Kees mixes it up at St Francois’ fete

Top entertainer Kees Dieffenthaller should count his lucky stars that former International Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) was not part of the line-up on January 5 to perform at St Francois Girls’ College Annual Carnival All-Inclusive fete titled Soca Hula.

Venue for the school’s charity event was the T&T Hospitality Institute in Chaguaramas. Had Bunji been present, he might have taken issue with Dieffenthaller’s inclusion of reggae and dancehall numbers during his performance.

Dieffenthaller—accompanied by his band—delivered Barrington Levy’s Too Experienced and Buju Banton’s dancehall hit Driver. He also sang two of his own reggae-styled compositions, Tuesday on the Rock and My Love.

Bunji, performing at an event called Soccer Fete in Sangre Grande on New Year’s Day held at the Sangre Grande Recreational Grounds, took Nadia Batson and her band Sass, as well as Shurwayne Winchester and You to task over their decisions to slot extensive dancehall numbers in their respective sets.

Patrons at that event, it seemed, shared Bunji’s view and cheered in agreement.

But no one could fault Dieffenthaller for his mix. At least 98 per cent of his repertoire contained original material of varying genres which added nicely to the event’s musical feast.