A quartet of pan musicians from Trinidad created history three months ago by being the first local pan musicians to perform in Astana, Kazakhstan. The musicians are Kwesi Paul (Pandemonium), Terry Guischard (Skiffle) and, Andre Rikky Robley and Carlon Morris (Desperadoes). The tour was made possible by Asia Events and the Caricom Secretariat.

Astana Expo 2017 finally came to a close on September 10 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The theme of the exposition, which commenced on June 10, was Future Energy. The exposition boasted of participants from as many as 115 countries and 22 international organisations. The following 12 Caricom member states participated in the exposition: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and T&T.

These countries participated at little or no cost as the government of Kazakhstan provided a generous financial assistance package to all Caricom countries.

While T&T did not participate in the expo, the twin-island republic was well represented and actively promoted by four pan musicians of the Caribbean Steelpan Connextion Ensemble (CSCE), which is based in Belmont. Through the vigorous and generous efforts of Leela Ramoutar, Commissioner of the Caricom Pavilion, the four travelled from Trinidad in early July to Astana.

According to the group’s manager, Israel McLeod MA, the team deemed their participation “an absolute success” but one which was not without its challenges. McLeod reiterated the need for Government, together with the national steelband parent body Pan Trinbago to place on its front burner, “structured, informed and realistic solutions,” to alleviating the costs on the shipping, air freight and insurance of instruments as an example. This she felt, would help to create more international travel for steelpan orchestras, thereby making bands more “self-sufficient and consequently, increasing the income for its membership through global performances.”

When asked about the reception of the steelpan, McLeod also relayed that it “greatly mesmerised,” the attendees and exhibitors while “boosting the morale of my guys.” In fact, McLeod boasted that it was because of Ramoutar’s vision and passion, that the Caricom Pavilion won the Gold Award for Joint Pavilion Design Content during the award ceremony of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE).

Chipping in, Ramoutar said: “These world expositions present incredible opportunities for the branding, marketing and promoting of countries.” She added that the CSCE musicians made sure that T&T was well represented as the national flag was proudly displayed at every performance and also flew high at the Expo Parade which gained international attention.

McLeod said: “By not participating in the last few expos, T&T continues to lose out on opportunities to market our cultural industries. All this in the context of the national budget and how we could use steelpan to diminish the national debt. Specifically, we are not using the steelpan too effectively (through policy development) to enhance entrepreneurship, productivity and innovation.”

McLeod continued: “We are eager to have investors come on board, particularly from the agro-processing, manufacturing and services sector, because of the interest that has been shown overseas. This would complement our own fund-raising efforts.

“We have pending invitations from the UAE (as early as this November) and more in places such as Holland other eastern continents.”

Mapping out their journey, Paul said that from Trinidad they took a connecting flight from London to Ukraine then proceeded on to Kazakhstan. He said: “Upon arrival we went straight to the expo to get a feel of the place and do a bit of sightseeing. Our first performance was three days after we arrived.”

Astana is a very new city in Kazakhstan and is still under development. Paul predicts that the city will be a popular tourist destination in the future as most of it reminded him of Las Vegas. Guischard said: “Like a real modern city, Astana has it all, bars, clubs and even casinos.” The quartet was also impressed by the city’s architectural structures and the importance its officials place on horticulture.

The musicians were a featured act at the Future Energy Expo and actually began their adventure on July 26. Looking at the lighter side of the tour, Robley said: “We didn’t have any apprehensions or misgivings about going but some people expressed concern, some asking ‘all yuh going there? Why’? Because it is a fundamental Islamic state people thought we might be in danger. But, it was the exact opposite. For instance, unlike in Trinidad, if you bought a beer you couldn’t venture out of the bar with it. It had to be consumed indoors. The laws were also strict as far as interacting with women was concerned.

“Kazakhstan is actually a state that comprises a mix of people beside Muslims as there are also a lot of Russian nationals living there. Not everyone wears a hijab or Muslim wear.”

Guischard interjected: “After one of our performances, while walking through the expo, a woman came to congratulate me. I was about to give her a bounce when she withdrew letting me know that that was forbidden; no physical contact is allowed between men and women.

“What I also found interesting that it was the first time that most of these people were actually seeing a black person in the flesh. In one day we must done about 5,000 selfies with curious Kazaks.”

The CSCE’s tour roster included three performances per day, of 30-minute sets each, for almost two months. The ensemble played a mixed repertoire that included calypso, soca, jazz, reggae and contemporary hits. Paul, who served as CSCE’s musical director, said: “We played popular selections like Shape of You, Despacito, A Train, Ethel, Bailamos and Machel’s Fast Wine. We played songs with which the Kazaks were familiar with like Despacito and Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”

Robley said: “The people expressed surprise to hear the kind of music that was coming from oil drums. Some of them thoroughly examined the pans going underneath them to see whether there were any hidden devices emitting the sound.

As for the future and doing any local performances CSCE is well on their way to securing gigs. “First off, we have a wedding in October,” said Robley. “Then we will be performing at Pan in D Rosa in December. We also intend staging our own concert, as well as add another musician to our ensemble, most likely a percussionist.”

CSCE has received nothing but plaudits on its historic tour. “Ms Ramoutar is very proud of how the tour went and what we did on placing the music of T&T on the global stage,” said Robley.

Entertainment was in the driver’s seat this past holiday weekend across the nation. Beginning on Friday evening, Brass 2 the World (B2W) performed on Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain and The Man, The Message, The Mood, The Music: A Tribute to Shadow was staged at Shaw Park, Tobago.

Last weekend’s entertainment schedule also included four mas bands launching their Carnival 2018 presentations; Twelve Tribes of Israel and CAL Invaders, celebrating the T&T 40th Republic anniversary; and, Sando Fashion Week presenting Earth-Wind-Fire – An Evening of music, art and fashion at the Creative Arts Centre.

Another major event was Sunday’s One Island benefit concert, held at the Queen’s Park Oval by Errol Fabien and No Laughing Matter. To round of the weekend, despite heavy rain nationwide, there were fireworks displays on Sunday evening at the Queen’s Park Savannah and in the Cyd Gray Complex, Roxborough, Tobago.

This weekend will just be as action-filled and this evening the eagerly anticipated Priests Can Cook event takes place at St John’s Ambulance Hall, Wrightson Road Ext, Port-of-Spain, beginning at 6.30 pm. Staged by the staff of Archbishop’s House and the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM), with assistance by the St Mary’s College Past Students’ Union, a compliment of RC priests, led by Archbishop Joseph Harris, are expected to show off their culinary skills. There will also be live entertainment by Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Pedro Lezama, Take 5 Band, The Camejo Sisters, Sacred Heart Girls’ RC School Choir.

Auditions for the 2017 Talent Expression, open to individuals 25 years and under, will commence at Southern Marines Pan Palais, Southern Main Road, Marabella, at 1 pm and in Central Gandhi Memorial Vedic School Alumni will hold its 65th Anniversary Ceremony at Passage to Asia, Chaguanas, at 6.30 pm.

This evening, RS/RR Productions will reprise Man Callaloo...The Making of a Perfect Trini Man, at CLR James Auditorium, Cipriani College, Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Valsayn, with a repeat on Sunday evening. Theatre is also in the mix tomorrow and Raymond Choo Kong Productions will premiere Buss’ Mark on De Water Taxi, at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. At the same time Baggasse Company will stage Dan the Travelling Man, at Central Bank Auditorium, Lower St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain.

As far as Carnival 2018 is concerned, tomorrow We the People, Etienne Charles’ Carnival Monday band, will launch Street Party, at the Government Campus Courtyard, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, from 9 pm.

Tomorrow’s agenda also has Christmas fun stuff taking place as Excel Production Ltd holds its second annual Silver Bells Parang & Pork at La Solidad, Maracas St Joseph, at 9 pm. Headline acts include Los Alumnos de San Juan, Alicia Jaggassar, Sharlene Flores & Flores San Jose, Los Paranderos de San Miguel, Crazy, Kenny J, Rikki Jai and Myron B.

Rastafari are also to be featured tomorrow night from 10 pm when Twelve Tribes of Israel hosts A Night of Royal Order, feat Dr Vernon Carrington, in Diego Martin, and Balance – A Celebration of Life, featuring Black Chariot, Nyahbinghi, Solid Rock, Covenant Sounds and more, will be staged at Club Amazon, EMR, St Augustine.

Trinidadian Naomi Chin Wing has hit the mother lode in the world of fashion. Winner of the 2015 Coco Velvet International’s Top Model T&T contest when she was a mere 15-year-old, Chin Wing was signed to a global modelling contract with Elite Latin & South America and IMG Model Management and made her international runway début on September 26 for Yves Saint Laurent. Two days later she was again on the runway for Rochas Paris at the Paris Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion Week.

Elated Coco Velvet International (CVI) CEO Christopher Nathan said: “I discovered Naomi in July 2015 at the Coco Velvet Fashion Workshop that was held at Nalis in Port-of-Spain. I was first struck by her height and body proportions which are perfect for the international fashion industry, as well as her unique Asian/Creole features. I later discovered that those same features caused Naomi to be bullied at high school, for her thick lips and skinny legs. Hopefully she will inspire young women who have similar features and physique which causes them to be insecure.

“I think what separates Naomi from other models is that killer instinct she has, a quality that many local models lack. On any given day, during its last week, the schedule for her Paris agency (IMG Model Management), included up to six castings and two runway shows. In the past I have signed Coco Velvet models to international contracts and after three months of a hectic schedule like that they throw in the towel and return to T&T. However, Naomi stuck with it, dealt with the pressure in a professional manner, and is enjoying the results and fruits of her labour.”

Chin Wing rounded off her European stint by modelling for Alexander Mc Queen which, when ended, made one of her dreams come true. Nathan explained: “After the McQueen show, world renowned fashion model icon Naomi Campbell, who is Chin Wing’s model idol, came backstage to be introduced to Chin Wing so impressed was she. She cautioned her to be ‘the good Naomi’.

“In the international modelling industry the names of A-list models are reserved. It is quite incredible that Chin Wing has been allowed to keep her name. IMG advised me that they were going to change her name to Omi as their can only be one Naomi (Campbell) but she was allowed to keep her name.”

About the meeting, Chin Wing said: “I was actually introduced to Naomi Campbell by a member of the Alexander Mc Queen team, it was amazing meeting such a fashion idol.”

Asked what it felt like to debut in front of hundreds of international photographers, media and fashion professionals for Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer fashion show at Paris Fashion Week, Chin Wing said: “I was nervous at first but that went away when I got in the catwalk, because I know that I have come a long way to be here.

“I think the most challenging part for me was being confident because I am still a bit shy. But, I put all the shyness and nervousness behind me and walked like no one was there.”

Chin Wing admits to coming a long way since she first embarked on her fashion journey and said: “I first learnt about modelling in primary school, I was always a little fashionista.

“In 2015, just two years ago, I went to a fashion/modeling workshop held by Coco Velvet International director Christopher Nathan. Although the workshop was already halfway through he still allowed me to participate in it.

“At first, I was very shy and introverted, so having to walk in front of everyone was quite nerve-wrecking but as the workshop continued I gained some confidence in myself and put a lot of work into my walk and my ability to be in front of the camera.”

Just past the age of 15 and choosing to leave home and migrate to a big country among strangers was not much of a challenge for Chin Wing. “It was quite easy for me because my mother was with me,” she said, “but it is hard on other girls who have to come to these cities by themselves.

“Confidence is one of my strengths. I have experienced bullying because of my height (5’ 11”) and size. I thought that I wasn’t good enough, or pretty, or too tall but now I know those things are not true. I simply tell people, ‘Hey, I am now representing Trinidad and Tobago internationally and that feels great.”

Chin Wing’s achievement is actually CVI’s ninth international success. Naming previous successes, Nathan singled out Crystal Noreiga, Dominique Armorer, Marsha Alexander, Paul-Robert Pryce, Kai Leggard, Michelene Auguste, Soowan Bramble and Wendy Fitzwilliams. Said Nathan: “Wendy was Coco Velvet’s principal model when she won the Miss Universe title in 1998. They were all trained at CVI’s annual fashion workshop and have developed into polished, accomplished models.

“I must acknowledge John Bilboa, director of Elite Latin & South America, which is CVI’s international management agency. He has been the one who has been responsible in signing the models internationally. Also Sharon Imbert who is the CVI fashion workshop coach.”

About the local fashion industry and whether modelling can be a viable career here Nathan said: “I believe our local fashion industry is a diamond in the rough that has the potential to become a very viable economic sector. However the fashion community has to start working together, support each other’s initiatives, and the projects by CAFD (UTT’s Fashion Academy) and FashionTT.

“CAFD graduates must be employed, even if it’s only on the basis of internship, to provide them with industry experience. There is too much fragmentation in the industry and players are craveteous and not willing to share opportunities when they come by.”

About her experience Chin Wing said: “I did enjoy my first major international fashion week experience. It was a lot of fun doing the shows and meeting girls from all over the world. I absolutely love Yves Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen’s collections.”

Last week Chin Wing shot a beauty editorial for prestigious Harper’s Bazaar (India) before departing Paris for London. Currently based in London, she will be working out of NYC, London, Paris, LA, Milan and Sydney. Chin Wing is scheduled to return home to Trinidad during the second week in December for a short vacation.

Following last evening’s staging of We goin’ down Sando steelband concert by the International Steelband Foundation (ISF) at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (Sapa), the national instrument continues to enjoy a place of prominence on the local entertainment calendar. Last night’s event featured reigning National Panorama champion Massy Trinidad All Stars, First Citizens Supernovas and Skiffle Steel Orchestra.

Young pan musicians will be showcased tomorrow evening at 6 pm when the Casablanca Music School holds its annual, fund-raising Youth Stars In Music Christmas Concert. This event will be held at Casablanca Pan Yard on Norfolk Street, Belmont.

MHTL Starlift Steel Orchestra and Sensational Tours will premiere Parang & Steel, featuring Los Parranderos de San Miguel, Starlift and more, at Starlift House of Music, Christopher Samuel Drive, Mucurapo Road, St James, at 7 pm. This event will be repeated on October 28 and December 2 at the same venue.

Come February 4, 2018, the ultra premium all-inclusive Carnival experience – PanLime in D City – will be held at the Government Campus Auditorium, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, from 4 to 11 pm.

Hosted by Epic Events & Marketing Solutions, organisers said the event offers attendees an introduction to the venue, the pan, the ambience, the bands, the white, the fashion, the premium drinks, the culinary explosion, the desserts, and more.

Patrons can expect a welcome by CAL Invaders Steel Orchestra, and an on-stage performance by the 2017 National Panorama champion Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel, fused with the styling of the Dil-e-Nadan, featuring Raymond Ramnarine, and D All Starz, featuring Blaxx and Ricardo Drue, as well as the fire of (King) David Rudder and Wayne Bruno Rapid Response. In addition, a “chip-home-to-pan” will be provided by Woodbrook Playboyz.

A Culinary Explosion will take taste buds on journeys to France, Italy, Thailand, Mexico, Morocco and the Caribbean, including T&T, through the Pasta Bar, and Seafood and Grill stations, inclusive of a Cheese Cake Boutique, pork and wild meat, and frozen dessert stations.

As well, introduction will be made to PanLime’s Criston Michael White Fashion. For the occasion Paninclusive Co has launched its own fashion line, and is offering to customise a white ensemble for those intending to attend the event. It will also be offering hair and makeup services, with light refreshments (fruit, sparkling water and wine) at a venue situated close to the event.

Unfortunately, tomorrow’s Reaching Souls II event, scheduled for the Eddie Hart Grounds in Trincity, has been cancelled. The show was being staged by Supernovas and Pan Trinbago’s Eastern Region

New Panorama music coming

The gates have flown for Panorama 2018, despite discordant notes being heard in the pan fraternity. Pan composers continue churning out songs despite the disrespect of the songs not being played on the radio and government’s continued failure to legislate for more local content being aired on radio.

Three composers returning to the fray for Panorama 2018 are former Road March champion Crazy, pan musician, arranger, composer Dennis “Smithy” Smith and Jason “Peanuts” Isaac. The panmen have dug deep into their pockets to entertain their many fans.

Smith is coming with Pan Break which speaks to reported break-ins at panyards. Calypsonian Crazy and lyrics man Gregory “GB” Ballantyne have combined with the south-based son of the soil for this single. Crazy’s collection of Panorama songs also includes Wind and Solar, composed by veteran songwriter George La Barrie.

Isaac of Pan Redemption and Ten Commandments of Pan fame is back after a five-year lay-off with The Message which exhorts pan lovers, as well as citizens of the wider national community, to bring back the love in the country. Some big names in music have teamed up to produce for this Brooklyn, USA pan musician including Junior “Ibo” Joseph and Frankie Mc Intosh. Word on the ground is that the Isaacs’ single is being considered by a south steelband to take it to the Big Yard.

In other pan news Daisy James Mc Clean of Harlem Syncopators, the country’s oldest living female pan musician, is still in need of assistance to complete the Daisy James Pan Theatre, located opposite 60 Quarry Street, Est Dry River, Port-of-Spain. Anyone willing to assist can call Daisy at 623-7471

Awards for gospel music

To be hosted by Gospel Artiste Management Services (Gams), the inaugural Gospel Music Awards of Trinidad and Tobago is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018. As its name implies, the event is intended to serve the purpose of recognising and honouring the contributions of excellence by artiste involved in the various genres of gospel music. Apart from the live presentations of awards in 20 categories, the evening’s programme will be interspersed of several gospel music artistes.

A spokesperson for Gams told Pulse that the Awards show would be held annually and undoubtedly “can emerge as the singular greatest event on the social calendar of Christians everywhere.” The tentative venue for the show is the O’meara campus of UTT in Arima. The spokesperson added that prior to the actual event itself, Gams will be embarking on a membership drive to enlist people involved in gospel music across the country.

Other objectives include great emphasis being placed on the gospel artiste, their evolving careers and dignified lifestyles, on the basis of their talents and abilities. In that regard, selected individuals will be offered recording contracts, complete with music video production arrangements, management facilities, marketing and opportunities for promotion via media publicities.

In pursuance of its objectives and to heighten awareness of the awards show an artiste performing arts workshop is scheduled for Monday, October 30 at the Regional Indoor Sport Complex, Saith Park, Chaguanas.

A descendant of the original inhabitants of this country, Tracy Assing can be considered a “princess” of a proud people, the Caribs.

Originally from Arima, Assing—the great niece of a Carib Queen—has continued to keep traditions and memories of the first people alive.

She’s a complete media practitioner, having worked in print, radio and television. Assing is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communications, doing film and considers herself primarily a “storyteller.”

Proudly speaking about her roots as a child of the First People, Assing said: “On both my mother’s and father’s sides of the family we have indigenous heritage. My mother’s family are from St Vincent and from Tamana and Arena, and my dad’s from Venezuela and Caura.

“My great-grandmother, my dad’s grandmother, Clemencia Hill, was one of the founding members of the Santa Rosa Carib Community, now the First People’s Community of Arima. My great aunt was Valentina Medina, a Carib Queen.”

Determined to keep her people in the foreground, Assing, who made a film on the First People—The Amerindians?—a few years ago, said: “I worked on it for two years before it premiered at the T&T Film Festival in 2010. The film is a continuation of my work exploring my heritage and identity.

“At the time when I made the film I had been writing critical essays in the Caribbean Review of Books and Caribbean Beat about my own family history and how it is part of that indigenous story of survival. I was encouraged to use the skills of my craft to examine the story we had been told about T&T’s indigenous history and also to examine what is left.

“My great aunt was the Carib Queen at the time of filming and she passed shortly after it premiered. I took the opportunity, while she was alive, to talk to her about how that role of matriarch had been interpreted.”

The Amerindians had its North American premiere at the University of Toronto and Assing gave lectures at other screenings held at York and Trent Universities to students in indigenous studies programmes, as well as those studying Caribbean history. Said Assing: “The film was very well received and just about every year I get requests to address to students at the University of the West Indies. It was also screened at UTT and recently for a group of history students at Costaatt.”

On October 14, there will be a free screening of The Amerindians at the Town Hall in her hometown Arima. “I will be there to answer questions about my work,” she said. “There are two other fantastic films in the line-up and the shows start at 12 noon. I am advising that people get there early as seats are limited. I am so excited.”

Asked if she feels her film created awareness and had any effect on the national community, or expedited the one-off holiday, the 42-year-old said: “I believe it has created more awareness of the fact that the ‘cannibal Carib’ and ‘peace-loving Arawak’ narrative had and continues to have an impact on real lives, as did the Cedulla of population between 1783 and 1793.

“The fact is the land on which the Arima mission stood, for example, was never meant to be sold. But the truth is, you know, these titles of land ownership were never important to the indigenous; it is the people who came that commodified the land.

“We didn’t understand the importance of that piece of paper (a deed) until the man with the deed came and said we had to work for him to stay there or get off the land.”

Assing continued: “When I did the film and when I wrote about my heritage, my end game, my vision, was never for a public holiday.

“I’d rather not spend time talking about holidays when there is work to do. I think sometimes giving a holiday is a politician’s band aid. I think the vision for indigenous recognition has to do with correcting the national history record, recognising that the youth in communities where there is a strong connection to indigenous practices can use some help to them help themselves.

“For example, they know about the bush and hiking so maybe they should have scholarships to help indigenous youth certified as rangers/tour guides so they can stay in their communities and still earn a living doing something they love. I am talking about young people in Brasso Seco, Blanchisseuse, Santa Cruz, Paramin, Maracas/St Joseph, Toco, Matelot...

“Building a community out of something more than a Catholic festival (the Santa Rosa Festival) requires leadership that is inclusive of many different views.”

Assing’s research and archiving of the Amerindian peoples has been a labour love. She said: “This is my life. This story is a part of me and I am bound to tell it. This is how I honour my ancestors.

“My family and I maintain a close bond with our environment, and we are fiercely loyal to the land. We do our best to protect our forests and our rivers and to honour our ancestors by telling their stories and sharing their legend with the next generation.

“We need to return to these indigenous practices, to maintain our partnership with the land, to ensure our survival.

“I am committed to continuing my work. I am not part of the structure of the official Santa Rosa Carib Community but that does not mean I am not a member. This is my heritage and I represent for it proudly.

“I continue to write our survival story.”

Classical Jewels XI, scheduled for November 18 - 19, is being branded as “the ultimate steelband concert for 2017.” Headlined by Massy Trinidad All Stars the event is titled From Jules to Jemmott, two of the band’s iconic arrangers.

This year’s edition of this even is significant in that it marks 70 years since the steel orchestra adopted the name Trinidad All Stars, spawned out of Hell Yard in Port-of-Spain, previously named Hell Yard Cross of Lorraine and Second Fiddle.

In the year when All Stars appointed Neville Jules as its captain, he initiated a culture of discipline, innovation, dedication and commitment to excellence, traits that remain alive today and which have fuelled the Classical Jewels series of biennial concerts.

Classical Jewels is a blue riband event for All Stars as revenue generated from the concert goes towards the orchestra’s academic and social programmes, geared toward reducing the crime rate among the young people in the East Port-of-Spain community, as well as assist in the implementation of its adult literacy and other personal development programmes and enhance its pan theatre.

Since its premiere 33 years ago, Classical Jewels has been served by some of this land’s renowned musical figures including Fitzgerald “Jerry” Jemmott (Uncle Jem), the late Nelson Villafana and Gillian Nathaniel, and Derek Nurse.

Daryl Joseph, All Stars’ PRO, said this week, “In a year which began with a historic tenth National Panorama victory for us we consider Classical Jewels XI to be the pinnacle of 2017.”

A release from the band revealed that Classical Jewels XI will showcase the best of Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra.

The culmination of several months of hard work, this 11th edition of the beloved series which began in 1974, is dedicated to Trinidad All Stars’ heroes, former leader Jules and former Music Director Jemmott.

On concert night Trinidad All Stars will pay musical tribute to these icons, in the process transporting the audience through a tantalising musical tapestry accompanied by an exciting constellation of guests including violinist Eleanor Ryan, soprano Rahel Moore, vocalist Sheldon Reid, the UWI Arts Chorale, and the Duke Street steelband’s very own super pan musician Dane Gulston.

Music Director on this November journey will be Deryck Nurse along with guest conductors June Nathaniel, Jessel Murray, Mia Gormandy, Sule Sampson and Junior Orchestra Music Director Kygel Benjamin.

The concert, to be held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of- Spain, is scheduled to begin at 8 pm on November 18 and at 6 pm the following evening.

Tickets are priced at $300 and are available at key Massy Food Stores; NAPA’s box office; and, at the Orchestra’s theatre, 46-48 Duke Street, Port-of-Spain (627-2127). Part proceeds will be donated to Goodwill Industries Vocational School for children with special educational needs.

Brother Superior goes to Nelson Island

The National Trust of T&T will host its third annual Vintage Calypso on Nelson Island on Saturday, October 21, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at the Nelson Island Heritage Site. This event is in commemoration of Calypso History Month and features Lord Superior with supporting acts which include: Lord Relator, GB, Poser, Lady Adanna and Abebele.

Andrew Marcano, christened Lord Superior when he entered calypso more than six decades ago, is a multi-talented artiste who began singing calypso at the age of 16 at the Victory Calypso Tent, Port-of-Spain and later at the Young Brigade Calypso Tent with fellow calypsonians Mighty Sparrow and King Fighter.

His contributions to calypso has paved the way for many in the fraternity. He was the first calypsonian to produce a record on his own record label; the first to perform at the Madison Square Gardens, New York, USA and the first to produce a full length calypso musical.

Answering to the stage name of Brother Superior since the ‘70s, this calypso living legend celebrated his Diamond Jubilee in 2014, and was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (silver) in 2015. This year, he will receive an Honorary Doctors of Letters (DLitt) at the 2017 graduation ceremony at University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus.Tickets are available at the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago’s Office, 68-70 Sackville Street, Port-of-Spain, and the San Fernando and Portof- Spain Water Taxi Terminals.

For further details about the event please contact the National Trust of T&T (225 4750 / 330 0630; Fax: 226 1008 or email: chenelle.spooner@ planning.gov.tt

De Legacy is on this weekend

Following of its very successful July concert, The Codrington Pan Family is back with another dynamic night of entertainment for the entire family.

Billed as De Legacy, the concert will be held tomorrow at TLC, UWI, St Augustine. The show, which begins at 7 pm, will feature performances by the Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors (SOCA) and of course, hosts Codrington Pan Family.

This is the first concert to feature the Codrington’s re-branded look, which is in keeping with the ensemble’s strong commitment to family and community.

It is also indicative of the Codrington’s sterling contributions to the international music industry by way of the steelpan. In 2015, the group was the first steelband to premiere at the legendary SXSW in Texas.

On a more sober note the concert is also being hosted to assist the ensemble’s founder, Cary Codrington with medical expenses related to his treatments for cancer.

To date, Cary is the only arranger to have taken birdsong Steel Orchestra to a large band national Panorama final. In 1999, he founded The Codrington Pan Family, from which his children, Keisha and Khari, are remembered for their historic feat at the Pan is Beautiful XII Steelband Music Festival. Their other siblings, Kareem and Kaijah, are also involved in steelpan tuning and manufacturing.

T&T Carnival literally runs on diesel fuel and, with the increase in diesel, from $2.30 per litre to $3.41, Carnival 2018 could certainly be negatively affected. Bandleaders, steelbands, promoters all rely on the transportation of instruments, equipment and music, with significant reliance on dieselfuelled cabs that carry trailers. For some mas bands, costumes have already been fixed so it is now too late to pass on any increased cost of fuel to the masquerader.

As far as steelbands are concerned, with scores of them relying on transport companies to move instruments to several competitions and commute pan players and instruments on the road on two days of carnival, the situation becomes a little bit complicated. Complicated because steelbands tend to hire transport annually, sometimes with a last-minute arranger between band and transport company.

In recent years, any major show/fete at carnival has a mammoth stage, some costing in excess of one million dollars, as a primary requirement on its need-to-have list. Aside from transporting the components for these stages, other pre-requisite fabrications, like tents, flooring and barriers, are also at the top of the list.

Also at the top of the list, is the contracting of protective services personnel, ie fire and police. With these services having to pay more for diesel fuel to use their buses, most likely their extra duty fees would also increase.

Reigning Band of the Year (Large) bandleader Ronnie Mc Intosh said his band, Ronnie & Caro, will not be negatively impacted by the increase in diesel fuel. He said: “I am have already conversations with my transport people. My trucking company has not increased its prices for Carnival 2018. Every time there is a situation people tend to put a negative spin on if it will affect carnival; but, I prefer to be positive and focus on the types of contributions and benefits carnival makes to the national economy. Having said that, my costume prices have already been fixed so that remains the same. My transport on the road remains the same, and everything will remain the same with Ronnie & Caro.”

About the wider carnival scene, Mc Intosh said: “ I don’t think the fuel increases would negatively affect next year’s carnival. There is always a panic and exaggeration whenever we seem to have a crisis. As a people, we have a tendency to be always premature before the numbers have been crunched and allowed to soak in.

“Certain sectors of the country use this uncertainty to their advantage and convenience, and use it as an excuse to increase prices. Some also refuse to eat little and live long. Making a smaller profit will not put big companies, not the small businessman mind you, in the red. It’s just about making a smaller profit and cutting your cloth to fit your suit.

“So, when big business increases on their goods and services they simply continue to make gigantic profits. Basically, it’s just plain greed by some big corporate entities.”

Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz is certain that the increase in fuel prices could negatively impact the 2018 National Panorama competition. He said: “Panorama begins on January 4 with the North Region Single Pan judging. In terms of transport, there is no need for that as preliminary is now being done in panyards. The truckers set the price for transport so there’s nothing Pan Trinbago can do about that.

“Steelbands will face higher costs to transport their instruments from their panyards to the various competitions nationwide for Panorama. Panorama is held in every region, inclusive of Tobago. We taking about 65 Single Pan bands, 62 Small Bands, 32 Medium and 17 Large steelbands. That is a total of roughly over 170 steelbands all told. Do the math and you will appreciate the cost of transport and trucking.”

Diaz added that Pan Trinbago is awaiting word on what quantum of allocation his organisation will be given out of the recently read budget. He said: “Pan Trinbago will definitely run next year’s Panorama but the amount of subsidy we will get to execute remains an unknown factor. Anytime there is a recession the first thing that is hit is culture although it is culture which generates a high percentage revenue for our country.

“In the budget I haven’t heard anything mentioned about the allocation to culture, especially to the national instrument. Despite this, no one has seen any protest, placards or any form of action from the steelband movement against this government. Pan Trinbago continues to be committed to work with the government for culture in the country.

“I also feel that dialogue with Government as a way forward for them to properly understand the cultural landscape of our country.”

David Lopez, chairman of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA), confessed

that he has a problem with the preponderance of trucks and trailers on the parade route on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, and hopes that the fuel increase would reduce their number. He said: “I think that given how our carnival has evolved there are going to be significant increases in goods and supplies. Once you’ve raised the price of fuel everything is going to be affected. But, we have to look at the other side in terms of these massive trucks being on the road for carnival.

“Because of these huge, cumbersome vehicles, we have moved from creativity in mas and portrayal to more being a parade of trucks and trailers. So, if this price increase would reduce the amount of trailers on the road probably we would see the easing of the congestion on the parade route. And, if we go back to the times when carnival was mainly about the display of carnival costumes, and not all these trailers, bandleaders would be more looking at music that they can afford without having these massive trailers.

“I think that these trucks and trailers are a disaster waiting to happen in carnival.”

Eventology GM and Island People official Colin Greaves said that the increase in goods and services for carnival because of the fuel increase is already a reality. “We have already gotten price increases for most of the items related to carnival. I believe the increase in diesel fuel will have an effect on Carnival 2018; in fact it will have an effect even before carnival.

“The challenge I have is that Trinis would look for any excuse to hike the price on anything increased in a budget. Even if the subsidy in the future is reinstated the prices would not go back down. Suppliers would have some reason to keep them high.

“Let’s say a delivery truck for some product is transporting 1,000 items with a higher cost of diesel fuel the supplier would already increase the price of the product to compensate. For each trip, with each item having a two-dollar mark up, means that that company would now make $2,000 revenue to compensate for a hundred-dollar fuel increase.

“In Trinidad, nothing is increased by 25 or 50 cents so the reality is the fuel increase would affect goods and services in every way, across the board. In coming weeks the price of renting a generator would increase as well the price of obtaining any item or product needed to stage an event, move a steelband or provide road music on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.”

It promises to be the most ambitious relief fund locally for the hurricane victims in Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica. The Caribbean Strong Foundation (CSF) is staging the Trinidad & Tobago Relief Concert & Telethon on October 28, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain and several of the regions to top artistes are on its bill.

To get ticket for admission all you is make a minimum donation of $100 and the event is scheduled to begin at noon and runs until midnight.

CSF official Tony Chow Lin On said this week: “All the powerful genres of music in T&T will be represented as well as some from across the Caribbean. Beside the $100 donation, it is also optional to donate more money or a can of non perishable foodstuff.” Chow Lin On added: “This is not a one-off effort and we wont be waiting for a disaster in the future to assist those in need. We have put a foundation in place and have applied for NGO status.

“The Saturday is one day when people can turn down their pots and close their kitchens at home for beside the 12 hours of performances lunch will also be available for sale as we have partnered with Bess Guide catering company. So you can say it will also be a food truck festival as we will have over 60 food trucks and vendors providing a wide range of culinary delights, including smoked meats, BBQ, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Indian cuisine, not to mention traditional local fare, vegan meals, desserts and frozen treats.”

Chow Lin On and a team from CSF visited Dominica recently. About that experience he said: “Three Sundays ago we went to Dominica and got a first hand look of the damage done. We flew up relief items and were accompanied by Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

“Seeing the devastation first hand is much worse than what is seen in the photographs. The first thing that came to me is doing nothing is not an option. I want to personally commend Trinidadians and Tobagonians who have been among the first responders. Dominica has far reaching needs. Just imagine everything in your country being completely destroyed; homes, schools, government buildings, everything.

“The other thing that hit me most is that even though people lost everything there is a will to get back what was lost. The spirit of the Dominicans is strong and alive and they are determined to fight to rebuild their country.”

About future CSF plans, Chow Lin On said: “We will be doing a similar show in Antigua the day after the Trinidad event with Machel Montano headlining as well. For the show, to be held at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, beside the T&T artistes the show will also feature Shaggy, Tessanne Chin, Konshens and other top Caribbean artistes.”

Headed by Machel Montano, other artistes billed for the October 28 show are Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, Kes, Destra, Ravi B & Karma, Rikki Jai, Olatunji, SuperBlue, Teddyson John, Patrice Roberts, Nailah Blackman, Chuck Gordon, Shal Marshall, Nadia Batson, 3 Canal, Positive, Erphaan Alves, Aaron Duncan and several more.

Also billed to make a special appearance is Trinbago Knightriders T20 cricket captain Dwayne Bravo whose mega hit single Champion is still very popular.

Nagar, dance and more

Taking a look back, the weekend past, blessed with sunshine weather, was one mixed with a wide assortment of cultural and entertainment activity. From as early as the Thursday, Divali celebrations continue nightly at the Divali Nagar complex in Chaguanas with the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) staging its 2017 Youth Champ Finals on Sunday night. Despite the inclement weather thousands turned up to be thoroughly entertained by a number of star performers and a dizzying array of East Indian culinary delights.

The NCIC also held its 2017 Miss International Divali Pageant, featuring a star studded cast of entertainers including violinist Shiva Chaitoo, Amritan Shakti Dance Group, T&TEC Gayatones, Radha Krishna Dance Group and Dragon Boys Tassa. At the end of an enthralling production Seema Moonilal emerged winner of the pageant, followed by Suvina Smolsky and Navina Misir.

Noble Douglas Dance Company also staged its Vanishing Pointe show at Queen’s Hall and again the production was an outstanding one.

Calypso History Month events continued at various venues nationwide but Tuco’s Wednesday night Kaiso in Yuh Pweffen was the cherry atop the icing.

On Saturday night, sport entertainment exploded at the Queen’s Park Oval when SporTT staged a benefit T20 cricket game between a Caribbean XI, led by Darren Sammy, and TT Red Force, led by Kieron Pollard, for the victims of hurricanes Irma and Maria. More than 7,000 fans attended and all proceeds went toward the benefit. Residents of the Triniposse Stand had themselves a ball partying to the music of DJ Kern Crosby and 5Star Akil. Also making the night memorable were Triniposse stalwart Sam Salloum, Sheldon Stevens of Experience Effects, Carib, the Red Force and Caribbean X1 cheerleaders, SM Jaleel and the Carib Girls.

Sunday’s entertainment saw two sides of our mosaic of entertainment with this year’s Tobago Blue Food Festival being held at the Bloody Bay Recreational Grounds, and Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain, being the venue for Renewal...the Ava Songbook, a jazz production featuring Ava Hutchinson, Ralph Davies, Neil Payne, Douglas Redon, Roger Salloum and others.

Twenty young dancers will represent T&T at this year’s World All Dance International (ADI) Competition, to be held in Orlando, Florida on November 23-26. All told the local contingent would number 45 people including family members and supporters. The dancers are members of the Candice Clarke Academy of Dance based in Edinburgh Gardens, Chaguanas.

Academy artistic director/choreographer Clarke said: “This is the first time that T&T will have representation in this particular competition and our Academy was specially invited by the ADI and we will be up against 72 countries. We are also the only Caribbean contingent involved although there will be companies from Latin America, the USA and South Africa.

“We will be competing in a variety of dance genres including Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical, Tap. There is also a Show category in which we will present Creola Folk, a product of the Academy which will be performing a mixture of ballet and folk with a Caribbean flair. We are also participating in the Ethnic category, doing African dance. The Academy will be offering solos, duets, trios and groups. A mini group of children aged under seven will also be competing.”

The Academy, formed in Arouca, has been existence since 1997, and its first production was in 2001 at Port-of-Spain City Hall. Said Clarke: “That show was titled Styles and I remember charging an admission fee of $20 back then. People were very impressed on our debut performance and the Academy continues to grow from strength to strength.”

The Academy is now internationally recognised having staged shows at the Alvin City Theatre in Manhattan, the Little Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica, as well as did workshops at the Toronto Library. It is also a member of the Paris-based Conseil International de la Danse (CID) which is operated under Unesco. The CID brings together the most important international, national and local organisations, as well as select individuals active in dance.

Clarke describes certification by the CID as “a big deal.” She added: “My daughter, Chelsea, and three other Academy dancers are certified by the CID to be tutors in dance. This means they could teach dance in any of the member countries of the CID and are my tutors as well.

“Our members are well-rounded young people who excel in all endeavours. In July, 22-year-old Ariana Thomas won the Miss Talented T&T Pageant and on October 15, 12-year-old Tashana Riley won the Little Miss Elegance Pageant which was held at Cascadia Hotel in St Ann’s. They too will be participating in next month’s international competition. Also this year, Chelsea won the Hollywood Next Star Best Dancer Award in Los Angeles.”

On Saturday, November 18, the Academy will be staging a pre-tour production, titled I Am Phenomenal at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (Sapa), at 7 pm. Clarke said: “Patrons can expect to see a variety of dance styles by the senior members of the Academy, featuring the competition team which has been dubbed ‘The Dream Team’. The show will be opened by the senior dancers and its climax will showcase the competition dancers.

“We have invited the prime minister to attend and await feedback.”

The Academy departs Trinidad on November 22.

The Players Workshop’s production of Sir Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed Equus is riveting as it is intense. Staged in collaboration with The Actors Lab-Trinidad and having Gregory Mc Guire as its executive producer, the play premiered last week Wednesday and ran for five nights at The Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook.

Directed and designed by Mervyn de Goeas, this second local staging of Equus was originally staged at the Royal National Theatre in London in 1973. It subsequently opened on Broadway in October 1974.

Shaffer who died last year, won the Tony Award for Equus and Amadeus. As a play and subsequently as a movie, Equus featured some of the world’s most renowned actors including Anthony Hopkins, Anthony Perkins, Alec Mc Cowen, Leonard Nimoy, Richard Burton, Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths.

In the lead role as psychiatrist Martin Dysart, Michael Cherrie was outstanding. His diction and articulation perfect, he played the role quite convincingly. Cherrie meandered through the play’s demanding script with the ease of poise of his more illustrious foreign counterparts previously cast in this role.

The small interior of The Little Carib Theatre kept Cherrie up close and personal in the faces of his audience. So compelling was he that one would have heard a pin drop in the theatre throughout the play’s almost three-hour duration.

Also nailing the role of mentally disturbed Alan Strang was young Makesi Algenon. So succinct was this young thespian in his role that off stage it wouldn’t be surprising if people approached him tentatively anticipating some manic reaction from him in real life.

Wayne Lee-Sing and Cecilia Salazar were also standouts as Frank and Dora Strang, Alan’s parents. Equally strong were Kemion Nero as attorney Hester Saloman, Iyepha Biggot as Jill Mason, Keino Swamber as stable manager Dalton, Andrew Hall as Horseman and Avielle Mc Carthy as the nurse.

Accompanied by five muscle-bound actors as horses, special mention is also deserving of Kameel Ali as the steed Nugget. Without letting too much out the bag, Alan Strang blinds the six horses resulting in him being committed to the Rokeby Psychiatric Hospital to be treated by Dysart.

Mervyn de Goeas’ Equus is like an oasis in the local theatre landscape, one which seems barren of “serious” theatre. In stark contrast to the deluge of farce-type plays that flood local theatre, Equus comes like a gasp of fresh air amidst a flotsam of regurgitated plots.

The Players Workshop, blessed to have two exceptional directors through the years in Belinda Barnes and de Goeas continues to attract accomplished actors and produce serious theatre deserving awards.

Cherrie is a no-brainer as an early nominee for a Best Actor Cacique Award.

In Trinidad for just over a year, DJ Mika Raguaa (Dominika Tux) has been making quite a name for herself, especially for her mixtape productions and recent weekend gigs at the popular Club 63 on Ariapita Avenue. Though born in Poland, Raguaa has familiarised with not just the music but the vibe and lifestyle of T&T and Caribbean people.

Having mastered reggae, dancehall, calypso and soca genres, Raguaa has launched “a new music concept” which she has branded as The Bride, customised music for weddings, music she has defined as “passionate music selections.”

“The Bride is my second DJ project,” said Raguaa. “It was very popular in Germany and I believe it can catch on here. This past year I have been doing more with in clubs and fetes, the urban stuff. But, The Bride is more classy and creates your individual, personalised sound tracks. When a couple is getting married, I interview them to get their history, learn their tastes and what kind of special music they would like played at their wedding. Beside being customised music The Bride comprises exclusive selections that are designed in a unique way.”

Having recently cut ties with the Woodbrook club, Raguaa has her sights set on getting into radio and is in the process of recruiting with a popular urban station to do a show which she has christened Caribbean Music World Wide. “What I will be presenting is the development of Caribbean music globally,” said the female disc jockey. “It would involve everything, including what’s going on with Trinidad and Caribbean music in Africa, Europe, North America etc. I have to do a test show and they will eventually tell me if I am successful.”

Raguaa believes that local and Caribbean music can have a bigger profile on the European and global front. She said: “When you look on how big the European continent is and how big its international and historical influences are, you can understand a little better why the soca or the general reggae dancehall music could spread its wings all over the continent.

“In the 80s, DJs and tourists brought the music of this region, including Trinidad’s calypso, to the continent. Through international travels and export strategies the music genres of the region could find even more millions of followers. Of course also DJs could get influenced by the records of their parents. Compared to the Caribbean, Europe today is highly connected online, which makes the distribution and the promotion of the music easier.

“When I started to DJ, Facebook was not even yet invented and MySpace was the way of promotion for events, as well as new mixtape productions. The European market is mainly influenced by different types of music genres, yet soca, reggae and dancehall are still just known as underground music.

“In Germany you nearly can’t hear the music of the Caribbean on radio stations and often, through television, pictures of the Caribbean are spread in a more touristic aspect, not as a music destination. The Caribbean is marketed and branded as a paradise—a huge hotel resort—or an area where most people cannot afford to go to.”

Raguaa contends it takes time and money for a “foreign” DJ to get to the Caribbean, far less make an impact once here. She said: “Not every DJ who plays Caribbean music, can afford it. Take a look on how the reality is; it took me seven years to hit the Caribbean for the first time. But of course it is possible to find plenty information and also music online.

“In one of my projects—Blaze a Trail Across Countries—I started to research on what happened after soca music left the Caribbean and reached the European continent. I did a three-month research project through all my contacts and professionals that I know and documented it in the article titled The European Soca Movement (www.mikaraguaa.com/articles). I presented the results, also with a related large scale mixtape production with soca music from 11 different countries in seven different languages. The result showed exactly what is going on.

“Europe is a multilingual area of this world—I was born in Poland; grew up in Germany; and, up to today, I believe that the cultural and language borders between Poland and Germany make it hard to understand each other. Polish and German and two different languages that have nearly nothing in common but music can unite in the same way as it can separate.

“There is a soca movement in Europe and it is growing and growing, though maybe not so quickly as reggae and dancehall. Soca music has its fans and they have realised for themselves, that the T&T music is nicer to bring those fans officially together.

“You see soca music fans all over waving their national flags at soca events under the names of the ‘Dutch Soca Lovers’, ‘German Soca Junkies’ or the ‘Swedish Soca Vikings.’ To team up and fete together is a great idea to entice the fans to be active in the distribution of the soca music. Even finally, France understood the attraction of the music, enough to translate information about soca into French to grow the understanding. Out of this drive has emerged the ‘French Soca Lovers’ and ‘French Kiss and Wine,’ two of the more vibrant French soca fan groups.”

Continuing Raguaa revealed: “The events around Carnival time are rising in Germany to more than a hundred hours of feting and even in Switzerland, the first three-day soca festival was held in June / July this year. For 50 years the United Kingdom has celebrated its Notting Hill Carnival. This is a carnival organised by people from the Caribbean for people from the Caribbean. The Netherlands has its ‘Zomer Carnival’ which is celebrated in Rotterdam and Berlin’s Carnival is more a multicultural happening focusing on all cultural diversity of the German capital city. However, for the past ten years you can find at least two soca trucks are on the road in Berlin. Reggae and dancehall are also represented on other trucks.

“Beside the Carnival happening there are many soca events out there in Europe. Most often you can party in London nearly every weekend with soca music being played and even soca artistes getting invited regularly to perform. In Germany, the festivities go on for two weeks in Berlin and sometimes events are also going on in South Germany or Switzerland. In Arnhem and Amsterdam you have several clubs pushing soca music. I give a shout to all DJs, promoters and of course soca fans out there that help to uplift the culture of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Raguaa said that beside the distribution of soca music in Europe over online radio stations and the internet, artistes and producers are also working from Europe on music productions and riddims. “I know remixers and producers in Norway, Sweden and Finland,” said Raguaa, “and, the highest amount of soca artistes could be found in London (UK). There are also many reggae and dancehall artistes that would love to do more on soca beats too. In my opinion those artistes deserve a little more respect for what they do, especially being so far away from the Caribbean. Those artistes still decide to represent their origin culture, no matter if they were born in the Caribbean or in Europe.

“There are plenty productions that never make their way back to the Caribbean and those I would like to present, based right here in the Caribbean. When I play the productions here people recognise the artistes, but often they are overwhelmed that they didn’t hear the songs before. Of course I would love all of Trinidad and Tobago to be encouraged to listen and enjoy my mixtape productions—all of them are online available on my website (www.mikaraguaa.com).

DJ Mika Raguaa is booked right into Carnival 2018 and some of her coming gigs are Neon-Time to Shine (December 2), Jumanji Safari Fete (January 1) and, Love in the House (February 2). She also plans to have a big celebration for her tenth anniversary as a disc jockey with a charity event for the children of Belmont on Carnival Sunday.

After five days of rain and flooding Mother Nature smiled on the National Trust of T&T last Saturday evening for its annual De Rain or Shine Retro Kaiso Cruise to Nelson Island.

The Gulf of Paria, basking in sunshine, upon placid seas the water taxi, aptly named Calypso Spirit, transported some 300 landlubbers to the small island, once a US military outpost and detention centre for labour and Black Power militants.

Headed by CEO Valerie Taylor, the National Trust was well prepared for Saturday’s voyage, the island prepped with local cuisine, beverages and delicacies. First to be devoured were the breadfruit pholourie, followed by the breadfruit kurma and ice cream. The coconut bake and buljhol, paymee, guava cheese and tamarind balls didn’t last too long either.

Making the ten-minute trip and enjoying the evening’s live entertainment were Costa Rican ambassador Lilly Edgerton, Miss Universe 1977 Janelle Penny Commissiong, calypso musicologist Ray Funk, TUCO official Annmarie Parks- Kojo (Twiggy), local fashion icon Jacqui Koon How and representatives of sponsors NLCB and First Citizens.

Aside from the cuisine, vintage kaiso was the other reason people braved the elements to make the trip and they were richly rewarded as the evening’s cast included artistes like Bro Superior—who received the DLitt honorary degree from UWI—Relator, Abebele, GB, Lady Adana and Poser.

With the show announced open by National Trust Outreach and Education Officer Joseph Bertrand and patrons welcomed by Taylor, GB presented the cast musically accompanied by a sextet comprising Patrick Price (keyboards); Ronnie Joseph and Superior (guitars); Michael Germaine (bass); and, Tony Woodroffe (sax).

GB was up first and sang his own Calypso Rising, Shadow’s My Belief and Lying Excuses, a ditty he co-wrote with Sparrow.

Sans the sextet, Abebele accompanied himself on guitar to perform Portrait of Trinidad, Land of Calypso, My Alphabet and Black Stalin’s In Times.

Possessing a beautiful voice and with much stage presence, lone female on the cast Lady Adana opened her set with Ras Shorty I’s Watch Out My Children, followed by Louis Armstrong’s iconic Wonderful World, Singing Francine’s Mr Carnival and Merchant’s Caribbean Connection.

Also accompanying himself, Relator was outstanding as he sang stanzas of Let’s Be Friends, Gavaskar and Christmas is Yours. Displaying his versatility, Relator flipped the evening’s script, mixing the present with the past by doing his interpretation of the late Lord Popo singing the 2017 Road March, MX Prime’s Full Extreme. This threw patrons into uncontrollable laughter.

Always the complete entertainer, pride of Sangre Grande Poser offered Bus Conductor, Party Tonight and Find a Party.

Dapper and looking nowhere near the 80th birthday he is celebrating on November 30, Bro Superior opened with January Girls, originally sang by the late Lord Kitchener, a calypsonian whose music Superior confessed he “lived off” when he migrated to Britain. Superior also sang his 2018 Panorama composition titled Pan on the Road, San Fernando Carnival, Trinidad Carnival and Long Live Calypso, bringing the curtain down on a most enjoyable evening of kaiso at 6.45 pm.

The Unit Trust’s next event to be held at the Nelson Island Heritage Site is Ponche de Creme & Parang on December 2. This cruise/show will be headlined by Alicia Jaggassar and Los Alumnos de San Juan.

Thousands descended on the Queen’s Park Savannah last Saturday to re-ignite the flickering embers of the spirit of the West Indies Federation and Caribbean unity when the Caribbean Strong hurricane relief benefit was held. Reminiscent of Woodstock back in the sixties and the more recent Machel Monday and Fantastic Friday events, locals joined regional patrons to turn on their heart lights for the beleaguered peoples of Barbuda and Dominica.The Caribbean Strong Hurricane Relief Concert & Telethon featured some of the biggest artistes of the region including Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, Destra, Olatunji, Kees Dieffenthaller, SuperBlue, Rikki Jai and Ravi B. The 12-hour production was hosted by Nikki Crosby, Tommy Joseph and Philomena, and amongst its other acts were recent young awards-recipient Aaron Duncan, Nialah Blackman, 3 Canal, Olatunji, Dwayne Bravo, Shal Marshall, Iwer George, KV Charles, Imij & Co’s Malaika Valentine, Karma, Nisha B, Sunny Bling and Hypa Hoppa.

One of the programme’s poignant moments came at its end when Montano introduced Dominican artiste Tasha P who was featured in a heart-rending video about the plight of her compatriots. She also sang a duet with Montano, a song originally intended for the soca superstar and Destra.

Destra displayed her big heart by performing with her leg in an orthopedic strap, now part of her wardrobe after sustaining injuries during a performance in Bermuda in August.

Syri, daughter of Bunji and Fay Ann, shared the stage with her parents during their performance and towards the show’s finale Bunji also joined Montano on stage to perform their hit single Buss Head.

In an earlier intervew, Caribbean Strong official Tony Chow Lin On stated that Saturday’s event will not be a one-off production. There was a Caribbean Strong concert in Antigua the next day, and the team and has plans to stage similar events in the future.

Thousands were also in attendance for two nights for the 2017 edition of Oktoberfest staged at Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook. Apart from the numerous booths adorning the park, the main stage also featured performances from a number of artistes including Orlando Octave, Ravi B and Kees.

Extempore warfare tomorrow

Six Extempore monarchs, a reigning Humour Calypso Monarch and a past National Calypso Monarch are billed to perform at the SWWTU Hall on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, tomorrow night when Tuco (North Zone) and The Extempore Committee stages Extemporama 2017.This is the 12th presentation of Extemporama, the brainchild of Mark John (calypsonian Contender), chairman of the Tuco North Zone.

John has partnered with the North Zone Executive in producing this event which has evolved into a staple on the Calypso History Month calendar.

Tomorrow’s event is being held in tribute to late cultural icon Mervyn Telfer, a past former committee member, MC and calypso aficionado, and the programme is a virtual face-off between extempore exponents representing Tuco’s North, South and East regions.

Representing the North will be Black Sage, Contender, Brother B and Cutty Ranks as well as Lady Africa, Lingo, Myron B and Dion Diaz (East); and, Gypsy, Brian London, Short Pants and Abebele (South).

Showtime is promptly at 8 pm and tickets are available at Cleve’s, Crosby’s and all Tuco offices.

Scouting for talent in south

Talent Expression 2017 is off and running. The 16th edition of this premiere South talent competition, hosted by the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation, kicked off with the preliminary stage of the competition held on October 22 at the Southern Marines Pan Palais, Southern Main Road, Marabella. Seventeen semi-finalists will face the judges on Sunday, at the same venue at 7 pm.

The young ladies of the Kumasu Cultural Performers dance troupe of Marabella are leading the way into the semi-finals, closely followed by veteran vocalist Deryck Hinds, and two outstanding young pan musicians in Tyeesha Alexander and Akeem Cyrus.

But the frontrunners have to keep a close eye on veteran vocalist Lystra Nurse, the exciting young dance troupe from Debe, Neeshana Dance Academy, and Caleb Hinds recently crowned winner National Action Cultural Committee Emancipation Calypso Competition 2017.

Any contestant in a talent competition of this nature has to be also wary of vocalist Bernard Brereton and the Maco Media Comedy crew and other contestants who may be seen by some as dark horses in the race but who are preparing to upset the front runners as they battle to secure one of the ten spots in the Grand Final to be held on November 19.

Tickets for the Grand Final are available at the Pan Palais, from members of the committee and members of the Southern Marines Steel Orchestra.

Talent Expression 2017 semi-finalists

Kumasu Cultural Performers
Deryck Hinds
Tyeesha Alexander
Akeem Cyrus
Lystra Nurse
Neeshana Dance Academy
Caleb Hinds
Bernard Brereton
Keisha Cobham
Joshua Hinds
Ronald Harrington
Joanne Quamina Julien
Maco Media Comedy
Kerry Ann Alexis
Gwendolyn Blackburn
Patrice Alves
Mark Francis

Come Saturday, Yogo Events is hosting a jazz music fund-raising concert at St Anthony’s College, Westmoorings. Billed as VB Under the Stars, the event is headlined by Vaughnette Bigford, R’kardo St Von, QED (Quite Exquisitely Done) the talented tenor trio of Raymond Edwards, Nigel Floyd and Edward Cumberbatch, retro kaiso exponent David Bereaux, Music Connection vocalist Stacey Sobers and the St Anthony’s College Band.

Patrons are promised an evening of soothing jazz, fusion and music by these extremely talented artistes and musicians. It will offer avid music and jazz fans the opportunity to experience and enjoy a variety of music and jazz stylistics by their favourite local musicians and artistes.

Bigford is renowned for performances that simply explode with character. This La Brea diva has an energy she spins, weaves and intertwines that mesmerise audiences through her soulful and magical aura.

Jazz buffs are still speaking of Bigford’s performances at North Coast Jazz in Blanchisseuse and the Jazz Artistes on the Greens earlier this year.

New York-based St Von, a powerful baritone will be performing his own unique, eclectic style of jazz fusion.

Possessing three of this country’s most magnificent male voices, QED will treat patrons to snippets of their recently concluded show down memory lane. Saturday’s show can be seen as a teaser to QED’s One Night in December production, scheduled for December 16 in Santa Cruz.

Since making an impression as a teen on Party Time, Sobers has etched her name in the soca world with the timeless classic Lemme Know When Yuh Coming in 2001, and music lovers look forward to each of her performances. Her career has been punctuated by her becoming a front line singer for the band Island Vibe and an uninterrupted member of the Divas Calypso Cabaret for the last decade, initially as a performer and more recently as a manager also.

Outside of carnival Sobers is a student pursuing an Associate Degree Fine and Performing Arts at Costaatt and is a regular act at Kaiso Blues Cafe in Newtown with the band Music Connection. She performs music from a variety of genres as this three-piece live band constantly reinvents its offering. Sobers has also had the pleasure of performing from time to time with Chantal Esdelle and Moyenne.

This week Yogo Events director Dawn Cameron told Trinidad Guardian: “This event is not only about the entertainment and our talented vocalists and musicians but we also aim to raise funds to assist breast cancer survivors and a mentorship initiative for our young women and girls who are in need for this kind of support. It added that the effort can be defined as ‘a night of jazz for a cause’.”

Cameron added: “Through proceeds we will support the After Cancer Patient Care Initiative for Breast Cancer Survivors conducted by Ms Brafit, run by Nicole Joseph-Chin, and the Reach Mentorship Programme, an initiative facilitated by Afett (Association of Female Executives in T&T).”

She continued: “The second initiative, the Reach Mentorship Programme, also done through Afett, mentors our young girls between the ages of 13-18 in communities and organisations throughout T&T. With this support and training mentorship assists our young women in understanding life challenges, what they need to do or changes that they need to make to achieved and reach their goals. The mentors who give of their personal time and expertise (free of charge) continue to motivate our young women, not only helping them to chart that course to attaining their individual goals, but also helping them to build self-esteem and to garner self-worth.”

Showtime for VB Under the Stars is 5 pm.

Music, film and fashion are to be the main beneficiaries of an ambitious thrust to be initiated by the Government, piloted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. A blueprint was unveiled on October 30 at Queen’s Hall by Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon when her ministry and The T&T Music Company Limited (MusicTT) hosted a National Stakeholder Engagement and Key MusicTT Implementation Projects event.

Aside from the minister articulating some of the main proponents of the plan, she was supported by MusicTT chairman John Arnold, general manager Jeanelle Frontin, CreativeTT chairman Calvin Bijou and MusicTT directors Francis Escayg and Martin Raymond.

MusicTT intends to implement four flagship projects which will serve to advance the entertainment sector, beginning in this fiscal year. They are a Live Music District, The Artist Portfolio Development Programme (APDP), a Music Export Academy and a Music Tech Platform, the latter hopefully addressing complaints by local recording artistes about the paucity of local music content on the airwaves.

In her address Gopee-Scoon said: “The Music Tech Platform will seek to address one of the pressing challenges which you, as dedicated music practitioners, have identified: the issue of local content promotion, for which the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts has the primary lead.

“Concerns have been raised regarding the Copyright Management organisations and existing Copyright Laws in the protection, exploitation and monetisation of music. Following the well-subscribed Workshop this year titled Making a Living from Music, a collaboration between MusicTT, and the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, in particular the Intellectual Property Office, with support from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), I am confident that these matters are receiving attention.

“The Music Tech Platform is focused on developing systems in the immediate term that can support the industry in fulfilling its most critical needs.

“As such, the Music Tech Platform will be technologically capable of independently monitoring broadcast media in order to quantitatively ascertain the amount of local content currently being played on our radio stations.

“We need to enable the independent, entrepreneurial artist by giving them the power to manage their music. As such, artists will be able to upload their catalogues, have them audio-fingerprinted through the platform, and will have detailed access to every instance that their music is broadcast on our nation’s airwaves.

“MusicTT will be charged with accurately assessing the statistical state of local content broadcasting and will begin the drive towards accurate radio charting of our local music.”

Another initiative which caused stakeholders to sit up and take notice is the establishment of the country’s first Live Music District, the pilot which will be launched on March 1, 2018 and will be located from Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, to the Queen’s Park Savannah.

The minister said: “This Live Music District begins in the city of Port-of-Spain and will create the performance spaces and revenue influx needed for a robust and sustainable music industry.” She added that within the proposed space there are a large number of existing, bustling venues that are primed for live music. The Live Music District is deliberately scheduled after the Carnival season which already boasts of a high number of live performances. The district will seek to create a vibrant live music scene for the rest of the year.

The minister continued: “A partnership has been created with the Trinidad Hotel Restaurants and Tourism Association in order to gain the buy-in of the spaces and to co-ordinate venue assessments. To date, site visits have been conducted with over 25 restaurants, lounges and hotels in the city and these will continue in the weeks to come. These site visits focus on detailing the key characteristics of each venue through a proper sound and performance analysis that includes an assessment of the acoustics, audio system, electrical accessibility, space capacity, venue dynamics and purpose, and the venues’ current suitability for various types of live performances. No amount of attention to detail will be spared in ensuring its proper execution, and we have welcomed the City of Port-of-Spain, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts as well as the Ministry of Tourism in our joint approach and commitment to the success of this creative, cultural and entertainment hub.”

With government seemingly serious about diversifying the nation’s economy, Gopee-Scoon reaffirmed the Government’s support of the creative industries as a priority sector in the national diversification thrust. “This prioritisation is indeed warranted as the creative industry possesses great potential to generate increased revenue and employment, earn foreign exchange and create export opportunities in international markets for creative products and services,” the minister stated.

Her sentiments were echoed by CreativeTT chairman Calvin Bijou who said: “As a nation, our sustained economic well-being rests with effective diversification; and effective diversification rests with clear, thoughtful and deliberate strategy.”

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is mandated to develop globally competitive businesses to contribute to the sustainable growth and diversification of the economy, and to expand

exports, particularly in the Non-Energy sector. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is also focusing on the Orange Economy—that is, the contribution of the creative industries to economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB reports that in 2015, the sector generated more than $124 billion in revenues and provided jobs to more than 1.9 million people in the LAC region.

“It is crucial for T&T to capitalise on this growth,” said Gopee-Scoon. “The role of CreativeTT and its subsidiary MusicTT is, therefore, pivotal in preparing the local music sector for international market penetration. The first and most critical priority in this preparation is the bridging of the identified industry gaps to ensure the music sector is being built upon a strong foundation.”

The minister added that based on the Music Professionals Survey conducted in April 2017 through MusicTT, there was a call by stakeholders for a sustainable industry that champions and protects diversity. Upon analysis of the survey’s results, five major challenges were raised.

In her address she itemised these challenges.

“Through envisioning the future of the music industry of T&T, MusicTT’s implementation projects for this fiscal year 2018 are a direct strategic response to the most critical success factors identified by the industry’s stakeholders. These four flagship projects will serve to build and strengthen the sectoral infrastructure to support the independent artist’s path to self-actualisation.”

The Artist Portfolio Development Programme is another flagship initiative that will be implemented in this fiscal year beginning with the inaugural Music Showcase in December 2017. In its inception it will facilitate at least 20 artistes who show the potential of being equipped and ready to have their talents exported. The selected artistes will be trained through the third flagship initiative (the Music Export Academy) in music business and entertainment law training, brand and artist development, stage presence and performance training, pitching strategies, developing business and marketing plans, developing a robust online presence, and monetising music intellectual property.

Gopee-Scoon said that this initiative should unearth at least 50 to 100 artistes equipped to pioneer this global thrust.

Speaking at the Queen’s Hall event, MusicTT general manager Jeanelle Frontin outlined the implementation timelines and expected outcomes for each flagship project, beginning as early as December 2017 with a public music showcase; the first stage in the Artist Portfolio Development Programme.

Frontin also spoke to the importance of working together to ensure industry success. “We aren’t doing this alone. We are doing this collaboratively with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts and the city of Port-of-Spain.

“We are not working in a silo anymore. We are all going to work together to ensure that this music industry becomes more successful,” Frontin urged stakeholders.

In rounding off her address Gopee-Scoon said: “Collectively, these four flagship projects will begin to fill the gaps upon which we can build a sustainable, lucrative and successful local music sector. In closing, I emphasise the Government’s commitment to creating this enabling environment that is needed for continuous growth. I invite you to join us on this exciting journey.”

Santimanitay
The weekend past was a bumper one for entertainment with a dizzying variety of events being staged nationwide. The members of Tuco were in seventh heaven as two of their events staged were successes.

Tuco North Zone held its annual Extemporama at SWWTU Hall, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain on Saturday night. Its organising committee headed by Mark John (Contender), the event was billed A Tribute to Mervyn Telfer, a departed icon of the art form.

In attendance at the packed venue were Telfer’s family, including companion Farida Pollard and children Derek, Sean, Stephen, Joel, Martin and Gisele.

Also seen were former government minister Joan Yuille Williams, former National Security Minister Brig General Carl Alfonso and Eintou Springer.

Extemporama featured 11 extempore giants as well as junior calypsonians Kevan Calliste, Kishon Phillip and Josiah Dubarry.

Making guest appearances were Humour Calypso Monarch Bro Ebony and 1980 national monarch Relator. Emcee chores were shared by Tommy Joseph and Shirlaine Hendrickson with music accompaniment by the Bunny B Band, featuring Bro Superior on guitar.

The entire programme was chock-filled with humour as calypsonians tried to outdo each other in extempore fashion. As the night wore on some were eliminated including past national extempore monarch Black Sage, veteran Short Pants and Contender. Progressing to the final round were Gypsy, Lingo, Myron B, Brian London, Abelele and Dion Diaz. The face off between Gypsy and Lingo was the night’s most entertaining duel.

On Sunday, Tuco held its Calypso History Month Sports & Family Day at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain and this also attracted a large turnout as members of all Tuco regions and they were joined by teams like the National Carnival Commission (NCC), Last Band Standing, NCC, Belmont Jewels & D Boss, Kaisoca Touring Team and Not Just Fun.

Aside from novelty events, managed by members of T&T Fire Services, there were also cricket and football tournaments, and a calypso synch competition to round off the day’s programme.

Saturday’s diary of entertainment events also included St Joseph Convent’s annual, inter-class Parang in a Pot 5 competition; Vaughnette Bigford Under the Stars at St Anthony College Grounds, Westmoorings;

Pan Kingdom... Music of the World staged by First Citizens Supernovas at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa), Port-of-Spain; and, the 2017 Top 20 Calypso Awards Gala Ceremony hosted by the National Action Cultural Committee at Central Bank Auditorium.

Sunday’s calendar was also hectic with the Little Carib Theatre remembering late dance diva Beryl Mc Burnie with A Celebration of La Belle Rosette (Beryl Mc Burnie). The cast of this tribute included 2 Cents Movement, Johann Chuckaree, Bro Superior, Cecilia Salazar, Jessie James Joseph, Raul Landaeta, Felipe Noguera, Felix Roach, Little Carib Dance Company and the UTT Dancers.

An Evening of Thanksgiving was also held on Sunday evening at Church on the Rock, Lady Young Road, Morvant and featured Delamo, Sean Daniel, Denyse Plummer, Tambu, Luta, Mention, Gennex and J Errol Lewis.

These days local radio is missing one of its best loved voices, that of Rennie Bishop.

After returning to Trinidad two years ago from his New York base, Bishop has again returned to the US.

With lots of curious people enquiring about his move, Pulse caught up with the Iceman this week to get a first hand explanation. Said Bishop: “First, the reason for coming to Trinidad was to use talk radio to assist in moving the country forward.

“There are many people at home who want to move the country forward; who believe in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I wanted to do that but in this format, time for talk radio needs to be on an extended basis. While I enjoyed my morning show and the Soul Train (on Saturdays) it was not the reason I came back. What I did on Sunday was (authentic) talk radio.

“I think we were able to bring the acquired knowledge of running a morning show and show that the expertise of conducting is Sunday talkshow is non-confrontational but educational.

“All the same, doing it once a week limits the full exploration of talk radio needed in Trinidad and Tobago.

“In addition, it did not allow us on a daily basis to deal with the issues expeditiously when they came up.

“Waiting until Sunday meant we were dealing with issues where the heat already left the street and the essence of the story had to be regurgitated or reintroduced. The time was just too short so every topic of the previous five days never got its due. I had to return because I felt I was not the selling the profession in the direction that I would have liked it to go.”

Who can forget Bishop piloting Projection 3 of the Rennie Bishop Experience exactly 40 years ago, or when he co-hosted The J&R Show with the late Jim Sutherland, who would have been 72 next week Saturday, on 95.1FM? Bishop carved in a niche for himself and has become a legend in local radio.

He did this at a time when local music was changing, especially with the advent of the soca genre and Black Power movement.

So while he had a legion of fans, he rocked the music status quo, which at the time was piloted by calypso/soca purists DJs like Phil Simmons and Gerald Agostini, with his American tracks.

High in praise of veteran radio guru and disc jockey Anthony “Chinese Laundry” Chow Lin On, Bishop expressed satisfaction in what they were able to achieve in two years.

Now back in New York, Bishop continues to be involved in US media and coordinating his interests abroad.

Known for traditionally closing his sessions with Silver Convention’s popular Thank You Mr DJ, when Bishop played his final track on the Morning Show on October 30, he said goodbye with the instrumental Manhattan Skyline.

One of this country’s citizens most positive qualities is a charitable and giving nature. In the midst of many benefit events and philanthropic gestures for the people of hurricane-devastated Dominica and Barbuda, a family got together with friends recently to host a variety concert for senior citizens at Port-of-Spain City Hall.

The Mutroo family was successful in attracting almost two dozen popular artistes to give of their time and perform for free for the elderly.

The City Hall auditorium was filled for the event and the seniors had a most enjoyable time some of them even left their chairs to dance to the mix of calypso, parang, East Indian and R&B selections.

At the centre of the sixth annual edition of An Evening of Love and Culture...A Charity Treat were community activist Avinash Mutroo and his mother Allison. UWI student Avinash told the T&T Guardian: “This effort caters for the elderly residents from different homes throughout Trinidad. My mother and I began doing this in 2011 with only one home and over the years it has grown and the event caters for several homes nationwide.

“We need to appreciate our elders for they have paved the way for us; they were the policemen and women, teachers and politicians that all contributed in making T&T the country it is today. I also have a passion for seeing a smile on the faces of the elderly.”

Avinash was effusive in expressing his gratitude to the artistes, volunteers and sponsors, as well as Tuco president Lutalo Masimba (Bro Resistance) who supported him and his mother in making the event a success.

Among the performers were Crazy, SuperBlue, Brother Resistance, Black Sage, Impulse, Jason “Fridge” Seecharan, Chris Garcia, Fireball, Tim Starr, Brandon Best, Natraj Dance Group, Reddo & George, Organic Rhythm, Damion Richardson and Bunny Bynoe.

Contestants in the 2017 Miss Teen Awareness Pageant also made an appearance.

Avinash is the brother of 2016 National Calypso Queen and NACC Stars of Tomorrow Monarch Amrika Mutroo, also winner of last year’s calypso monarch crowns in Arima and Tunapuna.

T&T Carnival has spawned, influenced and nurtured Carnivals globally. Today, soca and mas lovers can go to Berlin, Miami, Rotterdam and New York for Carnival celebrations.

One of the world’s most famous Caribbean Carnivals is the Notting Hill Carnival which takes place every August in London. The UK capital has embraced the street festival which is acknowledged as Europe’s largest. Every year, two million people make their way to west London for the Carnival which contributes around £93 million to the UK economy.

The festival is not without its detractors, and in recent years, the residents of Notting Hill, as well as some business owners, have been lobbying strenuously for some major changes to the Carnival like taking the parade off the street to a park like Hyde Park, banning “dirty mas” like the J’Ouvertstyled chocolate and abir mas bands. The Metropolitan Police has also spoken about the difficulty and the expense of policing the Carnival (approximately £6 million), and point to 313 arrests in 2017 for a range of offences (usually unconnected to the actual mas band parade).

The T&T Guardian spoke with three mas exponents of T&T heritage who are involved in the production of Notting Hill Carnival for a view on the future of the festival. In Part One, we feature an interview with Chris Boothman, a former director of Notting Hill Carnival Limited. Chris Boothman has been involved in Notting Hill Carnival since the early 70s; initially with sound systems, then later as a pan player and masquerader in various bands. He was also an advisor to the Carnival Board on policing issues in the early 1980’s, a member of the Mayor’s Review of Notting Hill Carnival 2000, and subsequently an Independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority. He was also involved in the running of London Notting Hill Carnival and it’s board as company secretary and director for about five years.

The Londonbased attorney contends there are many mitigating forces that can impact Notting Hill Carnival in the future despite many positives of the festival.

“It’s fair to say there is a widespread belief that the future of the event is seriously at risk because of management challenges which the current Carnival board appears to be incapable of addressing,” said Boothman.

“This is the case because if you objectively examine nearly every significant performance indicator the management of the event is failing.”

Sponsorship, funding, income generation and re-branding are but a few of the challenges facing the event said Boothman.

Others include public safety, communications and public relations, financial management, governance, credibility and standing, and regulation in terms of effective action being taken against individuals and bands that break the law.

Whether Notting Hill Carnival benefits the Caribbean community, Boothman said: “It’s become increasingly difficult to identify how the event benefits the Caribbean community at all.

A study conducted some years ago by the London Development Agency estimated that Notting Hill Carnival generated £93 million annually. However, while there is no doubt that a few individuals from the Caribbean community reap relatively small financial benefits from the event, the vast majority of the real benefit goes to businesses in the host community. This is because nearly all the financial benefits are spin-offs that go to businesses in and around London. Further very little if any of the income generated is put back into the event. Unlike some cities like Miami, Rotterdam, Berlin there is no local tax.

“Caribbean-styled Carnivals like Notting Hill Carnival have generated off-shoots and generally raised the profile and popularity of the art form throughout Europe and worldwide but this has not translated into income or other benefit to the event.”

Asked if there is any tangible synergy between T&T and Caribbean Carnivals and Notting Hill Carnival Boothman said: “Notting Hill Carnival has always had a synergy with Trinidad Carnival because many of the original pioneers of the event were Trinis involved in Carnival from back home. Further there have always been some personal links with organisations in Trinidad like PanTrinbago, Tuco and the Mas Association.

“However, the synergy has arguably never really been capitalised upon by Trinbago, the other Caribbean governments or the relevant carnivals. Although the Barbados Tourist Board in the UK should be given credit for persistently trying to use Notting Hill and other European carnivals to promote Cropover, Bajan soca artistes and rum.

“But, historically the synergy with NH Carnival has mainly benefitted individual UK-based promoters and artistes from Trinidad and Tobago.

“Because of the shrinking Caribbean community in London and the lack of active involvement by Caribbean governments, the Notting Hill Carnival is currently being put under pressure by agencies representing other communities (Africa, Brazil etc) seeking to take it over or exert increasing influence over it. Its cultural relevance is also being questioned in the struggle for scarce resources and competing interests.”

Notting Hill Carnival continues to be under increasingly harsh political and security restrictions, elements which do not redound to the benefit of the festival. “Today Notting Hill Carnival remains the most heavily policed event in Europe despite the fact that it has moved on from its troubled past,” said Boothman. “This is in part due to the politics around the event and fact that the police appear to use NH Carnival to test and develop new public order strategies and equipment.

“The current physical space allocated for Notting Hill Carnival by the authorities has shrunk considerably relative to the attendance figures and the space reserved by the policing operation. The resultant congestion and pressure from rich residents has lead to calls for the Carnival to be moved off the streets and into a park.

“The change options have limited public support and it would take a brave politician to openly force change because of the electoral implications. If there is any significant public safety incident at the event politically it will be difficult for the event to continue.”

Asked if the Notting Hill Carnival board is strong and progressive, and empowered to take the festival forward, Boothman said: “The current Carnival board is believed by nearly all the relevant stakeholders to be hopelessly weak and incapable of overcoming the challenges necessary to enable the event to safely survive and flourish.

“In my view this is mainly because the current governance model is flawed. The board is chaired and dominated by people who currently lead the existing Carnival associations and also individual bands within Carnival. For example the current chairman of the Carnival board, is also the chairman of the Steelband Association and runs the most successful steelband in the UK.

“The other observation I would make is that the board has consistently failed to attract people of the high calibre required to lead a large internationally recognised cultural festival ie talented people with a proven track record of success who are equipped to conduct tough negotiations with the police and government officials as well as with community leaders, carnivalists and residents.”

Claiming not have the support of the chairmen of the Carnival Arts associations or even appropriate backing from the local authorities and police to take our plans for change forward, Boothman resigned in 2011.

About the future of Notting Hill Carnival, Boothman said: “A new group of individuals from the Caribbean community has recently come into being to try and hold the Carnival board accountable for the difficulties that have emerged.”

• CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

On Saturday night at the well appointed Government Plaza on Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, it was a bit of this, and a bit of that when young calypso promoter Stagieann Henry staged Gems of the Past. The pot pourri of music included past calypso gems, some of the current hits, a couple yet to be released and a pinch of sweet pan music.

Gems of the Past was Henry’s annual tribute to her father calypsonian Explainer when he celebrates his November birthday. With an audience that was larger than last year’s edition, held at the Police Mess in St James, the programme got off to a bit of a late start with host Godfrey Pierre at the controls. Musical accompaniment for the night was by Cummings & D Wailers.

National Junior Calypso Monarch 2013 Jeromy Rodriguez was the first artiste to take the stage and he performed Black Stalin’s Black Man Feeling to Party. He was followed by Organiser who maintained the tempo, his set including Doh Tell Ah Soul and Bandit.

The programme continued with three former national calypso monarchs—Sugar Aloes, Karene Asche, Devon Seale— holding the audience captive. Aloes rendered Nobody Loves Nobody and Just Being Me, as well as the late Ras Shorty I’s The Art of Making Love and To Love Somebody. Asche’s repertoire included Every Knee Shall Bow and Careful What You Ask For and Singing Sandra’s Voices From the Ghetto, while Seale, hampered by a strep throat, sang Cyar Buy Class.

Victoria Cooper rounded off the show’s first half by paying tribute to three of calypso’s most outstanding female practitioners. Her offering included Ella Andall’s Bring

Down the Power, Singing Sandra’s Die With My Dignity and Calypso Rose’s Fire, Fire.

Pan vibes filled the auditorium to begin the second half with Dane Gulston performing Ole Lady Walk a Mile and a medley of the late Lord Kitchener’s classics including Sugar Bum Bum.

Double-title national calypso monarch Chuck Gordon, preceded star of the night Explainer by singing Black Stalin’s Mr Panmaker, I Believe in You and the late Penguin’s Slipper. Explainer had patrons singing along as his set included Doh Touch Mih Ras, Sparrow’s No Money No Love, Kicksing in Parliament, Lorraine and Forever Young.

Johnny King made his entrance as one o’clock as Sunday morning approached and he upped the show’s tempo singing Nature’s Plan, No Other Woman and Ah Want It.

This weekend’s premier steelband event is tonight’s Classical Jewels XI (Journey From Jules to Jemmott) being staged by Massy Trinidad All Stars at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa), Port-of-Spain, with a repeat tomorrow evening.

I remember as a young man in the ‘70s Classical Jewels being a must-attend event for my parents.

Back then, sponsored by Catelli, the legendary steel orchestra was under the musical direction of Gerry “Uncle Jem” Jemmott and for the occasion its guest conductors included Paul Hill and Pat Bishop.

As a prelude to this weekend’s concert, All Stars hosted a media reception last week Thursday at its Duke Street panyard. Guests were warmly welcomed by manager Nigel Williams, PRO Daryl Joseph, Jackie McKell, Denise Hernandez, Keith Matthews and Rhonda Allick.

With a photoshoot in progress at one side of the yard of All Stars’ youth orchestra, its senior members performed some of its Classical Jewels XI repertoire including J’Ouvert in ah Band, a piece composed 26 years ago by drummer Jason “Stumps” Lewis as a tribute to All Stars living legend Neville Jules, vocalised by Sheldon Reid. The band’s playing of the theme from the Magnificent 7 movie also evoked much comment from the guests in attendance.

For this weekend’s production All Stars’ musical director Deryk Nurse will serve as its main conductor, aided by guest conductors Kygel Benjamin, June Nathaniel, Jessel Murray, Sule Sampson and Dr Mia Gormandy.

A steelband which continues to maintain its mandate of developing its young musicians many of All Stars’ premier players in Classical Jewels XI, despite their youth, are veteran musicians with the orchestra including Gormandy, who scored some of this weekend’s pieces, Nurse, Benjamin and crackshot tenor player Dane Gulston.

Classical Jewels XI is not entirely all national instrument and guest artistes, beside Reid and Gulston, will include Eleanor Ryan, Rahel Moore and the UWI Arts Chorale.

Of course the All Stars youth orchestra is also an integral ingredient in the mix.

The producers of Classical Jewels XI are playing their cards extremely close to their chests, refusing to reveal the repertoire patrons can expect this weekend. When Classical Jewels V was staged in 1985 patrons were left spellbound by the orchestra’s interpretation of classics by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Bizet and Glinka.

If I can hazard a guess this weekend I am hoping that it performs something from Von Suppe, perhaps one of my favourites, Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna.

What I did manage to discern is that the programme will provide many pieces by local composers performed in a classical manner.

All Stars’ busy-as-a-bee member Staci-Ann Patrick is hoping that Classical Jewels XI will dispell some of the unflattering labels attached to the national instrument and pan musicians.

“For starters,” she said, “we no longer ‘beat’ pan. We are competent musicians who are on par with accomplished musical peers who play any other instrument, be it violin or piano. Trinidadians need to start giving more respect to pan musicians, composers and arrangers.

“I find that the national instrument is being sacrificed, primarily because our people do not put themselves out there to appreciate or listen to pan music outside of the Panorama season.

“When someone takes the time to listen to the national instrument played outside of Carnival and Panorama, and hear the different layers and intricacies of the music played they would certainly foster a greater appreciation for something that is uniquely special to this nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Journey from Jules to Jemmott will certainly showcase the dexterity and showmanship of pan musicians.”