First off, Happy New Year to my faithful Pulse family. I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Christmas?
Though the Christmas season ends officially next Tuesday, Carnival 2015 has begun. It actually started on the night of Boxing Day, December 26, when Caesar’s Army held Lush on the Hasely Crawford Stadium training ground. The party was attended by a large turnout of young people who partied in persistent showers. The party was served by live performances from Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and young and upcoming Sekon Sta.
The Carnival fete blitz continues tomorrow with two mega parties, one at the Queen’s Park Oval and the other Tribe ICE, at Jean Pierre Complex, Port-of-Spain. The fun continues on Sunday when Trinity College holds its fund-raising Soka in Moka in Maraval.
This past week, the radio frequencies, including retro Music for Life 107.7FM, have been bubbling with the new soca releases. As usual, some of these releases are trite and repetitious, but there’s a lot of good music to fuel this year’s Carnival.
Among the tracks that have perked my interest thus far have been Benjai’s All, Machel Montano’s Pop ah Bottle, Iwer George’s Last King, Bunji’s Cheers, Fay-Ann’s Rave, Farmer Nappy’s My House, Ah Feeling Mehself by Patrice Roberts, Outta de Box by Shanaqua, Snakey’s Cyar Rhyme and Ricardo Drue’s Vagabond. Olatunji and Benjai released some of their material early, Ola and Phenomenal respectively, and have maintained their momentum and popularity, as well as the Bajan single Ah Feeling ah Feeling (Lead Pipe & Saddis).
Also maintaining their longevity and consistency in the business have been David Rudder (Move); De Original DeFosto Himself (Kasamh Se T&T Style and Pan on de Road); and, Crazy (Respect the Elders).
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Panorama gets green light
Waving aside invitations from Pan Trinbago executive committee members not to pay the $100 admission fee charged, National Carnival Commission (NCC) vice chairman Don Sylvester insisted on purchasing a ticket, emphasising that he was doing so to show his support for the national instrument last Sunday evening. The event was the launch of Pan Trinbago’s Panorama 2015 competition at the carpark of the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Also in attendance and addressing the gathering were Minister of Arts & Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, NCC chairman Lorraine Pouchet, and Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz. TUCO president Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance) was also in attendance. A Pan Trinbago trustee said that Sunday’s launch was much bigger than last year’s, attendance seemingly touching the 1,000 mark.
On a picture-perfect Sunday evening, the sun setting in the west with blue skies overhead, patrons were entertained by Fuzion Steel, Pan Elders, Pan Jammers, Supernovas, bpTT Renegades and Massy Trinidad All Stars.
Following the playing of the national anthem by Pan Jammers and a short invocation by Pan Trinbago’s Cecilia Zena Moore, show host Allan “Pablo” Augustus got proceedings underway with reigning Single Pan Panorama champion Pan Jammers setting the pace and a high standard of panmanship for others to follow. The Santa Cruz band performed a one-hour repertoire of mixed selections including Sparrow’s Education, Michael Jackson’s One in a Million and Baron’s This Melody Sweet.
Up next was south’s Pan Elders, its set, embellished by vocalists, included Kitchener’s Mas in May, Benjai’s ‘low Mih, and Farmer Nappy’s Big People Party.
During the programme Augustus invited pan arrangers in attendance on stage to speak of their hopes for Panorama. Among those speaking were Robbie Greenidge (Witco Desperadoes); Duvonne Stewart (Renegades); Robert Tobitt (Pan Jammers); Earl Brooks (Brimblers); Amrit Samaroo (Supernovas); Darren Sheppard (Fonclaire); and, Barry Mannette (Tokyo).
Opening its performance at 8.15 pm, Supernovas, of Surrey Village, Lopinot offered a full bodied sound and a repertoire which seemed to animate most as the band was ringed by dancing patrons. Supernovas’ repertoire included well known hits like Muchacha, Besame Mucho, Organiser’s Doh Tell ah Soul, Sparrow’s Statue, Carnival is Over and a Lord Blakie medley.
In the wake of Supernovas, the night of excellent pan music ended after midnight, on Monday morning, with performances by Renegades, All Stars, Roy Cape All Stars, featuring Blaxx and Darnella Simmons, and Iwer George.
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Stars of Tomorrow final
Over the Christmas season the National Youth Action Committee (NACC) announced the finalists for the Stars of Tomorrow Competition which takes place on Sunday, January 11 at Daaga Hall, UWI, St Augustine.
The 20 finalists, in alphabetical order, are: Arnold Jordan; Elizabeth Paponette; Ezekiel Yorke; Helon Francis; Ife Alleyne; Jesse Stewart; Jhevon Jackson; Jumaane Cox; Kerine Williams; Khadja Antoine; Kyle Cowie; Megan Waldron; Natifah Phillips; Phil Browne; Rondell Greaves; Rosemary Mitchell; Sergio Francisco; Shradah Mc Intyre; Sonja Lucy Guevara; and, Vornique Benjamin.