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In the Carnival mix
Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2003
by Peter Blood
A Road March family affair
Friday night's staging of the semi-final round of competition of the 2003 NLCB International Soca Monarch, at Club Caribbean, served to separate the goat from the sheep in this year's Road March race.
At press time, it seems a safe bet to wager that the 2003 champion will either be the sibling to the incumbent, or daughter of a past winner. Last weekend, Iwer George's "Ah Home" took on even more momentum at the fetes, hotly pursued by "Display," the contender of Faye-Ann Lyons, daughter of Road March high priest SuperBlue and Chutney Soca artiste Lyn Steele, and niece of calypsonian Gypsy.
The big show on this weekend is tomorrow's TUCO Kaiso Fiesta (National Calypso Monarch semi-final), at Skinner Park, San Fernando. By the end of tomorrow, it will be clearer who are the main contenders to the title, which is held by Kitchener's Revue's Sugar Aloes, a hot favourite to retain the crown.
THE ROAD MARCH DERBY
1. Ah Home - Iwer George
2. Display - Faye-Ann Lyons
3. Trini 2 De Bone - David Rudder and Carl Jacob
4. Passion - Militant
5. Kick It Way - Maximus Dan
6. Is Carnival - Destra and Machel Montano
7. Mash Up - Sean Caruth
8. Snake Oil - Bunji Garlin
9. De Fun Cyar Done - Blaxx
10.Mad Man - Machel Montano
A wealth of kaiso talent
For those of you who might be griping at some of the fare being passed on some radio stations as calypso and soca and want to hear some good stuff, turn your attention to the competitions featuring the nation's children, like NORS' Calypso Pioneers Contest and those staged by corporate entities.
Last Friday, I was pleasantly surprised when, serving as a judge at Guardian Holdings Ltd, I discovered some more talented amateurs. Among them were eventual monarch Debra Lezama, who composed a masterpiece of a social commentary entitled "What D'People Want". This lady was clearly head and shoulders above her competition and should be encouraged to venture into a higher level in the calypso arena.
Also impressive were runners-up Brevard Nelson and Carol Boissiere. Singing under the sobriquet of Hot Bread Van, Nelson's composition was "I Like to See Rags," a ditty he performed with the same trimmings and vigour seen at a Soca Monarch final, complete with fireworks, balloons and bandannas. Nelson also captured the Road March title, plus the Chutney Soca Monarch title, with another well presented act for the hilarious composition "Chin & Gee Project."
Boissiere performed as A.Nonymous and her offering was entitled "We Eh Takin' Dat," a social commentary which urges citizens to take a firmer stand against criminals.
Once again, compliments are well deserved by GH Holdings for again proving to be the perfect host. The show was hosted by Donna Hadad with musical accompaniment by Volume. Making guest appearances at the end of the competition were Bunji Garlin, Iwer George, Destra, Rupee, Militant, Ronnie McIntosh, Traffik's Candi Hoyte and Kernal Roberts, Sean Caruth, Shurwayne Winchester, Tricia Hamilton and Ward One. Sound was by Geone.
Trinis too locho
"What does really take some Trinis in truth?" In this year of some good patriotic songs from our bards, like "Trini 2 De Bone" and "Ah Home," locho nationals were griping because Pan Trinbago charged a $20 admission fee to the track at the Queen's Park Savannah for the National Panorama semi-final.
This week, I was cornered Behind de Bridge by one irate woman, complaining about the fee, and accusing Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold of being "a money satan."
In stern tones, I stoutly disagreed with her, telling her Trinis must learn to respect their indigenous art forms and artistes much more, and must pay for art.
Of course, the woman never saw my point of view, making a case that "poor people from de ghetto" are unable to pay Pan Trinbago's fee to support our national instrument. I may add, Miss Lady was dressed "buck no duck," in Nike's latest brand footwear, and wicked low-ride, probably priced collectively at some $2,000.
Anyway, in all seriousness, we will start to see our way a little better and clearer as soon as we begin to show respect for our arts and artistes. I watched in amazement at the recent Madison Square Garden concert by Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones on HBO, admission to which was some US$500 per head.
The Stones show made me wonder about our national instrument, in fact, all our indigenous art forms. I wondered if Trinis would one day be willing to fork out even US$100 to go and see a dozen of the best conventional steel orchestras in the world, with the best pannists on the planet, at a National Panorama final.
Last Sunday's semi-final featured 33 of the world's best steel orchestras, 3,000 of our best pannists, and 33 of our best musicians, including Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Pelham Goddard, Clive Bradley, Leon "Smooth" Edwards, Anise Hadeed and Edwin Pouchet, and Trinis don't have enough respect for all this rare and unique talent to pay a measly $20, a portion of which will be going to the performers after Carnival.
Too many of us, when it comes to the arts, are only Trini to the bone if we storm or get a free ticket. These people, as Brother Resistance would say, really "nah give ah damn fuh dey culture."
All for Salybia
On the topic of good fetes, the annual Salybia Bay all-inclusive escape on Carnival Thursday is on. This year, host Michael Headley is asking patrons to hire maxi-taxis instead of driving down to Salybia.
Tickets carry the names of safe drivers who will be working a maxi-taxi shuttle service from Port-of-Spain and Sangre Grande. This week, Headley said he is is not revealing the cast of entertainers contracted for the party, but let slip that one of them will be the "biggest surprise artiste at a party this entire Carnival season."
Last Saturday I had two of my most enjoyable outings this Carnival season. During the day, I attended the first ever "Carnival Wild Meat Lime," hosted by Jean Pierre Poteon and the notorious All Fete & No Sleep Posse at his Nagib Elias Drive home in Diego Martin. The Posse delivered all delicacies promised, including 'gouti, iguana, quenk, lappe, deer and tatou, with additives of geera pork and curry duck, all accompanied by dumplings and blue food. For the non-meat-eaters, a wicked King Fish and Joshua broth was concocted.
With calypsonian/hunter Scrunter commissioned to seek and capture the day's meats from the bush, patrons were assured of only the best. Guests were only asked one favour—to walk with drinks, and this they did readily. Up to late in the night, ticket-holders were still turning up for their wild meat fare.
Later in the night, I made my annual trek to Valsayn for Jess & Friends' all-inclusive fete in Valsayn. At this one, patrons got a whole lot more than the $150 admission fee paid. For starters, Rib House provided a delicious meal and cutters.
Jess, short for Jessica, is a vet staffer at the US Embassy and she is assisted each year with this fete by Iwer George, especially in the music department. Through the years, regardless of whatever other engagement Iwer has had, he faithfully turns up to perform for Jess with a few friends in tow. His cast this year included Crazy, Naya George, Faye Ann Lyons and KMC, aided by DJs Mega Force and Cutting Crew.
Among those seen thoroughly enjoying the lovely ambiance at Aruac Road this year were staffers from the embassy, magistrate Ronald Perry, lawyers Garvin Simonette and Allison Demas, and Health Ministry PRO Keith Sancho.
The Paragon of fetes
What do former international footballers Everald "Gally" Cummings, Gerry Brown, Lincoln de Landro and Gerard Figeroux have in common with past West Indies cricketers Colin Croft, Bernard Julien, Richard Gabriel and Jack Noreiga?
They are all past members of Paragon Sports Club, a citadel in sports decades ago.
Paragon Sports Club was also one of the country's most successful Carnival fete promotions outfits, hosting parties at its popular Cocorite sports club. Celebrating its 57th anniversary this year, Paragon will always be fondly remembered for its enjoyable Carnival fetes and New Year's Eve balls, as well as its family-oriented weekend limes at the clubhouse.
There's a resurgence in the club thanks to a new generation of sporting personalities and one of its first major fund-raisers is a Carnival fete on February 26, at its old stomping ground on the Western Main Road in Cocorite, next to Hi-Lo Food Stores.
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