David Corio photography exhibition in New York

David Corio is one of our regular and superbly talented Caribbean Beat photographers, who we can always turn to when we need a photo of a Caribbean musician for Caribbean Beat.

He has an especially large collection of Caribbean musicians (especially reggae artists), both live performance as well as studio shots.

Starting today (11 March, 2011), David has an exhibition opening at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City.

David Corio was born in London, England, in 1960. He began his professional career in 1978 taking photographs that covered a wide range of music and portraiture.

Peter Tosh. Photo: David Corio

David’s photographs have been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Photographer’s Gallery, and the Special Photographers Gallery in London; the Brownwyn Keenan Gallery and the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York; Number One Gallery in Dublin and in Osaka, Japan, and in Hong Kong.


A comprehensive collection of David's photographs of black musicians was published in The Black Chord (Universe, 1999, text by Vivien Goldman).

Megaliths, a 14-year project photographing the prehistoric standing stones of England and Wales, with text by Lai Ngan Corio, was published by Jonathan Cape/Random House in 2003.  

The Couture Accessory (text by Caroline Rennolds Milbank, styling by Lai Ngan Corio) a book of haute couture accessories was published by Abrams in 2002.

So if you're in New York, make sure to check out David's exhibition!

New in Caribbean Beat magazine (issue #108: March/April 2011)

The latest issue of Caribbean Beat magazine is now on Caribbean Airlines planes; in the mail to our subscribers; and online at caribbean-beat.com!

In our latest issue, out now, Caribbean Beat magazine travels from one end of the region to another, and we report back on what we found.

Features

• Rolling on the River: After strolling through the charming city of Paramaribo, Jonathan Ali takes on the Suriname River as it flows through the rainforest

• The Man MacFarlane: Brian MacFarlane, the designer who has dominated Trinidad & Tobago’s Carnival since 2005, talks to Lisa Allen-Agostini


• SoBe Exciting: Salsa, speedboats and shopping - Mark Lyndersay flies in to Miami & south Florida

• Rituals of Resistance: Each year, with drums and fire, Canboulay - a struggle for emancipation - is re-enacted on the streets of Port of Spain. Ray Funk and Jeffrey Chock witness this renewed tradition

• Saving the Picture History of Pan: The story of T&T’s steelbands is now preserved in an archive of precious photos. Kim Johnson on how they were collected


Departments

• COVER STORY His Middle Name is Multi-Tasking: Trinidad-born Roger Mooking is in demand in Canada as a chef, TV host, singer-songwriter…Donna Yawching tells his talents

• Snap Shot - How Machel Montano is Misunderstood: The former wild child of T&T Carnival explains his lifelong spiritual quest to Laura Dowrich-Phillips


• Soulful Messiah of Ballet Creole: Patrick Parson tells Donna Yawching how he brought Afro-Caribbean dance to Toronto

• Red Carpet for Randy Crawford at Tobago Jazz: The headline act at this year’s Tobago Jazz is one of many treats in store. Nazma Muller sampled the musical menu

• Something Rich & Strange: Melody Wren took the plunge and visited the world’s first underwater sculpture park, in Grenada


• Music for the Mas: Essiba Small surveys the soca scene for possible winners in the Road March race and on the party circuit for Trinidad & Tobago Carnival – though of course some dark horses may have come scorching up the track by the time you read this…

• Nothing's Taboo for Tanya: She tells it like it is. That’s why Tanya Stephens is one of Garry Steckles’ favourite singers

• The Real James Bond: He spent many happy years living quietly in Jamaica, and his passion was birdwatching. James Ferguson explains how this innocuous gent became Agent 007

• Calendar: the latest Happenings in the Caribbean

• Reviews of the latest books, videos and CDs

• PLUS:
On a cook’s tour, Rosemary Parkinson travelled all over Jamaica, collecting recipes as she went. The result is a magnificent book, Nyam Jamaica. Bridget van Dongen follows hungrily in Parkinson’s footsteps.

Meanwhile – doubles, black pudding, homemade bake, smoked herring... our food writer Franka Philip begins at the beginning of the day, and tries to decide what’s best for a Caribbean breakfast.

Caribbean Beat regularly covers travel, entertainment, culture, personalities, food, business, environment, and history. We also offer a regular roundup of events, music and books that reflect the region right now!

Trinidad's Edith Falls: an unmissable eco adventure

Trinidad Carnival has come and gone... and now it's time to cool down (or warm up, depending on your level of fitness!).

Trekking through the forest on the way to Edith Falls I remembered the movie Land Before Time. Not that the trail was so hard that it resembled a journey of survival, but because I felt we were all alone in the middle of undiscovered land on a path to the unknown. I myself had never been to Edith Falls so in a way it was a path to the ‘unknown’ to me.

Walking through the lush vegetation that encompassed the trail, I was serenaded by a musical composition of twittering birds, creaking bamboo and rushing water flowing down the river. As the sense of solitude and serenity washed over me, I really felt I was deep in the 'bush', miles away from civilisation. This is really one of Trinidad's finest and most accessible eco adventures.

The falls are located in Chaguaramas, an area in the northwest corner of Trinidad that boasts beautiful scenery and many sightseeing options. Before you reach the clubhouse and parking lot for the Chaguaramas Golf Course, you will see the sign to Edith Falls on your left. The easy hike, through an old Cocoa and Tonka Bean plantation, takes about 20–30mins. The 250-foot fall is best visited during the height of the rainy season otherwise it’s more like a trickle that produces a mist of water at the bottom.

Even though I was looking forward to a quick swim at the falls (not a light misting) I was not disappointed by the low water pressure that met us because the height of the rock face and cliff above me and the surroundings impressed me immensely. If I wanted a dip, there were a few small pools along the river that would have been fun to splash in. As we walked back along the trail the sound of Red Howler monkeys that frequent this area accompanied us but we weren’t lucky enough to see them.

I am looking forward to returning during the rainy season and would probably arrange for a tour guide to point out and name the colourful flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Below are a few photos from my trip.

Along the trail to Edith Falls

The 250-foot fall

A light mist of water at the bottom of the fall

Along the trail to Edith Falls

Ti Marie growing at the beginning of the trail

All images are Copyright 2010 MEP Publishers/Ariann M Thompson

Ariann is ready to reacquaint herself with and in some cases ‘meet’ Trinidad and Tobago. Follow as she travels to different places and interacts with a multitude of faces while ‘Discovering T&T’.

Dimanche Gras Results & More – Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2011

This year, Trinidad & Tobago's annual Dimanche Gras ("fat Sunday") show – including the King & Queen of Carnival and Calypso Monarch competitions – was perhaps one of the longest and least well organised in recent years.

For those Carnival jumbies like myself, who resolve to see every major Trinidad & Tobago Carnival competition from beginning to end either in person or on TV (starting circa 6:30pm and hanging tough 'til up to 6am the next morning), it demands the question of how they can be better put together. It also begs the annual question of how the calypso competition in particular, featuring very T&T-specific (and often disparaging) social and political commentary, might ever be something we can (or should?) market as part of our tourism product. Is Dimanche Gras something that can attract international tourists or audiences? Should we even want it to? What would the impact of packaging it differently have on the artform itself, which is a fundamental part of Trinidad's culture?

How we cover Carnival (incuding how much we charge media personnel to cover the event, and whether there should be "exclusive" media licences) is also a pressing question. Like the Soca Monarch coverage on CNC3 on Friday night, the broadcast coverage by the state-owned CNMG or C-TV came up short. Though the picture quality was crisp and clear, the evening's proceedings were often interrupted by ads, or commentators talking over parts of the performance. A CNMG camera crane also snagged the top of the first Queen of Carnival costume, bringing it crashing down. Meanwhile, the fledgling high-quality, virtually ad-free internet stream at carnivaltv.net captured the viewers that abandoned the C-TV/ctntworld.com coverage.

(As a side note, I wrote on C-TV's Facebook page indicating what several viewers had been expressing on social media networks. When I went back a few hours later to see if they had acknowledged or replied, they had deleted the comment.)

Nevertheless, despite the glitches, stunning costumes and a few sterling calypsos made the long evening worthwhile.

King of Carnival 2011: Wade Madray portrays the
mammoth "Pacific Tsunami" from the Carnival band,
Legacy. Photo: NCC
(National Carnival Commission of Trinidad & Tobago)

King of Carnival costume competition

1. Pacific Tsunami – Wade Madray – Legacy
2. Battle of the Marabuntas – Owen Hinds Jr
3. Bozo: D Legend Lives On – Curtis Eustace
4. Bedazzled – Marlon Rampersad 
5. Wakinyan: Quest Of The Feather Seeker – Lionel Jagessar Jr
6. Pan On Fire – Roland St George
7. In The Beginning Good And Evil – Gerard Weekes
8. The Jewel Spider – Glenn Dave Lakhan
9. Mr Carnival: The Return Of The Fire Man – Fareid Carvalho
10. Mukasa: The God Of Water – Leroy Prieto

Queen of Carnival costume competition

1. D Jeweled Chandelier – Peola Marchand – We People International
2. Splendor of Lights – Gloria Dalsingh
3. Island Queen – Kay Mason
4. Serpent Sorceress – Roxanne Omalo
5. D Ruby Brooch – Gayle Marcano 
6. Forest Blossom – Cherryann Valere
7. Diamonds Are Forever – Patricia Bailey
8. Botanica: A Floral Extravaganza – Jenna Marie Andre
9. Chia The Goddess – Avernell Johnson
10. In The End, Dance And Rejoice – Sevell Nicholls

Calypso Monarch competition

1. Karene Asche – "Be Careful What You Ask For" and "Uncle Jack"
2. Michael Osuna (Sugar Aloes)
3. Hollis Liverpool (Chalkdust)
4. Devon Seales
5. Dexter Parsons (Stinger)
6. Kurt Allen
7. Brian London
8. Tamika Darius
9. Kizzie Ruiz
10. Joanne Rowley (Tigress)
11. Weston Rawlins (Cro Cro)
12. Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai)

Panorama Results 2011 - Trinidad & Tobago Carnival

Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra
at the 2008 Panorama finals
Photo: Abigail Hadeed

It was one of the longest National Panorama Finals of recent years, with the inclusion of 10 large and 10 medium steel bands.

The results, much like the Soca Monarch Power Soca results last night, are perhaps the most controversial of the last few years in the Large Band category.

Nevertheless, it was altogether a scintillating evening of steelpan where, no matter who took home the TT$750,000 (medium bands) and TT$2 million (large bands), the ultimate winners were the pan lovers.

Tobago also had much to celebrate, taking home the Medium Band title two years in a row!

Here is how the judges ranked the bands, with video of some of the night's performers.

Medium Conventional Steel Bands

1. Valley Harps & Katzenjammers 
3. Buccaneers
4. Courts Laventille Sound Specialists
5. Pan Elders
6. Sangre Grande Cordettes
7. Arima Angel Harps & Steel Explosion 
9. Pamberi & Power Stars

Large Bands

1. All Stars
2. Exodus
3. Silver Stars
4. Invaders & Phase II
6. Fonclaire
7. Desperados & Deltones
9. Redemption Sound Setters
10. Starlift

All Stars


Exodus


Silver Stars


Invaders


Phase II

UPDATED: Soca Monarch Results - Trinidad's Power & Groovy Champions for Carnival 2011

Kees Dieffenthaller of KES
the Band captured
the Groovy Soca
Monarch title
Photo: Andrea De Silva

It was a Soca Monarch night in turns bizarre, exhilerating, frustrating and disappointing.

Some soca stars imploded. Some launched (unnecessary) insults at other artists. Some were rumoured to have been in a car accident. Some attempted to sing through laryngitis. One didn't perform in their assigned position. Most sang over their allotted time. Many seemed overwhelmed by their own "presentations", forgetting to actually sing and perform. Some didn't even seem to be singing soca.

Meanwhile, the TV coverage by CNC3 (who already had made some soca fans irate by broadcasting the Grammys live and pre-empting the Soca Monarch semi-final coverage a few weeks ago) disappointed both online and at-home viewers. Online streams of the event crashed early in the evening (even for those who had coughed up the funds for the Pay-Per-View service). A panel of "celebrity" commentators from at home and abroad, and some young presenters... well, I'll leave that one alone. But it was certainly not up to "international standards".

Machel Montano secured his first
Power Soca Monarch crown.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay

In the Soca Monarch production itself, several sound glitches hampered the flow of the event. Many guest artists could or should have been excluded. The infrastructure at the Haseley Crawford Stadium was reportedly inadequate for all sections (General, VIP and Premium), with food and drinks running out, and washroom facilities being overcrowded and filthy. (Please let us know if you experienced something different, as we certainly wouldn't want to mislead!)

Perhaps the best performances of the evening, both in terms of vocals and overall presentation, were given by the eventual Groovy Soca winner and runner-up, Kees Dieffenthaller and Benjai singing popular favouties, "Wotless" and "Trini", while All Rounder once again produced a performance that defies description.

The entire tone of the Power Soca category changed after Machel Montano performed, and not necessarily for the better. Up to then, Iwer George had been (and would remain) the clear favourite, moving the crowd in a way that no other performer did that evening. Machel then "freestyled" jabs at other constestants considered to be front-runners, a duel of words that Destra Garcia (who inexplicably changed from her popular "Welcome Back" to her days-old new release "We Own It"), Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) and his wife Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez answered, completely changing the tenor of the evening. Past Soca Monarch winners Bunji and Fay-Ann are ever crowd favourites, but their rabble-rousing performanes were not enough to push them past Machel in the final tally.

When all the judges' votes and text-in votes from fans across the world were counted, these were the results for the 2011 Trinidad & Tobago International Groovy & Power Soca Monarch competition, along with video footage of the winning and leading (or most memorable) performances. More details of the other placements and videos of other performers as they become available.

Groovy Soca Results

1. Kees Dieffenthaller & KES the Band – "Wotless"
2. Benjai (Rodney Le Blanc) – "Trini"
3. Destra Garcia – "Cool it Down"
4. Blaxx (Dexter Stewart) – "Tantie Woi"







Power Soca

1. Machel Montano – "Advantage"
2. Neil Iwer George – "Come to Meh"
3. Bunj Garlin (Ian Alvarez) – "Hold a Burn"
4. Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez – "Consider it Done"









This writer happens to be one of the people that thought if "the big man in the business" Iwer George didn't win, then it was Bunji's night. Do you agree with the results?

Related articles

• Our top 8 soca songs for Trinidad Carnival 2011... as of now! (meppublishers.blogspot.com)

Fantastic Friday in Trinidad: the Soca Monarch Special

Will Machel win the Power? Image via Wikipedia.It's Fantastic Friday in Trinidad, which for many means one thing only: it's time for the International Soca Monarch!

This year, the competition has benefitted from a kind of perfect soca storm, with the race for the Groovy and Power Soca titles tighter than ever. The longer than usual Trinidad Carnival season has produced some of the best soca in recent years, by all accounts, and the new TT$2 million first prize in the Power category has lured artists like Machel Montano HD, Bunji Garlin, Destra Garcia, and Iwer George back to the competition stage.

In the Groovy category (which, however, only has a TT$500,000 first prize), top contenders include the "Wotless" Kees Dieffenthaller; new "Trini" superstar Benjai; and soca siren Destra Garcia looking to "Cool it down" for all the men! And would it be foolish to count out the oldest competitior in the race, All Rounder, who delivered an unforgettable (if not a little disturbing) "Body Wine" performance at the semis?

In the Power category, things are even tighter. Frontrunners include multiple-title winners (and husband and wife) Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez (should we "Consider it Done"?) and Bunji Garlin (who certainly won't "Hold a Burn" if he wins yet another Soca Monarch title); Machel Montano HD trying to take "Advantage" of the opportunity to win his first Soca Monarch crown; Destra Garcia hoping that the crowd will give her $2 million "Welcome Back"; and, never to be under-estimated, Mr. Iwer George who beckons the title with "Come to Meh". In fact, we heard recently that Iwer performed his lone 2011 release for 30 full minutes at a recent major fete, with the crowd eating out of his hands.

Here are the other top artists and their order of appearance for tonight's final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium:

Groovy Soca Category
1. Ras Star
2. Jahmoun
3. Yankee Boy & Patch
4. Kees Dieffenthaller
5. Blaxx with Roy Cape
6. All Rounder
7. Shurwayne Winchester
8. Destra Garcia
9. Chucky
10. Benjai
11. Denise Belfon
12. Patrice Roberts
13. Kerwyn DuBois
14. Megan Waldron
15. Cassie

Power Soca Category
1. JW & Blaze
2. Andy “Blood” Armstrong
3. Skinny Fabulous
4. Michelle Xavier
5. Shal Marshall
6. Tallpree
7. Iwer George
8. Nadia Batson & Patrice Roberts
9. Machel Montano
10. Destra Garcia
11. Ravi B
12. Bunji Garlin
13. Tian Winter
14. Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez

This year has also introduced a war of words (whether staged or genuine) between some of the soca artists that has left some fans angry and saddened. There are also ongoing debates about the presence of radio DJs in the soca arena; whether certain interests control exactly who gets how much airplay on the radio; whether foreign artists should headline Carnival fetes; and about how to market soca to an international audience.

Meanwhile, popular and ever-controversial comedian and entertainer, Rachel Price, has been interviewing some of the season's top artists on her popular Rachel Price Show – Carnival Edition. We've included interviews with some of the Soca Monarch frontrunners in this post, with several more available on her YouTube channel. They're a great way to get to know the artists behind the music.








So whether you love or hate Trinidad Carnival, adore or abhore soca music, we wish you a safe and enjoyable Carnival season! Be safe, and enjoy the reign of the Merry Monarch!