The Brian Lara Promenade in Port-of-Spain, between Frederick and Henry streets, will be transformed into a "soca village" this evening for the launch of the 2015 Play Whe International Power Soca Monarch and Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch competitions.
The event is being hosted by Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF) and its formal segment will include speeches which will be delivered by Minister of Arts & Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, Minister of Education Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee.
The public can expect a performance by one of the most popular soca artistes for Carnival 2015 when Olatunji renders his hit single Ola. Also expected to perform this evening is Farmer Nappy whose Big People Party was one of the smash hits for this year's carnival and continues to be a crowd-pleaser. Nappy's releases for next year include Loosen de Chain, Aroused and My House.
Other artistes who have confirmed their appearance thus far are Blaxx, Sekon Star, Erphaan Alves, Shal Marshall, Roam, X-Rich, Lil Bits, Ravi B, Swappi, Mr Famous, Snaky, 5 Star A Kil, Blackie and Cassi.
Machel Montano, who recently received the Soul Train Best International Performance award, is the reigning Play Whe International Power Soca Monarch, and Kerwin Du Bois is the defending champion in the Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch category.
Calypso goes karaoke
Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (Tuco), in conjunction with WESCU, will stage the final of the 2014 National Kaiso Karaoke Competition on November 26, at 8.30 pm, at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp), Woodbrook.
Among the finalists is popular Pelham Goddard & Roots vocalist Moricia Cagan.
Also making the cut are Akeisha De Four, Andrea Glasgow, Anthony Douglas, Cavel Gordon, Dilena Flemmings, Eric "Richie" Richards, Giselle Fraser Washington, Jamie Straker, Joel Joseph, Ken Gaffoor, Kyle Cowie, Leno Forde, Lesley Ann Ellis, Marsha Julia Richardson, Natifah Phillips, Neisha Julia Guy, Nigel Sammerson, Rawle Peters, Sally Ann John and Shashie Gosine.
Changing the mood, the Mas Camp is also the venue for next Monday night's Christmas Startime, a special parang soca showcase featuring Baron, Crazy, Denyse Plummer and Kenny J.
The Best of Panazz
It is being acclaimed as one of the best engineered pan CDs ever produced. The Best of Panazz CD has been reworked and rebranded, is about to launched on the market and is a perfect gift for Christmas.
Says Panazz Players musical director Barry Bartholomew: "This product has been reproduced in new clothes, with high level sound quality and content. The most significant features of this CD include the fact that it was a pan recording done with the instruments placed individually in separate recording booths, the way recordings are done internationally.
"Unfortunately, Amar's studio (Caribbean Sound Basin) is now closed and there is no facility as large as that to facilitate an entire steel orchestra."
Bartholomew said: "My intent was to give this the best sound quality possible on a pan recording. In this regard I must compliment Sean Poland, who did the remixing and reediting on the Best of Panazz, and Martin 'Mice' Raymond who put his magic touch on remastering the product."
Formed in 1992, Panazz Players comprised of Natasha Joseph and Johan Popwell (double seconds); Sheldon Webster (tenor); Dance Gulston (tenor); Nigel Williams (triple guitar); Donnel Thomas (six bass); Felix Walcott (six bass); Richard Joseph (drums); Sean Blackman and Ernesto Garcia (congas); Keith Coombs (percussion); and, Bartholomew (double guitar).
Critical to the Panazz sound are Robin Foster, recording engineer of its Live and Feelin' Good CDs, and Sean Poland who recorded its fourth Christmas CD, Wrap it up.
Having won four consecutive editions of Pan Ramajay, the members of Panazz went on tour to spread the pan jazz to the world, their travels taking them across the US, to the UK, Japan and the Caribbean. The ensemble also made two consecutive appearances at the prestigious St Lucia Jazz festival. One of Panazz's most memorable performances was at the Boston Symphony Hall, with guest saxophonist Arturo Tappin.
"I honestly believe this work could become as popular as say the Naparima Girls Cookbook which every true Trini has a copy of."
Dr Kim Johnson, whose Pan! Our Musical Odyssey movie is currently been screened nationwide and receiving rave reviews, said of the CD: "This CD reproduces with an unprecedented fidelity; Panazz, the band which preserved into the 21st century the excitement of pan in its golden years, when people partied to pan, danced to pan, fell in love with pan."
Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, leader/arranger of National Panorama champion Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, said: "This is music for life...just lovely...timeless."
Also adding kudos was Japanese engineer Yoichi Watanabe, who said: "There is an impressive sound on this recording. My side of the world needs more bands like this."
Barthomolew said the new repackaged CD will be in stores from December 1.
Pan journey continues
A CD/DVD box set of the critically-acclaimed Trinidad-made film Pan! Our Music Odyssey went on sale yesterday, Thursday, at major music and bookshops across the country.
The DVD features the ground-breaking 85-minute docu-fiction that blends a fictional account of the adventures of some of steelpan's young creators 70 years ago with the real-life stories of musicians who come from all over the world every year to be part of the Panorama experience.
The box set also includes a CD featuring the soundtrack for the film.
Pan! Our Music Odyssey just completed a two-week run at local cinemas across the country and is also making the rounds of film festivals in Europe.
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The film is the first of its kind, which celebrates not only the international musical triumph that is the steelpan, but the spirit of adventure and the power of imagination of the young men who were involved in its creation 70 years ago.