Rapso group 3Canal succeeded in its promise "to raise the consciousness of patrons" at the staging of the concert ReThePublic at Queen's Park Oval, Woodbrook, on Sunday evening. Its hour-long session on the playbill of the event commemorating the nation's 50th Independence anniversary and 36 years as a Republic took patrons on a joyous journey of renewal, a theme that has always been a part of 3Canal's music. "Looking back is something that we tend not to do in Trinidad," said member Roger Roberts. "We tend to always feel that we have to be creating stuff new and not looking back at the tradition and the whole platform of the music that was done before."
Solid backing from its aggregation Cut+Clear Crew ensured the group's beautiful, experimental harmonies that blend with the cutting lyrics in its compositions were not only clearly heard but, apparently, deeply felt. Salt, Happy Song, Good Morning Neighbour, For The People, Blue, Talk Yuh Talk and Ben Lion were among popular selections from a repertoire in excess of 15 songs delivered by Wendell Manwarren, Roger Roberts and Stanton Kewley that encouraged singing and swaying to music that seemed to generate positive vibes among the crowd. Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra opened the playbill, promptly, at 7.30 pm. Complemented with the horn section from Pelham Goddard Roots and Goddard on keyboard, the combination served up a tasty musical menu of selections that included Goddard's original arrangement of the late calypsonian Maestro's (Cecil Hume) Gold that he did for Third World Steel Orchestra in 1977.
The occasion was also used as a celebration of the 71st birthday of five-time national calypso monarch Black Stalin (Dr Leroy Calliste). Prior to his stage appearance, a simple backstage ceremony was held in which the venerable calypsonian cut a specially-prepared birthday cake with his wife, Patsy, while cast and crew members lustily sang the birthday song. With brilliant musical accompaniment from the Roy Cape All Stars, Stalin offered his familiar repertoire, but included the seldom-heard compositions In Time, Shining Star and Freedom Song, the latter a tasteful duet performed with fellow calypsonian Twiggy (Annmarie Parks-Kojo). He ended the concert at midnight, with patrons chipping away to the strains of Black Man Feeling To Party.