envisioned for showcasing competitive products and services in the global arena thus ensuring the “survivability” and eventual prosperity of “Caribbean-ness’..”

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Signal Hill Alumni Choir will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a concert at Central Bank Auditorium, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, on October 25. Included on its cast are The Lydians, Marionettes Chorale, Bank Notes Choir, and Pedro “Timmy” Lezama.

Stellar cast for pan jazz festival

Belmont Intermediate alumni David Michael Rudder returns to school on October 18 for a grand performance. 

One of T&T’s most revered artistes, Rudder will be one of the stellar acts on the cast to grace The Courtyard of Queen’s Royal College, St Clair, for the 2014 edition of Pan Royale. 

Rudder is billed to perform with his band, led by longstanding collaborator, guitarist Wayne Bruno. Rapid Response weaves pop, jazz, blues and soca strains into a propulsive fusion that enhances the incisive lyrical expressions and profound cultural allegories which have brought Rudder deserved comparisons to Marley, Fela and Springsteen.

Some of the brightest stars in the worlds of pan, soca, Latin jazz and world beat music will align at the staging of this T&T Steelpan and Jazz Festival’s (TTSJF) concert presentation, scheduled to begin at 6 pm.

This year’s concert lineup includes world-renowned trumpeter Charlie Sepúlveda, a professor in Latin jazz standards and Afro-Cuban music at Puerto Rico’s Conservatory of Music. A two-time Latin Grammy nominee, Sepúlveda, who recently recorded his fourth album featuring his close friend, Latin jazz legend pianist Eddie Palmieri, will be backed by an all-star Trinidadian-Puerto Rican aggregation comprising Gadwin Vargas (congas); Gabriel Rodriguez (bass); Raul Maldonado (drums); Michael “Ming” Low Chew Tung (keyboards); and Natasha Joseph (pan).

Also featured is Trinidad’s sitar master Mungal Patasar and his fusion band Pantar. A distinguished master artiste in residence at the University of T&T, Patasar is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who has earned numerous national honours for his contribution to T&T’s culture.

Pantar delivers a courageous, compelling blend of traditional Indian music, jazz, calypso and reggae with steelpan accents.

Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra celebrates its 79th anniversary this year. Recipient of the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) in 1982, All Stars is an eight-time National Panorama champion and is widely respected for its innovations in pan’s development, including adapting classical music to pan and the creation of the bass pan (credited to their former captain Neville Jules). 

The band’s recordings of calypso hits Woman on De Bass and Curry Tabanca, both arranged by Leon “Smooth” Edwards, have brought many new listeners to steelband music.

At Carnival 2014, All Stars was judged Band of the Year (Large) for its presentation Four Generations of Sailors, only the second steelband to secure the title in the past 51 years. Expect All Stars’ Pan Royale performance to embody its history, pioneering character and overall musical excellence.

Conversely, a rising star within the steelband world, the Supernovas Steel Orchestra was formed just four years ago in Surrey Village, Arouca. Led by Amrit Samaroo, son of the legendary steelpan arranger Dr Jit Samaroo, Supernovas’ debut at Panorama 2012 brought it an impressive second-place finish in the Small Band category. The band secured that category’s top spot at Panorama 2014. 

Supernovas’ varied repertoire includes Latin, jazz, Indian, classical and calypso, each selection played with precision and youthful inspiration. It has performed to rave reviews at various events throughout Trinidad and is poised to win many new fans at Pan Royale 2014.

Pan Royale 2014 is a tribute to Ainsley Mark (1944-2014) TTSJF co-founder and the former chairman of the QRC Foundation, an alumni-led association that raises funds for the prestigious school.

It’s a homecoming for this event as it was last held at Queen’s Hall. Striking a harmonious balance between upcoming and veteran talents, homegrown and international acts, Pan Royale 2014 is certain to hit all the right notes.

Tongs on Fire chases rain away

It was one of the better organised fund-raisers I have attended and to think it was organised by a mere handful of people. The second annual Tongs on Fire BBQ competition was held at the Boys’ Scouts Association, St Ann’s, last Saturday. 

The brain child of attorney Nicole Patrick and Independent Senator Elton Prescott, the benefits of the event are twofold—bringing friends and family together to promote good food, good meat and positive conversations, and supporting causes that may be overlooked in light of trendier endeavours. 

This year the beneficiary of the event was the T&T Fire Service whose Fire Prevention Awareness Week began on Sunday.

This year the weather was not as threatening as that of one year ago at the first edition of this event, staged at the National Hockey Centre in Tacarigua. But, persistent rain, gusty winds at times and the promise of a mud bath did not keep the keenest of competitors away, nor the patrons.

Nine groups took part in the competition, judged by Duane Sylvester, Conrad Parris and Peter Ray Blood, co-ordinated by Nathalia Nasib-Cletus, where Team Hog Up the Place, led by brothers Brent and Stewart Sankar, won People’s Choice. Hog Up the Place also won the Best Pork Ribs award. 

Other teams on winners’ row were Venture Credit Union (Best Tent); Sagicor (Best Team Spirit); and, Trini Jam (Best Fish). Second year participant Hyatt Regency, led by Jason Sealy, won the award for Best Chicken. Tony Vieira and Team Pork Cabal, also a winner last year, topped the Exotic category and, in a surprise move, donated their winnings back to the charity.

A big surprise to patrons, aside from actually seeing all the BBQ chefs and spirited helpers cook their meals, was the guest performance by Massy Trinidad All Stars and the Tunapuna Rhythm Sounds. All Stars was really entertaining, having patrons dancing the evening away as the Duke Street band played a concert-like, full length performance.

Kings of soca parang and pork in Arima

The Christmas star will soon return to the eastern sky, heralding the yuletide season and another edition of the massive annual Kings of Soca Parang and International Food Festival event presented by Randy Glasgow Productions (RGP). This will be RGP’s final major event of 2014 and they are assembling an impressive production at the Arima Velodrome on December 6.

This year’s run of the event is subtitled The Bacchanal and Pork Edition, keeping in mind that the General Elections are taking place in 2015 and also the continuing ban on hunting, which means no wild meat so the next big meat of the season, pork, will be offered in many fashions by the many specially invited food vendors and cooks.

Two musical kings of political controversy—Mighty Midget Cro Cro and Pink Panther—will ignite the fireworks with new parang songs exploring a vast array of political, social, economic and other issues including some personal misadventures of politicians and other public figures involved in the political arena. These performances will include a taste of calypsoes for Carnival 2015.

Other popular artistes who will serve as the peacekeepers and get the people dancing include the kings of soca parang Scrunter, Baron and Kenny J, as well as the clown prince of the genre The Incredible Myron B. Also performing are Ninja, Impulse, Ronoman, Marcia Miranda and other top acts among them traditional parang and more.

As for the food festival element of the event, RGP promises a truly lavish layout, offering 15 different pork dishes and when you purchase one pork dish, you get another one free. 

Also there will be a wide selection of traditional local Christmas fare with international seasonal cuisine and also contemporary dishes and other local year-long favourites. There will be lots of bars serving up those Christmas favourites like real sorrel, ginger beer and ponch de crème as well as premium drinks.

Discounted early bird tickets go on sale from today. Anyone needing information pertaining to vending and tickets can contact RGP (628 9158); Facebook/RGPEVENTS;
Twitter; Instagram.

Days after the launch of a book commemorating his work, veteran masman Stephen Lee Heung, 93, died on Monday night from pneumonia at St Clair Medical Centre. 

The book, We Kind ah People, by American judge and Carnival researcher Ray Funk and local photographer George Tang, was launched on October 7 at the National Library, Port-of-Spain. Yesterday Lee Heung’s son, Shane, said: “Dad died of a chest infection. Mucus had developed in his lungs and he was having problems breathing properly. 

“Dad suffered a stroke in 1997 but was mobile afterwards with the aid of crutches and a cane. “After a while he simply gave up and stopped going out. The last time he went out was to attend Dimanche Gras in 2012.” Peter Minshall designed Lee Heung’s 1976 Band of the Year winner, Paradise Lost, the first band Minshall had designed. 

Yesterday he said: “There are bandleaders and then there are bandleaders. The current crop is blatantly into making money on the work that they had learnt from the likes of Stephen Lee Heung, who never ever lost the love of making mas. We have lost one of the great producers of classic Caribbean art.” Five-time Band of the Year winner Edmond Hart, now 91, said: “I am taken aback by Stephen’s death. We were very friendly and were in the same Lions club. 

“When I first produced mas, Stephen played one year with me. He and his wife, Elsie, and my wife, Lil, and I were regarded as the couples of mas. We worked together abroad on a number of occasions,” he added. Hart’s son, Luis, now leader of Harts International, added: “Stephen and Elsie were responsible for giving many of the big designers their first break in mas. He did so much for T&T Carnival and was a true pioneer. 

“Many of the people who began by collaborating with Stephen ended up being some of the greatest contributors to mas in terms of visual excellence. My parents and the Lee Heungs were Carnival’s mas couples. “They were close as they were couples dealing in mas, closer than the others, like George Bailey and Harold Saldenha.” The late Wayne Berkeley also designed some of Lee Heung’s winning bands and his producer Earl Patterson said:

“Stephen was one of the best bandleaders of all time. The type of person he was... he had a welcoming heart to everyone. “The first time we were really close was when we travelled to Dallas, Texas, with Wayne Berkeley’s band. We sat for hours during the day, playing rummy and bonding. “On our return to Trinidad we continued playing rummy at Stephen’s home on Alberto Street. I remember that he loved a fried breadfruit very much. 

“I want to express my deepest condolences to Shane and the family.” D Midas Associates leader/designer Stephen Dereck said: “Another one from the glory days has passed. “Artistes like us cannot forget the creations he gave us. Stephen was one of the founders of the bandleaders’ association and he was also one of the first people to tour abroad with our mas, going to Montreal for Expo ‘67.”

Shane Lee Heung said funeral arrangements would be announced later this week, with the funeral tentatively scheduled for next week.

In the field of event planning and promotions there is a new player in town and its intention is to become a household name in the entertainment industry. Revel-Nation was launched at La Cantina, Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain, on October 9 and was well attended by several popular young professionals, headed by deputy mayor of Port-of-Spain Kerron Valentine. 

The main players behind Revel-Nation are Ephraim Gunness, co-owner of Uptimum Event Solutions, Velvet Concept and past director/owner of Black Velvet (2004 to 2010); Peter Rowe, former co-owner of Rossco’s Bar & Lounge, owner Rent–A-Light Event Lighting Company, former manager of operations 51 Degrees; and, Mark Lynch, co-owner Velvet Concept, co-owner Uptimum Event Solutions and former co-owner Black Velvet. 

Among guests were La Cantina proprietor Kester Sylvester; Carib Brewery Ltd promotions and communications specialist Lynn Patrice Ochoa; Digicel strategic partnerships and marketing manager Wendy Alleyne; bmobile marketing manager Naresha Ali Belmonte; United Insurance (Massy Group) marketing manager Marvin Andrews; Witco promotions officer Melissa Edwards; Toyota senior marketing officer Nora Shade; and Massy Motors director Natalie Karamath. 

Lynch articulated the company’s aims and objectives and introduced the team behind the brand titled “The Dawn of a New Era in Entertainment.” 

Lynch explained that Revel-Nation was spawned from a group of young adult professionals with an eager fire to offer that same target market a new revolution in the nightlife and entertainment industry through energetic, diverse, unique and sophisticated experiences. Coining of the term “revel” lends to the revelry nature of the people of T&T. He said: “Our sole aim is to provide world class, next level and blow-mind entertainment concepts and experiences to T&T and, in the near future, the entire region.” 

Revel-Nation will host “a premier entertainment concept on water,” billed as Revel-Ution, tomorrow at its cruise aboard the Harbour Master, from 7 pm. A spokesperson said: “Guests can expect an experience with added value from entrance to exit. We promise drink specials all night long, a mixed DJ cast, giveaways and special effects and decor to create a ‘floating club’ setting.”

Pan With The Saints 

One of the events staged last year to mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Holy Ghost Fathers in T&T and the founding of St Mary’s College, was the highly successful Pan With The Saints. The inaugural event featured six of the top steel orchestras performing various genres from classics, pop, R&B, jazz and, of course, calypso. 

Hosted by the Past Students’ Union, the event is being repeated on October 25, at the college’s Courtyard (Big Yard), Pembroke Street, Port-of-Spain, from 7 pm to 11 pm. Bands participating this year are Massy Trinidad All Stars, T&T Defence Force, Republic Bank Exodus, PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars, Skiffle, and the St Joseph’s Convent/St Mary’s College combined band. The combined band placed third in this year’s School’s Panorama competition, scoring just two points less than the winning band which was Providence/QRC combined. 

Among bands performing for the first time at this event are All Stars, Skiffle, and the Defence Force orchestra, which has represented T&T at military gatherings all over the world. 

In response to feedback from last year’s patrons, the Organising Committee will be making changes to the layout of the bands. For instance, instead of the three stages facing east, they will face north, thus allowing for more comfortable viewing by patrons as well as more dancing space. 

Pan With The Saints will be the first of a number of fund-raising events to raise money to carry out much-needed refurbishment of the physics laboratory. Also, part of the profits will be donated to Servol for one of its projects in Laventille. 

This project comes on the heels of a project being financed and executed by the past students’ union, that of air-conditioning the Centenary Hall. 

Tickets cost $200 and are available at Past Students’ Union’s office at the college (624-8468) and the management committee; Cleve’s Record Shop, Frederick Street; Crosby’s Record Shop, St James; Trini Reveller’s Mas Camp (Enrico Rajah – 745-4391); the panyards of participating bands and in South Trinidad from Felix Montenegro (684-5839). 

Security will be provided for patrons’ cars, with parking available at the Atlantic Energy car park at the top of Pembroke Street. There will be a free shuttle service to take patrons to and from the venue. 

Black Stalin sings again 

With every passing day Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste) gets stronger. While doctors said a few days ago that he wouldn’t be able to sing for some time to come, last Saturday, the five-time National Calypso Monarch sang for his wife Patsy and family. 

An elated Patsy said: “Leroy was lying in bed listening to the radio and just like that began singing Only a Fool Breaks his own Heart being sung by Sparrow. I was so surprised and happy that I began singing with him. I was surprised at the ease with which he hit the high notes. The children too were surprised as, although they didn’t know that song, were so happy to hear their father singing again, joined in. 

“We are continuing to keep a close eye on Leroy. Of course he will not be rushed into full recovery but he’s getting stronger with every passing day.” 

New music for Christmas 
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With Christmas Day a mere 69 days away I continue to be given new seasonal releases to promote. The variety of new music is well balanced between some humorous ditties and your run-of-the-mill parang soca stuff. On the funny side there’s Marcia Miranda’s Corn Soup and Bally’s Swinging Christmas, and in other genres, there’s work by Bally and Crazy. 

Corn Soup could have been sub-titled “leff hand soup,” as its effect on the man who consumed is akin that of the mythical Tobago “leff hand dumpling.” Its chorus refrain is of a hapless, smittened man asking “what yuh put in the corn soup woman?” Corn Soup is just one item on the Parang Fiesta Riddum, shared by Scrunter, Baron, Crazy, Rembunction, Oscar B, Trisha Hamilton, Crazy, Revelation and newcomer Rome. It is produced by Jessy “Chunky” John for Optimus ProductionsTT Ltd. 

On the Parang Fiesta Riddum, Rembunction is also funny, taking a pseudo-political slant with his 2Pull Pull. 

Bally is in serious problems in Swinging Christmas as he has a flaw in translation between himself and his lover Consuelo. 

Songwriter Michelle Loubon who penned the very popular Tito Lara is back again this year having given Crazy Merry Cherry. Like so many of his previous Christmas songs, this single is another infectious number by “the Lovable Lunatic.” In the comedic vein Crazy also has No Ham, done with Revelation.

Coming like a breath of fresh air to the Christmas music fare is Chris Garcia with his four-track CD, comprising his original compositions, namely Church Bells Ring, All I Want is You, Christmas in my Heart and Celebrate. Each track is a gem to cherish, each beautifully rendered by Garcia.

In memory of Geoffrey Holder, Broadway theatres dimmed their marquee lights on October 10 night for one minute, at 7.45 pm. Holder died on October 5 of complications of pneumonia at 84.
A dancer, actor and painter, Holder was also a Tony Award-winning director who led the groundbreaking show The Wiz to Broadway. Speaking to the T&T Guardian from New York, Holder’s nephew David Boothman said: “There were crowds of well-wishers, Broadway community of actors, dancers and performers who came in droves to cheer in memory and celebration for Broadway’s giant, Geoffrey Holder. “It was such a great feeling of camaraderie when the lights dimmed and the roar of applause as everyone shouted: ‘Geoffrey!’ Most of Geoffrey’s friends, students and casts from the Wiz and Timbuktu all came out. It truly was amazing.

Boothman said it was a great tribute “for a great Caribbean man and worldwide international renaissance artist.” He suggested that the Caribbean should do a Geoffrey Holder Day where everyone would wear coloured ties and carry coloured umbrellas. Boothman explained: “One of Geoffrey’s quotes from Geoffrey Holder: A Life in the Theater, Dance and Art by Jennifer Dunning goes: ‘Blue sings, red shouts. Grey can smile or it can cry.’ Geoffrey said: ‘In New York City, people seem to be frightened of colour because they live in a world without it. It only means that people have never been to a place where the colours really shine and where people enjoy vibrancy and life. But I was raised in a  world of colour, and nobody ran and hid from it...’”

Boothman added that, though he lived in the United States, his uncle was a patriot of T&T. “With all the international heights and accolades Geoffrey had reached and achieved, being honoured by nine US presidents, from President Kennedy to President Obama, and earning respect from royalty, princes, great thinkers and activists all over the world, Geoffrey Holder never gave up his citizenship. He still had his T&T passport.” Holder’s death, he said, had opened up possibilities for the Caribbean. “A lot of material on his work is surfacing. Caribbean archetypal intelligence is replicated throughout his many variations and multifaceted works of art...depiction of the multicultural Caribbean bonding of folklore revealed in choreographies like Dougla, Banda, and The Prodigal Prince celebrating Haiti’s mysticism,” Boothman said. “There are paintings of romanticism of Caribbean life, well-curated broadcasting Caribbean music programmes, and his book Black Gods Green Islands. Geoffrey Holder was a leader, a living Caribbean Baba-loa.”

Boothman believed his uncle left behind a legacy of substance. “Today we suffer the karaoke of superficiality that is plaguing the airwaves, media and values of our times, especially in our Caribbean development as one can see playing out with sleepers and clones. “We have to create the ‘buzz’ to sustain any semblance of the works of Geoffrey Holder and other great artists. Their lives and work were and are not in vain. They are the works and workings of the spirit that hold everything (our culture) together.” A spokesman for the family said that there was a private service celebration at the Trinity Church on Riverside Drive, New York earlier on October 10, attended by a close circle of friends and family. Boothman said there are plans for a public celebration in November.

Jayron Remy is not your typical, young radio disc jockey with a faux foreign accent who abandons his native, indigenous music to play hip hop and dancehall tracks. Known on the airwaves as DJ Rawkus, Remy took a bold decision to produce a series of calypso mixes, all October long, in celebration of Calypso History Month. 

From the onset of our interview Remy proclaimed: “The purpose of this series of mixes is to enlighten, educate and entertain audiences using the varying forms and styles of calypso. My inspiration was fuelled by the clear neglect for our traditional art form that most of the ‘urban’ radio formats follow, and those who directly influence the youth of our nation from an entertainment point of view. I have set out to share knowledge through my mixes.”

So, who is actually DJ Rawkus? Remy is now 28 and comes from Simeon Road, Petit Valley. 

He told the T&T Guardian, “I grew up with my mom but both my parents played a big part in my musical interests. I attended Holy Name Prep and St Mary’s College. My father used to play a lot of records and his collection was mostly of calypso and Michael Jackson. Mom used to work with Carib Special Events and sometimes she would take me to work with her so I would see when the artistes were setting up on stage and doing sound checks. I was fortunate to see all the bands, like Shandileer, Sound Rev and Atlantic doing sound checks. I just enjoyed being around music.”

Remy’s cousin, DJ Magnificent Sounds (Maurice Jackman), was also influential in him choosing his career path. He explained: “My cousin was working at 98.9FM at the time and would sometimes take me along to his overnight shifts. Eventually I learned to deejay through him. I then went to the Institute of Broadcasting Careers (IBC), run by Percy Parker, and started a DJ group (Lil Ruff Neckz) in Form Four at St Mary’s. We used to play at events like St Mary’s Mayfair and house parties. My cousin asked me to join his group, which I did with Gonzo from my group. We ended up landing our own overnight shift at 98.9FM, doing that for a couple years. Eventually, Gonzo and I left and started Rage (Rawkus and Gonzo Entertainment). This went well for a time before the radio station was closed and Boom Champions (94.1FM) and Red 96.7FM opened up. Gonzo was invited to join Boom Champions and I went to university.”

Remy attended the New England Institute of Art in Boston, majoring in sound engineering and production. While resident in the States he also worked on a ship, doing dinner cruises on the Spirit of Boston. “That experience widened my knowledge in music,” said Remy. “I learned about a lot of songs that I didn’t even know existed and deepened my appreciation for all music. I also interned at Boom Champions whenever I came home on vacation.”

Remy gained even more popularity when he became a part of the 3Canal family. He said: “While at St Mary’s College I actually emceed a fashion production at the college. Wendell Manwarren of 3Canal was directing and that’s how I met him. A few years later he asked Gonzo and me to DJ in the 3Canal’s Jab in the Box production in 2004. When I returned to Trinidad in 2007, I joined Boom Champions as a production engineer, and would sometimes double as a disc jockey. I was also offered a job with 3Canal’s Cut and Clear band.” 

This union proved to be an upward curve and further learning experience for Remy professionally. He said: “We went to Spain for Womex in 2008 and did a number of gigs after that with me as the monitor engineer. I graduated to become 3Canal’s DJ, then became their sequencer, all the while still working with Boom Champions.”

Always one to push the envelope, Remy wasn’t satisfied with being just a radio producer and was always looking for ways for the music and brand to evolve. He said: “Among the things I did at Boom Champions of which I am particularly proud is a Carnival campaign in which the top-of-the-hour featured modern soca artistes doing covers of older calypsoes and soca songs. 

For example, we had Shurwayne Winchester doing Sparrow’s Jean & Dinah and Fay-Ann Lyons doing her father’s Soca Baptist. “Beside the fact that I love blending the old with the new, I knew I was on the right track when Lennox Toussaint (veteran entertainment specialist) and Anya Ayoung Chee both complimented my work. We also did a campaign for an eco tour. That campaign turned into a monster in a good way. It went viral. Through the kind of work we were doing, though a lot of it was about party ads, we always tried to balance it with some positive stuff, under the guidance of station manager O’Brian Haynes.”

Becoming restless, Remy was ready to move on once more. He said: “I stayed with Boom Champions for about five years and then it got politically awkward to continue our relationship. I felt that I wanted to do more. I spent a year or two searching for that thing and so I developed Iheart T&T, a concert. 

The first one was held last November 30 at Napa. It was a great show but was poorly attended. It featured 3Canal, Gyazette, Tim Starr, Muhammad Muwakil and Keegan Maharaj. The concept of this particular production was to assemble artistes who had the pulse of the country and some of the veterans. 

“The second show was held in July, again at Napa, featuring Relator, Mr Shak, Chromatics and the 2 Cents Movement. This was better attended and it was just as great as the first. I was particularly proud of this one especially to have Relator on the cast, as he is someone I look up to. The highlight of that show was the performance of Relator’s Radio Stations by Mr Shak, Chromatics and Relator, followed by an extempore segment between Relator and Mr Shak.”

Commenting on his current acclaimed online series of calypso mixes, Remy said: “At the beginning of October I heard that Calypso History Month was being observed by Tuco. I was listening to one of those urban radio stations while on the road and it was featuring a month of American R&B and hip hop artistes. In my head I was angry that, in Calypso Month, this station, which has the power and control of the nation’s youth, would use that power, instead of using it to attract and inspire local youth to indigenous music, chose to show and influence them with American culture and music. I then took it upon myself that if nobody else would highlight our music in the month set aside to commemorate our music, then I would.”

Remy’s series is accessible on You Tube and Facebook, the music tracing calypso from its roots to current day. He said: “I opened the series with the story of calypso, then went into the struggle of calypso, moving on to the usage of calypso as a vehicle of protest. The third edition was more relaxed and featured the craft and beauty of double entendre, and finally climaxed with the purpose of calypso to tell stories and bring the news. I did this to educate and provide entertainment, especially for young people. I would like to target people my age and older.”

Remy is currently completing a course, titled Mentoring by the Masters, facilitated by the Ministry of the Arts & Multiculturalism. He intends to use his experience and newly-acquired knowledge to enhance and embellish his annual production.”

To hear the calypso remixes that Dj Rawkus has done, visit his Facebook page: DJRawkusRemy or look for him on YouTube: MrRawkusMusic.

Last Sunday the media were given the royal treatment when Salybia Nature Resort & Spa opened its doors for an all-day Media & Corporate Appreciation Day. 

Located on the island’s North-Eastern coast, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, on a picture-perfect day, media personnel were treated to welcome cocktails, a sumptuous lunch, lessons in scuba diving, spa treatment and live entertainment. Of course access to the resort’s premium bars was unlimited.

Upon arrival guests were formally welcomed by resort chairman Ronald Boynes and general manager Roger Boynes, his brother. There were also short addresses by Minister of Sport and Sangre Grande/Toco MP Rupert Griffith and chef Louis Callahan who seemed proud to showcase morsels from his Christmas buffet and hors d’oeuvre menus. 

Soaking in the sunny weather and cordial ambience members of the media wiled the day away mixing with each other, sharing the spa treatment and playing some exciting and vociferous rounds of All Fours. In the latter, the noisiest players were Sharon Pitt, John Gill and Steve Khan.

The media were also taken on a tour of the property, including its new villas which can accommodate 18 guests and its Superior De Luxe suites. Plans for the Salybia Christmas Village, a project by the Sangre Grande Community Development Foundation, to be held in collaboration with the villages from Matelot to Matura, were also revealed. Free to the public, activities at the village range from the Christmas-style lighting of the streets of Salybia village; the lighting of the Christmas tree and opening of a creche at Salybia Government Primary School; the hosting of the North East Coast Children’s Christmas Treat at the school; a children’s play area; and, live entertainment at the resort. 

After a day of pampering most media folk fell asleep on the shuttle, safely driven by red band maxi driver Dennis, back to Port-of-Spain during the two-hour-long return trip.

Playing mas with a purpose

Playing mas for charity could very well be the catch phrase of Carnival band Wee International (WI). Based on Cornelio Street, Woodbrook, this band is just six years old and has donated much of its spoils to various deserving charities. WI doesn’t just donate funds but actually pairs with charities, involving its members to join in on the road. WI’s tag line is Play Mas with a Purpose.

Bandleader Ricky Davidson explained: “We started the band in 2008 after the closure of Poison in 2006. We wanted to make people feel like family so we came up with the name ‘Wee’ and, because it was planned to expand worldwide, ‘International’ was affixed to our name as well. 

​“After four years of begging and pleading with our revellers to wear costumes both days I had this innovative idea to make Carnival Monday an educational day letting the spectators and world know, that even though we are having relentless fun in Trinidad on these two days we are aware of the ills that affect the world. We decided to do something for charity in the same breath, killing two birds with one stone. So, ‘play mas with a purpose’ was born.” 

Davidson continued: “In 2011 (our fourth year), Jisselle ‘Wassie’ Joseph, on our team at the time said ‘let’s do cancer.’ So, Wee went to the Cancer Society of T&T and got the approval to dedicate one day of mas to them. 

We paired with them so it was Pink Monday, an awareness of breast cancer. Wee had the Testing Mobile Unit come to the camp and did free screening on a day during the season. All our revellers were given pink T-shirts and pink hats to wear on Carnival Monday, it was spectacular. Ironically, Wee had more people playing mas on Monday than on the Tuesday. A female mas player told me ‘ah rather give charity meh money than you’. It was the perfect Carnival Monday and, all profits made from Monday mas went to the society.” 

Davidson continued: “The next year (2012) Wee decided to play Blue Monday, to raise the awareness of human trafficking and modern day slavery. Wee went to Rainbow Rescue Home, spoke to a Mrs Wilson, got the necessary approval and did a fantastic Blue Monday with 1,600 people hitting the streets in blue. Again, the proceeds from profits went to the home.”

In 2013, with the success of the preceding two year, WI hit the streets with Purple Monday, making a statement for violence against women, children and men. Davidson said: “We paired with Families in Action that year and attracted 1,800 people. All in purple they had much fun. We had another great turnout and perfect day in 2014 when we did Red Monday, our awareness presentation for HIV/Aids, this time partnering with the Cyril Ross Home for Children, an institution for children with HIV/Aids. With every woman in red dresses and hats, and men in red T-shirts and hats, it was a sea of red; 2,000 masqueraders in red.” 

Next year, WI is presenting Fireworks and its Monday presentation is themed Multicolour Monday, aimed at raising the awareness of autism. Davidson said: “If there is no Ebola and Carnival goes on we anticipate 3,000 people this time. 

“Wee are the first mas band ever to do this type of educational venture and contribute to charity in the process. Wee are also the first band to stream our band launch live via Internet for the world to see, something we started in 2009. Thanks to God, a good management team and a very hard-working committee, Wee International is a success story.”

Davidson said WI is already planning for Carnival 2016.

It was a rainy, chilly Friday night but I was kept warm by the sound of music from two of the Caribbean foremost musicians–saxophonist Roy Cape and guitarist Gene Lawrence. Both men have just released new CDs, Cape’s A Calypso and Soca Anthology and Lawrence’s Melemelanj.

A Calypso and Soca Anthology is an 18-track collection of Cape’s life’s work, produced by the prolific Alvin Daniell for Major & minor Productions Ltd. It compiles 50-plus years of music, dating back from 1960. The music of three legendary local bandleaders–Selwyn Wheeler, Clarence Curvan, Ron Berridge–occupy the album’s first five tracks. The selections include Wheeler’s interpretation of The Ugly Duckling, actually a piece composed 100 years ago (in 1914) by Russian Sergei Prokofiev, and the 1963 Inez and Charlie Foxx composition Mocking Bird. These are followed by Curvan orchestra’s arrangement of Moulin Rouge; and, Lillipops and Roses and My Favourite Things by Berridge’s orchestra. Cape played for these three orchestras when just barely out of his teens.

Cape also records his stint with Sparrow’s Troubadours via the 1969 recording of Sa Sa Yea and Bongo, on the Sparrow Troubadours-Hot and Sweet LP.

On nine of the ensuing tracks of the CD Cape displays his wide range of musicianship and diversity by highlighting various artistes he has provided musical accompaniment for, including Black Stalin (Kaiso Gone Dread and Name the Game); Ras Shorty I (Watch Out my Children); Nigel Lewis (War Party); SuperBlue (Barbara); Destra (Tremble It); Blaxx (Carnival Questions and Breathless); and, Kurt Allen (SSS). He also features his collaborations with Stalin, including 2002 ditty Leroy, Roy as well as his own composition Sing Your Song.

If only for its wide range of material, I found the Cape CD to be very appealing. Mastered by Martin “Mice” Raymond, Cape was assisted in procuring vintage material for the disc by calypso researchers Teddy Pinheiro and Desmond Peters.

Four studios in four Caribbean islands spawned Lawrence’s Melemelanj CD. The St Vincent-born musician recorded the disc at Leeboration and Denyl’s Sound studios (St Lucia); Sanch Electronix (Trinidad); and, Hit Island studio (Barbados). Mixed by Toby Armstrong, Danyl Daniel and Francis “Leebo” De Lima, and mastered by Lawrie Dunster at Curvepusher, in London, all songs were composed by Lawrence.

A patois word, Melemelanj means “a conglomeration, a callaloo” and this album lives up to its title, imbibed with the authentic nuances and rhythms of the Caribbean. Among its exotically titled and Caribbean-infused tracks are Jolanta, Chatoyea, Shining Bush, Dr Macumba, Monkey, Shango and Chunga. Further afield there are Zambezi, Montevideo and Blind Billy Blue. 

Work is the title of another track, played in a madan style, the authentic work rhythm of St Lucia, using traditional harmonies in a modern arrangement. Also native to St Lucia is Zambezi which adapted the island’s Coromanthe rhythm.

Chatoyea is actually a three part melody where the first two melodies are composed to be played simultaneously using the Baladi rhythm. This track was influenced by the heroic love stories and myths surrounding the great Carib chief Chatoyea who is recognised as the first national hero of St Vincent & the Grenadines. This item incorporates the use of strings (violin, viola, cello) to create a distinct mood.

Lawrence hopes that the composition Shango will encourage the use of more from the rich and untapped repository of our traditional indigenous rhythms in our modern compositions. 

Shining Bush, which has a modern calypso melody, and Blind Billy Blue are two pieces inspired by acclaimed St Lucian playwright Derek Walcott.

These two CDs are an elixir to relax mind, body and soul in all weather so don’t wait for the passage of another tropical wave to go out and purchase copies.