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Pan bacchanalia coming
Posted: Friday, July 30, 2004
by Peter Blood
Excitement is high in the west over the prospect of a new Carnival entity named Bacc-ha-nalia.
Launched for the media last week Thursday evening at The Mas Camp Pub, Excellent Stores Silver Stars official Lorraine Pouchet revealed plans for the new "western alliance" between her steel orchestra, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove and BWIA Invaders.
From the playing of the national anthem, organisers captured the attention of all in attendance as it was performed by "The Three Tenors," in BWIA Invaders captain Rudolf Williams, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove musical director Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, and Excellent Stores Silvers Stars captain Edwin Pouchet.
It's a pity that this particular version was not recorded for subsequent use by the wider community as it was one of the sweetest interpretations I've heard of our anthem, made that more poignant being played on the national instrument.
For Boogsie, venturing into this union is a bit like returning home as not only did he once play and arrange for Invaders, but also did the same with Silver Stars. The steelband with the most impressive record in mas, Silver Stars won the 1963 Band of the Year title, portraying Gulliver's Travels.
Addressing the audience, Lorraine said that not only will Bacc-ha-nalia be producing mas on Carnival Monday but Tuesday as well, with all eyes on the major laurel, the Band of the Year title.
Bacc-ha-nalia was welcomed into the mas fraternity by recently re-appointed NCC chairman Kenny de Silva who promised his organisation's support, a promise Lorraine subsequently said she intended to pursue.
Musical heaven in pan and kaiso
You don't have to be a pan or vintage kaiso afficionado to purchase the newest double CDs on the market.
Produced by Sanch Electronix Limited, the two sets are Calypso Music from Trinidad and Tobago, and a special edition of Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars in Concert. The first features the sound tracks of Sing de Chorus and De Roaring '70s, while the All Stars concert was actually recorded 11 years ago, on November 28, 1993, at the Central bank Auditorium. Both are nothing short of musical heaven.
Vocalists on the De Roaring '70s include David Bereaux, Elliot Francois, Kurtis Gross, Clem Haynes, Brian "Commentor" Honore, Marie Jack, Phillip "Black Sage" Murray and Christine Thomas. Singing on Sing de Chorus are journalist Ucill Cambridge, Sharon Devonish, Leon Roach, Gross, Honore, Haynes and Murray.
Hearing Haynes render the late Fluke's Black Power, Bereaux with Cypher's Black Power, and Black Sage's treatment of Brother Valentino's Third World is sufficient inducement to go out and buy the package. The genius of the late Maestro is also succinctly captured by the trio of Francois, Gross and Jack, interpreting It Ain't Strange.
From its eye-catching cover design by Kenneth Scott, to each of its 15 tracks, Sanch bossman, Simeon Sandiford, has done an outstanding job at capturing the perfect reproduction of the national instrument on the All Stars package.
Among my favourites are the band's interpretations, all under the baton of the late Supt Nelson Villafana, are Elgar's Pomp and Curcumstance Miniliary March No 1 in D Minor, Bach's Air From Suite No 3, Finlandia, Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony - 4th Movement, and The Thieving Magpie by Rossini.
Don't just take my word for it; go out and buy these two works of art.
Reproduced from: www.guardian.co.tt
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