The last time I saw such a large audience at the SWWTU Hall in Port-of-Spain was many years ago at Carnival time for the opening night of Kitchener's Calypso Revue tent. Fans of Mighty Sparrow turned out in numbers and packed every nook and cranny of the Wrightson Road showplace when members of the Queen's Park Oval, calling themselves Friends of Sparrow, held a musical tribute titled Sparrow: A Special Someone–to the Calypso King of the World.
I found the show to be a very entertaining one, held in a convivial ambience, except that the venue was too heated because not one of the electric wall and ceiling fans was operational. But, everyone endured the show's duration, including Sparrow, his wife Margaret, daughter Karen and granddaughter Ashley. The event showcased seven "amateur" calypsonians, some of them past monarchs of Queen's Park Oval's annual calypso competition, singing Sparrow's songs.
Music accompaniment was outstanding throughout the show, nostalgic even as the band under musical director African drummer Louis Mc Williams, as the music was akin that which used to be heard in the calypso tent in years gone by. Holding it together up front on guitar were Steve Neaves and Marva Newtown, and bassist Alliford Phillips. Some of the best horn licks I have heard in years were played by saxophonist Sylvan Sylvester and trumpeter Allan Nelson, with former Blue Venture keyboardist Patrick Johnson on the ivories. Keeping everything tight and together was drummer Richard Joseph. It was something of a homecoming with veteran trumpeter Errol Ince's return to the Revue stage to do a cameo with the band.
The band was actually a collection of friends of show emcee, retro kaiso virtuoso David Bereaux who did a remarkable job when he performed a dramatic interpretation of Queen's Canary and other past vintage Sparrow calypsoes. Bereaux also featured later on the programme when he joined Randall "Swami" Galt in a fun exchange of Sparrow's Madame Dracula and Melody's Belmont Jackass. This item vitalised the audience.
Nigel "Temples" Galt and Wayne "Doppy" Dopson were also on top of their game, Galt singing Lying Excuses and Dopson reprising BG Plantain and Dan is the Man. The latter has long relinquished his amateur status and has been a performer with the Kaiso House tent.
The audience sang along with the performers for almost every song with one–Pan Jam Fete–stumping patrons. Even Sparrow seemed surprised when Swami sang this ditty. Galt also performed 60 Million Frenchmen, The Number is 69 and Drunk and Disorderly.
Past national extempore monarch Black Sage also performed doing Maria, Jane and Melda. Chris Garcia, whose Chutney Bacchanal of yesteryear still remains a crowd-pleaser, changed the mood of the evening by rendering a soulful interpretation of Norman Bergen and Shelly Coburn's Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart, a popular gold record single by Sparrow on the European circuit.
The one glitch as far as performances went was when Gary "Dozy" Almandox forgot the lyrics to Sparrow's Water the Garden, but he concealed his omissions effectively.
By the time all the artistes had performed, a seemingly jaded Sparrow mounted the stage and performed just Saltfish and Congo Man. Though tired and obviously dehydrated Sparrow maintained strong timbre and pitch in his voice. The show ended with the performers returning on stage to sing 1956 Road March Jean and Dinah.
Seen in the hall were Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee; Justice Malcolm Holdip; COTT CEO Josh Rudder; TUCO president Lutalo "Bro Resistance" Masimba; anthropologist Ray Funk; New York producer Rawlston "Charlie" Charles; popular disc jockey Donald "Sugar Fingers" Browne; Hollis Kam; radio programme director Gerald Agostini; former National Calypso Monarch Duane O'Connor; and, JP Ackbar Khan.
BBQ for a cause
Very inclement weather almost completely washed out last year's event, held at the National Hockey Centre in Tacarigua. That day there were persistent heavy rain, thunder and lightning, and high winds but the organisers stood firm and the first ever held Tongs On Fire turned out to be a much-enjoyed and successful charity event. The weather was so threatening that hockey players on the field scampered for safety.
This year, Tongs On Fire 2 annual barbecue cook-off competition is being held at the Scout Association Grounds, St Ann's tomorrow from 4 pm. Organisers are planning to man their pits of fire and ignite their hearts of gold once more, to battle any threat of formidable weather for the cause. Competition is expected to be tough between barbecuers of chicken, ribs, pork, fish, beef and pig tail.
This year, the beneficiary charity will be Fire Prevention Awareness Drive/Burn Victim's Assistance, as well as national hockey players. Last year's beneficiary was Malvern Sports Club's Schools Outreach and Development Programme.
Tongs On Fire is driven by the organisers' commitment to make a relevant and meaningful contribution to society. Its goal this time around is to distribute mini fire extinguishers and smoke alarms to the public, especially to families whose homes are vulnerable to the threat of fire.
Organiser Nicole Patrick said this week: "Proceeds of this competition will be funnelled into fire prevention awareness. The distribution of this equipment would in conjunction, with assistance from the T&T Fire Services as the Fire Services Department has planned a list of events for October 5-11, with the theme Smoke Alarms Prevent Fires."
Apart from excellent food, tomorrow's family event will also include live entertainment by popular artistes, a rhythm section and tassa group, moko jumbies and DJs and a premium bar.