Beautiful music was the common note which threaded entertainment activity last weekend, though the entertainment menu actually began the previous Wednesday when Q’s Place on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, was the venue for an evening of calypso and comedy.
The stand up comedic aspect of the show was supplied by Tommy Joseph and Nuts Landing while the calypso cast included Bro Alpha, Hamidullah, Myron B, Johnny King and Humorous Calypso Monarch Brother Ebony.
Several artistes, promoters and calypso aficionados were in attendance including past national calypso monarchs Chuck Gordon and Duane O’Connor, Contender and Bunny B, Carl Jacobs, Robin Foster, Roderick and Frank Ward, Junior Hutson and Diane Holdip.
Solidly booked for weekend fetes until August, Q’s Place is the latest calypso venue in the nation’s capital since De Nu Pub was destroyed by fire in March. As a promoter, Blackie has big plans to continue producing mid-week calypso shows at this venue and other showplaces and among the artistes he intends showcasing are Barbados’ Edwin Yearwood and Baron.
Friday evening’s agenda began early when Western Credit Union (WESCU) hosted its 2017 prize-giving ceremony at its Fitt Street, Woodbrook, head office for winners in its first ever calypso, rapso and chutney competition which was held during the carnival season. A stone’s throw away, on Tragarete Road, Woodbrook, Modernaires Single Pan band was premiering its first Friday-evening, after-work production.
Two blocks away, the panyard of 2017 National Panorama (Single Pan) champion Newtown Playboyz was venue for Now is the Time—Music for Change, staged by Concerned Individuals for Pan.
The large crowd in attendance was thoroughly entertained by performances by Ken “Professor” Philmore, Earl Brooks, Dane Gulston & Family, The Martin Cain Family, Dennis Smith, Allan Cardinal, Crazy, De Original De Fosto Himself, Anslem Douglas, Oscar B and Adrian Philbert. Among the attendees at this event were Muslimeen imam Yasin Abu Bakr, former Pan Trinbago vice president Byron Serrette and Pan Trinbago executive members Gerard Mendez and Earl Morris, as well as members of Friends of Pan Trinbago.
On Saturday, thousands made the trek along mountainous terrain to the Surrey Village Community Centre, via Lopinot Road, Arouca, where First Citizens Supernovas Steel Orchestra held A Day in Surrey, described by the band’s arranger Amrit Samaroo as “a culinary and musical feast.”
Music began just after noon but the live action started around 5 pm with some outstanding performances by Los Amantes de Parranderos and San Jose Serenaders. It was refreshing to see families coming out in numbers to hear live parang music in April and patrons who were thus inclined danced to the infectious rhythms.
The steelband aspect of the programme began at 7 pm with show host Selwyn “Fruits” John-Williams announcing Arima’s Melodians which didn’t disappoint with a well balanced and rounded repertoire of popular music.
National Panorama second runner-up bpTT Renegades also presented a most enticing set followed by 2017 National Panorama champion Massy Trinidad All Stars, full of verve and pep. Opening with its trademark Woman on the Bass, the legendary Duke Street band kept everyone dancing and overjoyed, ending its set with its winning Panorama selection, Ultimate Rejects’ Full Extreme.
In fact, so vibrant was All Stars’ playing no one seemed to notice the 4.7 earthquake that shook the country at 9.52 pm. It is the second time that an earthquake occurred during an All Stars performance, the last time during a National Panorama semi-final performance at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Host band Supernovas also delighted with its perfectly rehearsed repertoire. Full credit and congrats are well deserved by Supernovas arranger Amrit Samaroo and his family, and organisers of A Day in Surrey for producing a truly enjoyable event.
However, one word of advice, next time around, there’s need for better traffic and parking control along the narrow main road, with some traffic police supervision. To emerge from the venue at night was nothing short of a nightmare which taxed my driver’s total driving ability and skill.
The Legacy of Clive Bradley
In collaboration with Simeon Sandiford’s Sanch Electronix, 2016 National Panorama champion Desperadoes has release three fantastic CDs—Straight Outta Laventille —featuring the arrangements of the late Clive Bradley and those of Robert Greenidge, Carlton “Zanda” Alexander, Eddie Quarles, Keith Salcedo, Andre Robley and the late Raf Robertson.
The two Bradley CDs, titled The Legacy of Clive Bradley, contain almost two hours of classical winning Panorama arrangements by Bradley, including Rebecca, In My House and Picture on my Wall, as well as Party and Jammer. Also on the disc are popular covers of Let the Music Play, Love is a Many Splendoured Thing, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Love in the Cemetery, MacArthur Park, My Heart Will Go On, This Melody Sweet and When Will I See You Again.
Consisting 72 minutes of music, the second CD—Different Me—has well loved songs like Joey Lewis’ Bound to Dance, Musical Volcano, Autumn Leaves, Come With It, Overjoyed, This Masquerade, I Don’t Mind, Slave and last year’s Panorama winner Different Me.
Steelband sports in full swing
The 2017 comPANions Steelbands Sports Tournament is expected to come to an exciting climax when its Sports & Family Day is held on the Indian Arrival Day holiday (May 30), at Constantine Park, Macoya, at 9.30 am. For the past two months the nation’s steelbands have been involved in keen competition in various sporting and recreational disciplines including cricket, football, table tennis, netball, All Fours, Dominoes and Draughts.
This evening the Big 8 Knockout tourneys will be held to determine the champions in Table Tennis, 7-a-side netball and netball shooting. Steelbands vying in the table tennis category are Trinidad All Stars, Desperadoes, Renegades, Exodus, Sound Specialists of Laventille, Gonzales Sheikers and Scherzando. The fun begins at 7.30 pm at the spacious panyard of Curepe Scherzando.
Tomorrow, the Pamberi panyard in San Juan will be venue for competitions in All Fours and Dominoes, from 4 pm. The final fixtures of Round 1 of cricket continues on Saturday, May 20 at Republic Bank Exodus Pan Complex, located on the EMR, St Augustine, at 4 pm.
This year’s tournament is not just about sports and come May 19, steelbands will vie for what is expected to be a most enjoyable karaoke contest at the CAL Invaders panyard on Tragarete Road, Woodbrook, from 7.30 pm. Draughts and Scrabble will also be contested that night at the same venue.
A major highlight at the Sports & Family Day will be the Fun Past, this year themed Road Marches from 1965 - 1985. Participants are not only expected to parade in the spirit of the theme but must also portray, in costume, the calypso chosen from the period.