April still Jazz month in Tobago (UPDATED)

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When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.

The cancellation/postponement of the fifth Plymouth Jazz Festival in Tobago sent shockwaves through the island, as the event has become such a signature on the Tobagonian festival calendar. Visitors book their accommodation and travel sometimes more than a year in advance, and the event is considered a significant revenue earner for the tourism and hospitality sector.

But in every crisis, there is opportunity. Every year, criticisms have been levelled at the festival for being a misnomer (as is the case with many a jazz festival), featuring headliners who were international rock, R&B or pop stars, with few if any jazz artists and a dearth of local musicians.

Not so this year. For myself at least, I am delighted at the shape jazz week in Tobago – dubbed the Tobago Jazz Experience – is taking. Together, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Division of Tourism and Transportation, Production One, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA), Mt. Irvine Bay Hotel and Pan Trinbago have come together to offer an alternative week of jazz that locals and internationals alike can enjoy.

All acts and events are still being confirmed, but if all goes as planned, the week of sun, sea and jazz in Tobago this year may in many ways be even better than the lavish festivals of old. With performers, venues and times subject to confirmation, here is some of what we can look forward to:

Wednesday April 22:

• Pan Jazz in de Yard @ Redemption Sound Setters Pan Yard – Featuring Andy Narell, Liam Teague, Victor Provost, Len Boogsie Sharpe, Kersh Ramsey, Silver Stars Steel Orchestra

Thursday April 23:

• Pan Jazz in de Yard @ Redemption Sound Setters Pan Yard – Featuring Len Boogsie Sharpe, Rudy Smith, Mavis John, Caribbean Airlines Invaders, and the Kariwak Players
  

Friday April 24:

• Lunch Time Jazz @ the Scarborough Esplanade
• World Music Night @ Pigeon Point Heritage Park – Featuring Caribbean INXS, Princess Adanna, Guardian Knight, Fire Fusion, Shadow, 3canal, Calypso Rose, Ella Andall, Shurwayne Winchester & Y.O.U.

Saturday April 25:

• Street Beat @ Plymouth
  
• Jazz on de Beach @ Mt. Irvine
• Beach Jazz @ Speyside
• Latin Jazz Night @ Pigeon Point Heritage Park – Featuring Elan Parle, Michele Henderson (Dominica), CaneFire (Canada), Behita (Cuba), and Mungal Patassar

Sunday April 26:

• Jazz on de Beach @ Mt. Irvine
• Sun, Sea and Jazz @ Pigeon Point Heritage Park – Featuring the Kariwak Players, Caribbean INXS, Michael Boothman, Theron Shaw, Clive Zanda, David Rudder, and the Grammy Award-winning George Benson
  

Tickets go on sale from April 6th: the Pan Jazz in de Yard events cost TT$250 per night or TT$450 for both nights; World Music Night TT$150; Latin Jazz TT$250; Sun, Sea & Jazz TT$300; and the Jazz Caravan is free of charge.

In Trinidad, they will be available at Cleve's, Sanch Electronics, Crosby's and Stetchers. In Tobago, they will be available at all Penny Savers Supermarkets and Pirates' Boat Yard in Roxborough.

Stay tuned – we'll let you know when tickets go on sale and any changes to the line up as soon as we do!

"Foursome in Toco" opens this weekend (shameless, or mildly shameful, plug)

They call it Foursome in Toco, but it's really a localised adaptation of Sam & Jeanne Bobrick's Weekend Comedy. Apparently only sex sells in Trinidad, though I don't agree.

In any case, it comes from the producers of the last hit comedy Sex, Lies & Money (that I was also in, and which played for four sold-out weekends in Queen's Hall and the CLR James Auditorium) and the ever popular Mary Could Dance and plays at the CLR James Auditorium of the Cipriani Labour College in Valsayn tonight through Sunday.

It's actually a very sweet and funny play dealing with the complexities of relationships at any stage of our lives. It features an award-winning cast including Richard Ragoobarsingh, Glenn Davis, Susan Hannays Abraham and Caroline Neisha Taylor (aka, me). It's directed by Debra Boucaud Mason and Richard Ragoobarsingh.

So what's it about? Well, it takes a look at what happens when four people end up in Toco in one small beach house for a long weekend. Is it an orgy? Is it a major fight? Is it a battle of the sexes? And what do Panday and Manning have to do with it? (Hint: little to nothing, and there are no orgies)

Showtimes are Friday March 27 at 9pm; Saturday March 28 at 8:30pm; and Sunday March 29 at 6:30pm.

Tickets are $150 and are available at the Auditorium Box Office 12-6pm daily (t: 868-768-8663 or 868-744-7581) and other select outlets. See ad for details.

"Calypso Dreams" premieres in the US

The popular documentary film Calypso Dreams, which gained tremendous popularity when it was screened at the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival, premieres in the United States next month.

The Consulate General of Trinidad & Tobago, together with Florida International University’s Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), the University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), and Abeng Arts, are hosting the premiere at the University of Miami's Cosford Cinema on Thursday April 2 at 7pm. The event is free of charge.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker Geoffrey Dunn, alongside legendary calypsonian Lord Superior (Andrew Marcano) and the film's co-producer Alvin Daniel.

On the eve of the premiere, a free panel discussion on Music, Resistance and the Caribbean Calypso's Legacy will be help at 2pm at Florida International University. The panel will feature outtakes of Calypso Dreams, as well as discussion with Geoffrey Dunn, Alvin Daniel, and Lord Superior.

Calypso Dreams is a film nearly ten years in the making, and chronicles the spirit and traditions of calypso music in its birthplace of Trinidad. It features narrative commentary by popular Trinidadian musician David Rudder, and captures riveting contemporary performances by a host of legendary calypso performers, including the Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Lord Superior, Black Stalin, Mighty Bomber, Lord Blakie, Singing Sandra and Mighty Terror. It also pays homage to recently deceased calypsonians, including Lord Kitchener and Lord Pretender.

The film also includes a rare and exclusive interview with Harry Belafonte on the issue of his early involvement with calypso and his complex relationship with Lord Melody and other calypsonians in the 1950s and early 60s. Using a rich array of archival footage and photographs, Calypso Dreams illustrates how the music was commercialised and homogenised by the American music industry in the 1940s and 1950s, only to survive in decades of international anonymity.

Calypso's current state in its homeland and internationally remains a matter of vigorous diasporic debate.

If you are a lover of calypso, or are just curious about it and about Afro-Caribbean music, the film is a treasure and a must-see.

Trini Broadway star makes waves in the US

While I was thumbing through the Broadway Playbill of Oprah Winfrey's musical production of The Colour Purple in New York (which I thoroughly enjoyed) and skimming through the cast bios (which I do religiously), I jumped in that way that I always do when I see the word "Trinidadian" in a place I least expected.

But then Trinidadians say that no matter what is going on in the world – whether a celebration (go and google all the Trinis who had top jobs in lighting or decorating for President Obama's inauguration), a tragedy (whether it's in a US school shooting, Asian tsunami, or armed conflicts between eastern European nations), or a Broadway production, there is always a Trini representing.

The Trinidadian reference in the Playbill described the roots of Krisha Marcano – the statuesque triple threat who more than held her own playing "Squeak".

And, as my fellow Caribbean Beat blogger Samantha Rochard wrote today, she's thriving and sharing her knowledge and talent – a venture I hope she will bring back home as soon as she is able. Read more about what she's up to here.

Trinidadian Broadway star shares dance knowledge

Trinidad born Broadway star Krisha Marcano kicks off her Graham based dance classes in April at Roy Arias Dance in New York City.

Marcano has made a name for herself in New York , more specifically on Broadway. Her resume lists dance companies and productions such as The Martha Graham Dance Company, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Fosse (1st National Tour), Aida, Sweet Charity, The Apple Tree, Purlie, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Marcano‘s most notable performance to date is as “Squeak” in Oprah Winfrey’s Broadway production, The Color Purple.

She has also created an arts support network called The Arts Oasis which produces new work and offers classes, workshops and consultation services to artists and students everywhere. The company also works with community organisations, non-for-profit groups and anyone interested in expanding audiences. Its mission is to bring Dance and Theater to all.

More information about this wonderful opportunity to learn from this Broadway star can be found on www.TheArtsOasis.com

- Submitted by guest blogger Samantha Rochard 

Rapsofest returns May 1-17

The 20th edition of RapsoFest runs this year May 1-17, and continues its mission to promote the oral tradition and folk culture through performances, lectures, seminars and workshops across both Trinidad and Tobago.

Rapso, often defined as "the power of the word in the rhythm of the word", is one of Trinidad & Tobago's most vibrant and socially conscious musical genres, fusing elements of "robber talk" (the distinctive speech of the traditional Carnival character called the Midnight Robber), the rapping that is a feature of several African-derived musical forms in the western hemisphere, with grooving base lines and infectious melodic hooks.

Some of its most popular contemporary proponents include Brother Resistance and 3canal, back by a new generation of promising artists like Ataklan, Word, Sound & Power and Massacre to name but a few.

As in previous years, this edition of RapsoFest will emphasise training, with an aim to develop the spoken word and rapso artists' skill as storytellers, wordsmiths and compelling performers. These training sessions will take place over a six-week period, in collaboration with NALIS. They began last week, and continue every Tuesday and Thursday (5-7pm) and Saturday (3-6pm) at the NALIS headquarters on Abercromy Street in Port of Spain.

Mark Lyndersay documents "Local Lives"

Journalist, photographer, blogger and "tech guru" Mark Lyndersay (also a frequent contributor to MEP's publications, including Discover T&T) tells the stories of a wide cross-section of local lives through words and images on his ever-growing website, Lyndersay Digital.

While you're there, make sure to browse his blogs and galleries, whose archives depict T&T life and culture over several decades.

Tobago begins "Sounds Like Tobago" initiative in UK schools

Officials from the tourism and education arenas have joined forces to launch the "Sounds Like Tobago" initiative in UK primary schools, with a grand prize of winning an educational trip to the island.

This month, seven primary schools in the UK hosted delegates from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), who are funding the "Sounds Like Tobago" programme with a view to sharing the history, music, culture and geography of Tobago through fun and interactive lessons.

The inaugural tour will included visits to schools in Surrey, Kent, Northampton and Bromley. Signal Hill primary school in Tobago has also been selected to take part in the initiative to encourage peer-to-peer cross-cultural learning between the children. All participants will be encouraged to update the "Sounds Like Tobago" website with footage, blogs and other experiences.

The Tobago delegation also launched a new competition, encouraging the classes they toured to design a steel pan. The winners will win a trip to Tobago to have a chance to see their steel pan design come to life.

It was the Bickley Primary School in Bromley's school project in 2008 that helped form the idea for the "Sounds Like Tobago" project. According to Oswald Williams, Secretary of Tourism & Transportation: "there is a common misconception in overseas markets that Caribbean islands have the same culture, infrastructure and make-up across the board. However, like the other islands, Tobago has an independent identity with its own traditions, festivals and musical heritage.

"For example, not many people know that the steel pan originally hails from Trinidad & Tobago or that due to proximity to Venezuela, Tobago shares much of the tropical greenery, climate and eco-systems of that part of the South Caribbean and has the oldest [protected] rainforest in the Western Hemisphere.

"We wanted to find a way of communicating this message and educating children about Tobago, while supporting teachers with an interactive and exciting addition to their curriculum. This initiative provides children with an engaging opportunity to learn about another culture and way of life. The children in Trinidad & Tobago are also very excited about taking part in the programme – and of course, meeting the winning class next year."

Petrotrin International Cycling Series 2009

Just about a month from now, T&T cycling teams are invited to participate in the Petrotrin Cycling Series.

Slated for April 14–19, the events will include:

• Tuesday April 14: International Criterium (approximately 60 miles)
• Wednesday April 15: International Track Racing
• Friday April 17: International Criterium (approximately 50 miles)
• Saturday April 18: International Circuit Race (approximately 60 miles)
• Sunday April 19: Palo Seco Games – Track Racing

The event coincides with 5th Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, featuring regional heads of governments and their national contingents.

For more information, contact Jeff Charles of the Trinbago Wheelers at (868) 632-5560 or 680-1214.

Bonaire Jazz Fest this June

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The Bonaire Jazz Festival has become a tradition on the island, and returns this June 4–7 for its fifth installment.

This year's festival boasts a line-up that includes both local and international musicians. It will also showcase a Jazz & Poetry Evening to kick off the festivities at Fort Oranje, featuring the Gabby Saleh Quartet, the Cabacoa Trio, and Surinamese vocalist Denise Jannah.

Two big concerts are the main attraction on June 5th and 6th featuring the Monty Alexander Quartet, Hans Dulfer band, Denise Jannah, Alfredo Naranga of Venezuela–with a ten-musician Latin Jazz Salsa band, the Dikazz Group from Bonaire, and the local Silver Bullet Steelband. A jam session with the evening's musicians will follow each concert from midnight til!

To bring the curtain down, the popular Jazz Brunch returns on June 7th, featuring local musicians as well as headliners from the festival.

Study of Trinbagonians in NYC

Here's an interesting ethnolinguistic study of Trinidadians in New York: http://www.nyu.edu/classes/blake.map2001/trinidad.html

For the Carnival jumbies

Trinidad Carnival Diary has published a very tempting international list of Carnivals worldwide. Ahh to be a global Carnival hopper...

National Poetry Festival back for second year

The National Poetry Festival returns for 2009 under the banner: "Defying the Disease through the Power of the Word; Resisting Stigma and Discrimination". The festival runs March 15–21 across both islands. The programme includes:

Sunday March 15

• 5–6.30pm: Festival Launch, National Museum, Port of Spain

Monday March 16

• 10am–noon: Panel Discussion – "The Role of Media and Popular Culture in Resisting Stigma and Discrimination", NALIS Headquarters, Port of Spain

Tuesday March 17

• 10am–noon: Primary School workshop, Charlotteville, Tobago
• 2–4pm: Roadside Readings, Charlotteville, Tobago
• 8–10pm: Stories, Prose & Poetry @ Carib Hut, Amerindian Centre, Arima

Wednesday March 18

• 9am–2.30pm: Secondary School workshops, East and South Trinidad – "Stigma and Discrimination"
• 8–10pm: Poetry & Jazz @ Atherly's by the Park, Gooding Village, San Fernando

Thursday March 19

• 10am–noon: Teacher's workshop – Power and Relevance of Poetry
• 8–10pm: Roadside Readings, Corner Bar, Woodbrook

Friday March 20

• 11.30am–1pm: Poetry for the People @ Woodford Square
• 9pm: Conscious Word Lime, Pan Yard Session

Saturday March 21 (World Poetry Day)

• 7.30pm: Festival Finale, National Museum Installation, new Poet Laureate of Port of Spain (by invitation only)
  

For more information: Nicholas 481-0807, Rachael 470-6722 or Sheldon 687-5576

Saying it, since it should be said...

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I am so glad Windies won the cricket.
Five years without winning a test series.
Nine years since we'd lifted that trophy.
Inconsistent performance from players, Stanford 20/20 in shambles, cricket board mired in controversy...
Like I said, I am so glad the Windies won the cricket against England today.
And as a Trini, I am jealous of everyone who was living it up at the Queen's Park Oval over the last five days.
But one-days soon come.
Congratulations, fellas. I hope we can keep up the good showing.

Latest issue of Caribbean Beat now online!

The latest issue of Caribbean Beat – no. 96, March/April 2009 – is now online! Here's what you'll find inside:

• BROWNMAN BLOWS UP A STORM: This young jazz trumpeter, based in Toronto, leads no fewer than seven bands, and can switch styles as easily as he changes his socks. Donna Yawching caught up with this musical whirlwind
• THE CATERPILLAR: Nicholas Laughlin tells the curious tale of how a middle-aged 17th-century German housewife and mother travelled to the tropics and became known as the mother of entomology
• RIDING THE RIDDIM: Bogle, butterfly, pepperseed, gully creeper, nah linger, passa passa…there’s no end to the amazing variety and gymnastic agility of Jamaican popular dance. Nazma Muller watched in open-mouthed amazement Features
• HAPPENINGS: A round-up of current events on the Caribbean calendar
• PORT OF SPAIN RISES TO THE SUMMIT: Gail Alexander reports on how Trinidad and Tobago’s capital is preparing for the next Summit of the Americas and a very special guest, US President Barack Obama
• SAVING MONEY, SAVING THE EARTH: Tobago is showing hotel owners ways to cut costs – while keeping their island clean and conserving resources. James Fuller learned how from the island’s Travel Foundation
• SUPERFOOD OF ST VINCENT: Often thought of as stodgy and dull, the humble breadfruit has an exciting history that’s part of one of the most famous seafaring stories in the world. Jonathan Ali visited its adopted homeland of St Vincent, where it’s been cherished since 1787
• EVENING IN THE GARDEN: Poet and novelist Ian McDonald shares his memories of a rich and happy life with Nicholas Laughlin
• THE ART OF THE MATTER: A brush with death showed guitarist Theron Shaw what was really important in life. In his latest recordings and performances, he’s focused on reinterpreting Caribbean classics. Vaneisa Baksh listened to the man and his music
• FROM SKA TO SOCA: The half-century career of Byron Lee, Jamaican bandleader and businessman, stretched the length of the region and covered many genres of its music too. David Katz sums up the life of a legend
• GAYLE FORCE WINS: When Caribbean Beat went to press, the West Indies were celebrating a stunning first-Test victory in Jamaica over the touring English team. Nasser Khan profiles the controversial captain who leads the winning side
• BRINGING THE CULTURE HOME: Ray Funk is part Sherlock Holmes and part Santa Claus. An expert on pan and calypso, this Alaskan judge combs the Internet in search of valuable information on West Indian culture. Debbie Jacob spoke to him on one of his flying visits to Trinidad
• GAME, FETE AND MATCH: Somewhere between silly point and cow corner, James Fuller is bowled over by a great West Indian cricketing tradition, the fete match
• STARSHIP ENTERPRISE: South Trinidad’s Space La Nouba nightclub has an intergalactic design that can make patrons feel carried away. Malene Joseph went on a flight of fancy
• DESIGNER WITH DOWN-TO EARTH DREAMS: Ashley Christmas knows where he belongs, and he wants everyone else to feel the same way – thanks to his new line of leisure wear. Helen Shair-Singh signs on as a member of his potentially worldwide following
• REVIEWS: The new music and books that are reflecting the region right now
• EXIT THE DRAGON: Garry Steckles shares his personal memories of the late musical maestro Byron Lee
• THE END OF ERIC: Thirty years ago, Grenada was led by Eric Gairy, champion of the poor, a political despot and a firm believer in UFOs. His extremes and eccentricities provoked the first non-constitutional change of regime in the English-speaking Caribbean. James Ferguson recalls the ‘Revo’
• DAN IS THE MAN: Caribbean Beat cookery writer Franka Philip gets to meet one of her culinary heroes, Dan Lepard of the London Guardian – and even spends a day swapping recipes and cooking up a storm with him
• KEEPING LONDON LOCKED DOWN: Morris Aberdeen is a locktician. That is, he’s a master of the art of making dreadlocks look elegant. Celebrity locks-wearers beat a path to his UK salons, Morris Roots, and Franka Philip followed in their footsteps

And don't forget to join us in our online social networks:

• Caribbean Beat page on Facebook
• Caribbean Beat on MySpace
• Caribbean Beat and MEP on Twitter

Anguilla's Fisherman's Fest set for this Easter

Anguilla is gearing up for their second annual Festival Del Mar, a community based culinary event celebrating the freshest catch from the sea and the fishermen who provide it. The festival takes place next month on Easter Weekend, April 11-12, at Island Harbour with free admission.

The island's local chefs from around the island will cook up lobster, crayfish, conch, tuna and snapper in a variety of culinary styles, alongside island staples like dumplings, fried cakes, rice and peas and other local delights at over 20 food stalls.

In addition to the food, the event also hosts activities like sunfish and model boat-racing in the inshore waters, and a deep sea fishing tournament.

Culinary competitions are open to restaurants and non-restaurateurs, with awards going to the best seafood soup or salad, best traditional seafood dish, best roasted or grilled seafood and more. Community activities will include awards for "Heaviest Catch of the Day", tips on fishing, swimming races and traditional games.

Miss Universe event returns to the Caribbean

It's been a few years since the Miss Universe competition, which has crowned a number of Caribbean beauties, has taken place in the West Indies. But the 58th edition will be staged in the Bahamas on August 30 of this year.

The pageant will be televised live on NBC and Telemundo. Officials in the Bahamas are hoping that this will help the islands with declining tourist arrivals that have plagued the entire region.

UWI presents "Fragments: Celebrating the Works of Derek Walcott"

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The theatrical season is picking up speed, as the Faculty of Humanities and Education's Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) presents Fragments: Celebrating the Works of Derek Walcott later this month.

The annual student led production continues in the 22-year tradition of the Department, this time mounting a contemporary performance celebrating the plays, essays and poems of Nobel Laureate for Literature, Derek Walcott.

Directed by Marvin George and Louis McWilliams (both graduates of the Creative Arts Department), the show incorporates dance, song, mime, improvisation and spoken word in this treatment of Walcott.

Fragments will be hosted for two weekends at the Learning Resource Centre at the UWI campus in St. Augustine March 26–29th and April 2–4.

For more info, contact the DCFA office at 663-2222 (direct line) OR 662-2002 ext 3791/3792/2510, or email: Marissa.Brooks@sta.uwi.edu.

Hello again, NYC: Caribbean Week returns to New York

There was a fair outcry both before and after Caribbean Week was moved from NYC to DC and amalgamated with the first annual Caribbean Tourism Summit. And it seems organisers listened.

The event has been reintroduced the the New York calendar, and will be hosted June 8-12 by the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC). Instead of integrating some elements of Caribbean Week into the Caribbean Tourism Summit in DC, Caribbean Week will be hosted in New York separately, following the second Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit (ACTS), which runs June 9-10. The summit is set to include meetings on Capitol Hill as well as internal meetings between CTO and CHTA officials attended by delegates from the Caribbean region.

Hugh Riley, interim secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and co-chief operating officer for the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC), said: "we’re excited to bring Caribbean Week back to New York City after our 2008 hiatus. This year’s programme promises to engage consumers, the diaspora community, trade professionals, meeting planners and media by providing valuable destination information in the form of seminars, a media marketplace, an incentive showcase, gala celebrations and interactive cultural events, many of which are open to the public."

Caribbean Week aims to bring together most influential policy makers, marketing professionals and tourism industry officials to discuss both tourism and investment opportunities in the region. It also serves to inspire travel and showcase the region’s diversity to more than 10,000 attendees who participate in a number of targeted events throughout the week.

Some highlights of Caribbean Week 2009 include:

Monday June 8:

• Celebrity Chefs – A series of celebrity chef demonstrations will take place beginning on Monday, June 8 at retail locations. The celebrity chef program is one of the most highly-anticipated of Caribbean Week in New York as consumers will be able to sample their distinctive cuisine all week long.

Wednesday June 10:

• Caribbean Fair – This vibrant celebration invites New Yorkers and beyond to Manhattan’s Bowling Green Park on from 11am to 7pm to enjoy a wealth of destination exhibits, Caribbean performers, artisans and celebrity chef demonstrations with tastings at this free event, open to the public. A Caribbean Vacation Mart will offer vacations at specially reduced prices available for purchase exclusively at the Caribbean Fair, which will also host a Caribbean Wedding sponsored by MarryCaribbean.com and the Caribbean Bridal Expo. In addition, senior government tourism officials will join New York City officials to commemorate the kick-off to Caribbean Week during a special opening ceremony.

Thursday June 11:

• Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon – Attended by Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism and Board of Directors as well as award-winning media, this luncheon from 1–2:30pm. honours US- and Caribbean-based consumer and trade media that have captured the essence of the Caribbean in their storytelling.
• Caribbean Media Marketplace – On Thursday, June 11 from 3–6pm, the media are invited to have one-on-one interactions with tourism officials, hotels, tour operators and airline representatives to gain valuable product information about the Caribbean.
• A Workshop for Travel Agents – Running concurrently with the media marketplace, this special workshop will offer niche market presentations on “Weddings and Honeymoons” to a select group of travel agents invited by CTO, its chapters and member countries.
• Caribbean Treats: Food, Rum and Rhythm – In celebration of the Caribbean region’s award-winning rums, Caribbean Week will feature this festive event from 6:30– 10:00pm. The ticketed event will include a sampling of premium Caribbean rums and rum cocktails showcased by master distillers, authors, celebrity chefs and mixologists, traditional Caribbean hospitality, musical performances and a silent auction including “one of a kind” vacations to the Caribbean. All guests must be at least 21 years of age.

Friday, June 12:

• Caribbean Marketing Conference and Allied Awards Luncheon – Hosted by the CTO Allied members in conjunction with ATME, this conference will be attended by Ministers, Commissioners and Directors of Tourism as well as senior tourism industry representatives from the private sector from 9am–2:30pm
  
• Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Travel Showcase – New to the Caribbean Week program this year, this showcase will be hosted in association with Black Meetings and Tourism to target the meeting, incentive, conference and exposition marketers by sharing the unique experiences available for these specialised groups in the Caribbean. The showcase will take place from 9:00am to 12:30pm
  
• Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball and Awards Presentation – As the official closing event to Caribbean Week in New York, this elegant black-tie affair, now in its 36th year, will be held at the Plaza Hotel on Friday from 7pm to midnight. In addition to Caribbean food and entertainment, highlights of the evening include the presentations of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Special Recognition Award and Excellence Award in honor of individual contributions to the region.

For more information on Caribbean Week in New York 2009, to register for all events and to purchase tickets, visit www.onecaribbean.org or call 212-635-9530.

Looking back at the Carnival...

It's been a week since the reign of the Merry Monarch came to an end.

I grew up in the outskirts of Port of Spain, to a Carnival-avoiding papa and a pan-loving, mas-playing, culture-crazy mama, with access to the home of an adopted grandmother who lived right on Ariapita Avenue (opposite where the popular Corner Bar now is).

In other words, I've always been a Carnival baby, and apart from last year where I did the 3canal show up to Carnival Saturday and then slept through J'Ouvert and Carnival, I have never been in the country and not in costume or at least crashing any band that I passed.

I'm not a big partier, but I do love soca and calypso and mas-making and all the artforms that come to the forefront of the national consciousness during these remarkable few weeks that we call the Carnival season. It's also my favourite time of year where (normally, anyway) there's bright sunshine and a cool, vigorous breeze that makes it impossible not to realise that you are on a remarkable island.

So I can't give much of a post-mortem on the all-inclusive fetes (the only one I went to was for The Arts Support Alliance, or TASA) or whether their presentation or attendance was in any way marred by the global economic downturn. But I can comment on the big soca and calypso competitions, and some of the countless other competitions that took place during the season. (By the way, check out Mark Lyndersay's take on this year's Carnival.)

Limbo Break

First of all, a pet peeve of mine was that there was no limbo competition. Sad but true, limbo is a cliche stereotype of the Caribbean that we often get a chance to rehabilitate when visitors (and locals!) get to see what the thing really looks like. Reigning limbo queen Kimmy Stoute-Robinson – who is known for working in the Willy Bounce and other contemporary popular dances while ascending from under the lowest flaming bar – apparently could not defend her title due to lack of funds. (Anybody remember the parang competition fiasco of 2008?)

Smorgasbord of Entertainment

There's a lot that goes on during the season, though I stop short of saying it's too much. On any given night, you can go to a musical show (say, Under the Trees or D Nu Pub – or even a languishing calypso tent), take in a play (say at Queen's Hall), go to a big fete at an exotic or not-so-exotic location, go to a mega-concert, listen to a band play at a sports bar (say, Woodford Cafe), or go to a competition (Kings and Queens, calypso or soca competitions, stickfighting, extempo, etc etc).

And interestingly, there are usually big audiences at all. The market is tremendously diverse – in age, location, entertainment preferences, and more – and apparently can make all these different offerings (except, perhaps, the tents) commercially viable. And that is, by and large, good. On the flip side, God knows I would love to be able to go to everything, but with several different kinds of events scheduled every night, it's almost impossible.

Radica

One of the stories that grabbed the public's attention was the story of Kenneth Salick and his victory at the Chutney Soca Monarch competition with his piece "Radica". A humble man of modest means, his original composition was based on the departure of his ex, and the mother of his children. Salick has shot to stardom with the song, and the public has followed the evolving relationship between him and the subject of his song, as the two remain in contact and Salick has said he will share his winnings with her. Remarkably, the song also received a fair amount of play during J'Ouvert and on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday. I'm not sure if I'm aware of any other Chutney Soca Monarch-winning song receiving that much road play before (though I could be totally wrong).

High on de Music

But to the big news. The soca for 2009 was oustanding, and along with quite a bit of the music that emerged in the 2000s, makes up for the musical wasteland that was Trini soca music in the 90s (with exceptions, of course! What would we have done with out Xtatic and Atlantik?). And that perhaps made the soca competitions all the more contested (though some of the top performers like Destra and Machel do not compete).

So let's talk about Soca Monarch. For months the hype was building that it was "going international", with international broadcasts on international TV stations, a panel of celebrity commentators from the US (Danny Glover and Chris Tucker, to be precise) in addition to local "celebs" like Ato Boldon, Ronnie McIntosh and Wendy Fitzwilliam, and that it would generally be "bigger and better". So when it started an hour late, all I could do was roll my eyes and steups. The show then dragged on until circa 4am, ie, too long. Do we really think international audiences of non-Trinis are going to stay tuned that long?

Then the audio and video feed from the celebrity panel was unreliable, essentially defeating the purpose of the panel altogether. I won't say anything on the quality of the commentary that I was able to piece together.

And in the Soca Monarch context, I remain unconvinced that performers need to spend more time talking to the crowd and coaxing them to follow jumping, wining, waving and singing instructions than actually performing in order to fill out their alotted time and score points for crowd participation. And while Queen Faye-Ann was the clear Power Soca Monarch, I couldn't understand how Nadia Batson didn't even place in the top four when I had her pegged to win. Soca Monarch – like the Dimanche Gras and Panorama competitions – really need to be tightened to make them worth the cost of admission. I must say, though, that Destra's performance was a show-stopper – almost better than most of the contestants put together.

Check out Queen Faye-Ann's performance below, and many other performances for the night are also (somewhat illegally?!) on YouTube. Don't forget: Ms. Lyons-Alvarez (hyphen? no hyphen?) swept all the awards at the Soca Monarch competition, copping the Groovy Soca Monarch, Power Soca Monarch, and People's Choice titles before running away with the Road March. But more in that in a jiff.



Sweet Pan

The Panorama competition this year underwent several changes, for the better I think, first with having regionally oriented preliminary rounds and then excluding both the round-the-neck, small and medium bands from the finals night in Port of Spain (which does not imply that they are any less important, but just that the show historically has been entirely too long). On finals night, just the top eight large bands took the stage – and that still ran for five full hours.

Like Soca Monarch, this too got off to a late start, and ran just an hour over the intended end time of 12am. It should and could have been tighter, but at least it's on its way. A lot has been argued over the judging and the rules since the competition. Three bands emerged with scintillating arrangements and performances – Exodus, Silver Stars and favourites Phase II Pan Groove. Any could have won that night, but first-timers Silver Stars edged ahead of the competition thanks to an extremely disciplined and effective arrangement and performance. What may well have been Phase II's downfall (by just one point – which I continue to think is ridiculous in a competition where the total score is 500) is the ending, though improved from the semifinal round. Legend and musical genius that he is, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe is also known for being hit or miss with his endings. And Exodus... Though Pan Trinbago has denied it, many still believe their surprise 6th place finish resulted from being penalised for taking the stage with over the maximum number of players. Hopefully soon the real story will come out, because I can't think of what else could have landed them in third-to-last place. Dr. Jeannine Remy gives her analysis on WhenSteelTalks.com.

Nevertheless, check out this video of Silver Stars' winning performance:



Deemanchee Grass

And then there's Dimanche Gras. And before I say more, let me repeat – Dimanche Gras. With an "i". I was horrified to see in our new FLOW digital cable lineup that CNC3 was supposed to broadcasting "Demanche Gras". Who? What? And it's ironic, because just the same weekend I'd read an article by Lennox Grant talking about same. So I don't know if the mistake originated with CNC3 or with FLOW, but whomever is responsible should feel well ashamed.

So to the competition. First of all, it started pretty much on time! Kudos. But 16 calypso finalists, I think, is too many. Ten or 12 would suffice, and the presentations often seem superfluous. And of course more controversy: was Chalkdust's song a good composition? He's a man notorious for changing his tune between the semifinal and final performances. And while his song "Don't Touch My Hart" tickled the average patron and listener with its concept and cameo appearance by Ray Funk, stalwart writers and singers have taken issue with the results saying that they were emotionally and improperly rendered, and that it is actually among Chalkdust's worst. I even had to take a minute and think over my initial glee as he performed it on Carnival Sunday. I haven't since listened to it again, so remain undecided on that one.

Chalkie also equalled The Mighty Sparrow's record of eight Calypso Monarch titles, inviting speculation as to whether Chalkie would keep his word and retire from competition, or return next year to try and break Sparrow's record. Some say he should, others say he can continue to contribute meaningfully to the calypso arena through non-competitive performances and in policy making. We shall see.

There were some exquisite King and Queen costumes this year, one in particular (though I can't recall the name – I shall post it when I find it) of a design I'd never seen before, and of course some recycled ideas. The construction and design of Brian MacFarlane's was indeed among the best, though of course who should have won can be debated ad infinitum. There was one thing someone said to me that rang quite true as we watched his king cross the stage: "dat look jes like Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright."

J'Ouvert Morning

I have another pet peeve with Carnival, and this has to do with the constant changing of J'Ouvert's start time. At one time 2am, at others 4am, and now the official start is at 5am.

My feeling is that part of the magic of J'Ouvert is that, unlike mas on Monday or Tuesday, it all takes place under cover of darkness. That to me is part of what makes J'Ouvert so charged – it is carnal, dutty, unbridled, and "dark". And somehow its mystique and its power is reduced once the sun starts to come up. The spirits and creatures that walk the road shrink back into their holes or into their other realms with the first sign of light.

Or at least that's how my imagination constructs J'Ouvert. The late 5am start time, just before sunrise, is pushed back even further when key personnel (like music trucks) get caught in the road blocks that the police service has set up the last few years in Cocorite on the eastbound lanes of the Audrey Jeffers Highway. So by the time the band starts moving after all players have arrived, it's lights up already. Magic gone. (But don't think for a minute that keeps me from playing J'Ouvert! I'm just saying, that's all...)

On De Road

Mas now. Not much difference, really. Beads and feathers. MacFarlane. And some in between. Then of course there was the T'in Cow band weaving through and disrupting the big bands, to the delight of many. Dat is mas!

And then there's the Road March competition, which people seem increasingly to be losing faith in. I'm not taking a thing away from Queen Faye-Ann. She came with two killer songs this year in "Heavy-T" and "Meet Super". But my pick for the road was Destra's "Bacchanal", a song that – much like "Jumbie" a couple years ago – captured for me the spirit of playing mas. In fact, sassy Destra and the barrage of high-quality soca nearly made me reverse my "saving for school/house" resolution and find a band to play mas with (I should really have gone with T'in Cow, but hindsight is 20/20...). "Bacchanal", and the infectious Razorshop road mix, was the road march for this year as far as I was concerned.

And like many, I remain suspicious of the DJs and so-called "soca mafia" who seem to pre-pick the results before masqueraders even hit the streets on Monday and Tuesday. And while I am not accusing anyone of anything, like many others, I can't quite understand how "Bacchanal" could only have been played 76 times nationwide. To quote one gentlemen who spent Monday and Tuesday watching mas downtown, he would put money on having heard "Bacchanal" 76 times downtown alone over the two days. Who's to say, but it serves no-one if a title as supposedly prestigious and career-making as the Road March is clouded in controversy.

Looking Ahead

Where will the Carnival and major competitions take place next year? Ahead of our World Cup qualifying match at home later this month, the Hasely Crawford Stadium's turf seems to have suffered considerably from two mega events at the venue (namely Soca Monarch and Machel Monano's AC7). After vowing not to hold non-sporting events at sports arenas, the Ministry of Sport made an about-face and made the venue available. Given the condition of the turf, and the fact that the national team now cannot practise on it as the field is prepared for the World Cup qualifying match, it seems the case has been made for returning to their original position.

And wither pan and Dimanche Gras? Will we spell it right? Will we have a limbo competition? Will the tents still open? Will we have a crop of soca as impressive as this year's? Will they ever give Destra the Road March Crown she earned years ago but has never won to date? (Think "Bonnie & Clyde", and "It's Carnival", let alone "Bacchanal") Will Soca Monarch and all the competitions really tighten their presentations? And will we finally get over this idea of a "Soca Switch" come Boxing Day and Ash Wednesday, and let our music see the light of day year round?

And on that note, congratulations to local content TV and radio stations like WACK Radio 90.1FM, 91.9FM Soca Bashment, Radio Trinbago 94.7FM, and Gayelle the Channel for giving us ourselves year-round. Thanks to Synergy TV too for making all the most popular song videos available for viewing on their website. Very cool.

What was your impression of Carnival 2K9, aka, 2K-Wine or 2K-Mine?

"Sex, Lies & Money": Take 3

No, I'm not being rude and bringing smut into the pristine world of Discover T&T!

It's actually a semi-plug for a show I've been in for the last 6 weeks or so. It played Queen's Hall just before Carnival, and is on its third presentation this weekend christening the CLR James Auditorium at Cipriani Labour College.

Produced by R.S. Productions (Run For Your Wife, Funny Money, and I Love You Till Someone Better Comes Along), it's actually more serious than it sounds. Yes, what propels the action (both drama and comedy) is the human drive for sex, lies and money... but it actually takes a look at middle class Trinidad in a way that a bulk of the literary and dramatic canon in T&T does not.

It's written by Richard Ragoobarsingh, and opened the 2009 theatrical season in early February. The show stars Debra Boucaud Mason as the bacchanal maid, Richard Ragoobarsingh as the quirky detective, Cecilia Salazar as the manipulative sister, Nigel Auguste as the ambitious husband and "introduces" yours truly as the idealistic and neurotic Convent girl wife (I only say "introduces" since I've been onstage almost as soon as I could walk...)

According to reviewer Guyanne Wilson in the Catholic News: "the well-crafted script of Sex, Lies & Money gives audiences much hope that theatre 2009 will offer a range of thought-provoking and well-executed productions. If not, we can at least hope that 'definitely four nights only' will be changed to 'back by popular demand'."

So, we're back by popular demand at the CLR James Auditorium of the Cipriani Labour College in Valsayn, and run Friday 6th to Sunday 8th March. Tickets are $150; call 768-8663 or 744-7581 for more info.

Come dong, nuh?