The word vintage refers to any person or thing that is characterised by excellence, maturity and enduring appeal.
Calypsonian Ras Kommanda (Steve Pascall) took this into consideration in making his debut at We Vintage Kaiso, staged as part of WeBeat St James Live at the St James Amphitheatre on the Western Main Road, last Friday night.
The chairman of Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (Tuco) South/Central Zone, and possibly the first calypsonian from south Trinidad to appear on the We Vintage Kaiso cast in WeBeat's 13-year history, Kommanda opted to showcase three songs by calypsonians who have passed on and whose work can lay claim to the word "vintage," rather than his own compositions.
Backed by Pelham Goddard and Roots, he opened his set with Respect Yuh Culture, a gem from the pen of the late Power (Sonny Francois); followed with the immortal Portrait of Trinidad, sung by the late Sniper (Mervyn Hodge); and closed with the melodic Rock It With Me, from the songbook of the late Merchant (Dennis Franklyn Williams). In executing the latter, he playfully encouraged a female member of the audience to engage in a duet to offer the song's opening lines.
In a short interview prior to taking the stage, Kommanda, who has spent many years promoting calypso in south Trinidad, said he was aware that while he may have gained recognition as a good calypsonian, he was under no illusion that he and his work can be referenced as "vintage".
"This programme tonight is designed to showcase vintage calypsoes," he said. "Calypsoes from the guys who have paved the way for those like me, with quality, timeless compositions that have stood the test of time and remain relevant to today's society. The audience came to hear vintage calypsoes, and to them I don't believe it matters who sings them."
In fact, Kommanda believes more of his peers should try to include the outstanding work of other calypsonians in their performances. "Should the work of Kitchener, Melody, Ras Shorty I, Terror, Pretender, Duke, Penguin and all the others who have passed on die with them?" he questioned. "If we are to preserve the art form we must continue to sing the great songs that inspired us to become calypsonians."
Among Kommanda's many career achievements are: Palo Seco Monarch�1988; Princes Town Monarch�1990; National Independence Semi Finalist�1993; Best Nation Building Calypso in Trinidad and Tobago�1995; finalist in the National Calypso Monarch Competition�1999: South Calypso Monarch title in1999 and 2003.
Also appearing on the playbill were Poser (Sylvester Lockhart); Bally (Errol Ballantyne); Johnny King (Johnston King); Explainer (Winston Henry); Baron (Timothy Watkins); Black Stalin (Dr Leroy Calliste); Scrunter (Irwin Reyes Johnston); and SuperBlue (Austin Lyons). Show host was Nikki Crosby in the role of "Granny."
