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A soca Valentine's Day to you
Posted: Friday, February 14, 2003

by Peter Blood

Woman on Bass
Blue Diamonds' woman on the bass at Panorama preliminaries
Photo: Noel Saldenha

Female pannist and Cordials joint-owner Jennifer Cape was the first person to draw my attention to Faye-Ann Lyons' "Display". The talented daughter of SuperBlue and chutney soca artiste Lyn Steele, and niece of calypsonian Gypsy, Faye-Ann has a clear view of the 2003 Road March title with her hot number, despite its melody's similarity to a past hit.

Coming out of last weekend"s hectic party schedule, very little changed this week as far as the main contenders in the Road March Derby are concerned. Reigning champion Naya George has begun to make his move with "Rags", piggy-backing over a number of early pacemakers in the Top Ten. Also showing some form is "De Fun Cyar Done", by Blaxx of Roy Cape All Stars.

THE ROAD MARCH DERBY

1. "Trini 2 de Bone" - David Rudder and Carl Jacob

2. "Home" - Iwer George

3. "Display" - Faye-Ann Lyons

4. "Passion" - Militant

5. "Rags" - Naya George

6. "Kick It Way" - Maximus Dan

7. "Is Carnival" - Destra and Machel Montano

8. "Mash Up" - Sean Caruth

9. "Snake Oil" - Bunji Garlin

10. "The Count" - Dereck Seales

Young folks shine

FOCUSING on youth, I recently discovered two new exciting acts. At the keenly contested TSTT calypso competition, I was very impressed by the performance of Candice Narine.

Singing her father's composition, "Sweet Melody", Candice displayed a beautiful voice and polished stage presence, as well as accompanying herself on the tenor pan.

I understand Candice is under the watchful eye of Pelham Goddard and hers is a name to remember for the future in the soca arena.

The other act I encountered was at Calypso Spektakula's Comedy Night at Jean Pierre Complex. It is a theatrical ensemble named Moods, comprising four young men and two women.

Moods had the small Complex audience in stitches with its original and creative brand of humour in a skit about a movie director being frustrated by his dysfunctional actors and crew.

After last weekend's tragic and disgraceful display by young patrons at La Romain's Maska compound, chalk positive for the nation's youth next to these two promising acts.

Pan in we blood

ON Sunday, all roads lead to the Queen's Park Savannah for the 40th edition of the National Panorama competition. Sunday's event is the semi-final for conventional orchestras at national level.

A lot of the hype in this year"s competition has been centred on Witco Desperadoes and Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove performing the same selection, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe's "Music in We Blood".

Pan pundits are saying it is a blood-and-sand showdown of genius between Sharpe and Despers' Clive Bradley, not to mention a showcase of some of the best pannists in the world.

Equal excitement is being created over World Steelband Music Festival champion Exodus and defending National Panorama champion Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars also performing the same selection, "Pandora" by de Original de Fosto Himself. This, too, is a virtual face-off between virtuoso musicians, in Pelham Goddard and Leon "Smooth" Edwards.

There are a number of other bands with just as good a chance as these four of taking home the bacon come Carnival Saturday night.

PCS Starlift is sounding its best in years with Lincoln Waldron's arrangement of Eunice Peters' melodious "House of Music", and band of the '90s, bpTT Renegades, is at peak performance with Tony Prescott's "Iron Band", composed and arranged by veteran Jit Samaroo. South"s TCL Group Skiffle Bunch and NLCB Fonclaire are also lively contenders, as well as BWIA Invaders, Excellent Stores Silver Stars and Tobago's RBTT Sounds Redemption.

Saints score with fete

Saturday saw me trying to split myself in five to achieve this feat, including going to all-inclusive fetes by D"Polis at UWI, St Mary's College, Pearl Gardens, Blue Range and Trotters. I crashed and burnt after one pass.

For St Mary's, like St Francois Girls' College and St George's College, it was their first attempt at fund-raising through an all-inclusive fete, and what an impressive effort it was.

The turnout was good, the music great, the food so-so (one meal choice), and it was attended by what seemed to be a retinue of past sporting greats, from not only St Mary's, but also QRC and Fatima. Seen were Alvin Corneal, Andy Aleong, Sedley Joseph, Wayne Smart, Colin Murray, Vernon "Sam" Sadaphal and Roderick Ward.

Also supporting the St Mary's venture were Hasely Crawford, Mervyn Assam, Dr Keith Clifford, Cmdr Anthony Franklin, Lennox Alfred and Major Brian Paul.

The Seal of approval

MY spirit soaring following Sunday's victory by West Indies over South Africa in its ICC Cricket World Cup opener, I headed to La Estancia, Diego Martin right after the game for Seal Promotions" first ever all-inclusive fete.

It was "da bomb", served by some sweet music by just OB of Crosby Sounds crew, and delicious food courtesy Rib House, Lisa"s and Richard of Maracas Beach fame.

The 14th edition of the Guardian Monarch contest is on at 5 pm, at the newspaper's St Vincent Street car park, with sports editor and defending monarch Valentino "The Urchin" Singh trying to stave off ten eager and hungry challengers.

Tonight's big show, however, is the staging of the semi-final of the 2003 NLCB International Soca Monarch competition, at Club Caribbean, Wrightson Road. This one is produced by Caribbean Prestige Promotions, backed by a slew of executive producers.



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