I think it's a pity that Tribe does not enter the Band of the Year competition as next year the band's presentation-Butterflies Beasts Bacchanal-has its best chance in its eight-year existence to make a serious impact on this competition. I don't know whether it's by chance, or deliberately, that the designers of this band have chosen the 30th anniversary of Peter Minshall's Papillon to present a mas that is an updated version of the original. Bandleader Dean Ackin said last Saturday at the band's launch that Tribe's CK13 mas was inspired by Minshall's 1982 epic portrayal. Thirty years ago, having copped the King of Carnival title, through Peter Samuel's majestic portrayal of The Sacred and the Profane, with queen Cherry Ann Coelho Guy equally impressive as Fly, Fly, Sweet Life, Minshall was the odds-on favourite to cop the coveted Band of the Year title, having won the previous year with Jungle Fever.
But, the judges thought that Raoul Garib's The Sting was a better mas and the Queen's Park West mas band was adjudged winner. There was some consolation, though, for the Minshall camp as Samuel's The Sacred and the Profane was adjudged Male Individual of the Year, and Hazel Simmonette, as The Wages of Sin, won the Female Individual of the Year title. Tribe's Butterflies Beasts Bacchanal comprises 14 sections, each presenting individuals, front line characters and masqueraders in huge wings. Known for being the largest mas band in the land, next year, one can expect Tribe to visually seem even larger as the wings, thousands of masqueraders, an army of security personnel, and no fewer than 20 service trucks, will certainly extend the length of the band. The 14 species of butterflies Tribe shall portray are Daggertail, Admiral, Madagascan Sunset, Regal Empress, Issora, Monarch, Azure, Kallimini, Papilio, Copper Peacock, Crimson Sphinx, Jezebel, Ray of Light and Acara Acraea.
Sweet pan in the city
The Laventille Steelband Foundation opted for the Charlotte Street pan theatre of BP?Renegades, in Port-of-Spain, to stage a prelude, last Friday, to its August 5 Emancipation Laventille Steelband Parade. A huge audience was in attendance for the event and pan lovers were treated to some scintillating music by Neal &?Massy Trinidad All Stars, Witco Desperadoes, Gonzales Sheikers and Renegades. However, the weekend's big steelband event comes off tomorrow evening in the southland. From 7 pm, Pan Trinbago, and its South/Central Zone stages Start the Celebration, featuring Junior Sammy Group of Companies Skiffle, NLCB?Fonclaire, Old Tech Steel, South Landers and more. The event takes place at the Skiffle Pan Theatre, Coffee Street, San Fernando. Come August 5, the Emancipation Laventille Steelband Parade opens at 4 pm with an Emancipation production, on the Eastern Main Road, outside the House of Angostura, in Success Vilage, Laventille. President George Maxwell Richards, and his wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards, head a list of dignitaries, including Arts &?Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas, and Parliamentary representatives Donna Cox and NiLeung Hypolite, expected to be in attendance.
Coup and Lancelot remembered
Aside from it being the 22nd anniversary of the 1990 coup, today is also the 22nd anniversary of the passing of Lancelot "Kebu"?Layne, the man reverred as the Father of Rapso. It is also the birthday of New York-domiciled, Tobagonian soca elder Robert Nelson, aka Lord Nelson. Speaking of birthdays, some serious mas and cultural people celebrated theirs in July, including Brigo (1st); Bro Valentino (7th); Sparrow (9th); Wendy Lewis (14th); Peter Minshall, Steve Dereck and Junia Regrello (16th); Mac Donald Ward (18th); Rosemarie Stone (21st); and, gorgeous radio personality Natacha Jones (30th).
Shadow is very angry
The angriest calypsonian on the planet today is Shadow (Winston Bailey). The 1974 Road March champion and former Soca Monarch has been informed that one of hit singles of yore-Soca Boat-provides the melody to a television commercial which advertises a very popular non-local rum. The bad thing about all of this, Shadow has no knowledge of his song being used, has not given permission for its use, and has received not even a red cent in royalties for its use. Pulse has been getting wind that the rum commercial has been enjoying heavy rotation across the United Kingdom, and is now on American cable television as well. Calypsonians have been a target for unscrupulous music and media producers for many decades, dating back decades to The Andrews Sisters plagiarising King Radio's Rum and Coca Cola in the 40s. Sparrow and Arrow are two other renowned bards who've had their music ripped off. Investigations are still in progress by Shadow and his managers to source the origins of this rum ad, who no doubt, would be only too willing to pay him millions of US?dollars for his song.
Sweet pan in the city
The Laventille Steelband Foundation opted for the Charlotte Street pan theatre of BP?Renegades, in Port-of-Spain, to stage a prelude, last Friday, to its August 5 Emancipation Laventille Steelband Parade. A huge audience was in attendance for the event and pan lovers were treated to some scintillating music by Neal &?Massy Trinidad All Stars, Witco Desperadoes, Gonzales Sheikers and Renegades. However, the weekend's big steelband event comes off tomorrow evening in the southland. From 7 pm, Pan Trinbago, and its South/Central Zone stages Start the Celebration, featuring Junior Sammy Group of Companies Skiffle, NLCB?Fonclaire, Old Tech Steel, South Landers and more. The event takes place at the Skiffle Pan Theatre, Coffee Street, San Fernando. Come August 5, the Emancipation Laventille Steelband Parade opens at 4 pm with an Emancipation production, on the Eastern Main Road, outside the House of Angostura, in Success Village, Laventille. President George Maxwell Richards, and his wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards, head a list of dignitaries, including Arts &?Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas, and Parliamentary representatives Donna Cox and NiLeung Hypolite, expected to be in attendance.
Coup and Lancelot remembered
Aside from it being the 22nd anniversary of the 1990 coup, today is also the 22nd anniversary of the passing of Lancelot "Kebu"?Layne, the man revered as the Father of Rapso. It is also the birthday of New York-domiciled, Tobagonian soca elder Robert Nelson, aka Lord Nelson. Speaking of birthdays, some serious mas and cultural people celebrated theirs in July, including Brigo (1st); Bro Valentino (7th); Sparrow (9th); Wendy Lewis (14th); Peter Minshall, Steve Dereck and Junia Regrello (16th); Mac Donald Ward (18th); Rosemarie Stone (21st); and, radio personality Natacha Jones (30th).