The weekend past provided me with much needed rest and enough down time to watch some old classical Biblical movies, like The Bible and The Robe. Also got to watch Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Robert De Niro, for the umpteenth time as it's one of my all time favourite movies.
It's back to the grind and the weekend's entertainment pulsates tomorrow evening at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain when Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (Tuco) stages the eagerly awaited final of the 2015 National Humour Calypso Monarch Competition, at 8 pm. After two rounds of elimination competition eight contestants have been selected to challenge defending monarch Myron Bruce (The Incredible Myron B) of the Kaiso Karavan tent.
The judges of tomorrow's final have their work cut out if one is to judge the quality of the "humorous" compositions offered in the earlier stages of the competition. It was obvious that most the participants didn't have a clue as to what was a humorous calypso, with many apparently assuming that smut was humour, as well as social and political commentary. It was also obvious that today's calypsonians fail to learn from, or take a page from, some of the old creators of humorous calypso, like Spoiler, Popo, Melody, Funny and Bomber.
Arts and entertainment actually get going this evening with theatre having a big bite of the weekend agenda beginning with the University of T&T's Academy for the Performing Arts (UTT) presenting Derek Walcott's The Odyssey at Theatre 1, UTT campus, Napa, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain. This production features the students of the Acting Programme and guest artiste Che Rodriguez. With showtime tonight scheduled for 8 pm, it will be repeated tomorrow at 2 pm, and on Sunday at 7 pm.
Running tonight and through the weekend is RS/RR Productions staging of Looking for Mr Big, starring Richard Ragoobarsingh, Debra Boucaud-Mason, Clifford Learmond, Ria Ali, Leslie Ann Lavine, Aaron Schneider and Sunny Bling. This is being staged at Queen's Hall, St Ann's. Another rib-tickling theatrical production on this weekend is Man Cyar Take Horn at Central Bank Auditorium, Lower St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain. It stars Kearn Samuel, Penelope Spencer, Nikki Crosby, Abeo Jackson and Jayron Remy.
Billed for 8 pm this evening at St Dominic's Pastoral Centre, St Finbar's RC Church, Morne Coco Road, Westmoorings is Ramajay, a feast of excellent pan music. Produced by QLIFE Productions, the show features Annise "Haffers" Hadeed, Ken "Professor" Philmore and Derron "GhostMan868" Ellies.
A protege of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Hadeed cut his teeth in pan playing as a student attending Queen's Royal College and subsequently at Phase II Pan Groove.
Graduating to arranging for large conventional orchestras at the National Panorama competition, he has performed extensively at home and abroad, especially in Europe.
Philmore is no stranger to pan fans. The resident arranger of NLCB Fonclaire, he also arranges for Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille and is a regular crowd-pleaser whenever he does a solo performance. Philmore was headline news in The Baltimore Sun last month when he conducted a one week workshop in pan for students at Catonsville High School.
Ellies is a gifted young pan player, poet, singer/songwriter, arranger and budding producer from the village of Manzanilla, who aims to take the music of T&T to the world in his own unique style.
Ellies, 28, began his musical training in May of 1993 under the tutelage of Cedric Urquhart, Clint Mahon and Marcus Baptiste at the Manzanilla Police Youth Club. At Queen's Royal College, he joined the QRC Scouts and its resident band.
Ellies has been performing with many bands including popular parang group Los Tocadores, rock sensation Orange Sky, young jazz band Blue Culture of which he was a founding member, and most recently Rhapsody Next Generation, a crew of musicians dedicated to promoting the PHI (Percussive Harmonic Instrument) and steelpan to the local public and the world.
Internationally, Ellies has performed in New York, Washington DC, Virginia, India, China and London. He also continues to collaborate closely and regularly with Nigel Rojas to deliver their unique combination of acoustic renditions of classic and new calypso, Latin and popular music.
The Women in Jazz series continues tomorrow at 8.30 pm at Fiesta Plaza, MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain. This weekend's show stars popular Barbados artiste Nikita.
Sunday is relatively quiet so most of you might be returning to the beach for more of what you enjoyed last weekend.
Calypso and pan in cricket duels
Calypsonians and pan people had an enjoyable Easter weekend, playing cricket against each other. On Good Friday, I95FM trounced Tuco in their annual windball encounter, held at The Paddock, Queen's Park Savannah. The radio station easily surpassed the calypsonians' healthy score of 169 runs to win the game for the second consecutive year.
The pan folk gathered at Republic Bank Exodus pan amphitheatre on the EMR, St Augustine, on Easter Monday for a fantastic evening of cricket hosted by comPANions. It was enjoyable to witness the support shown for each other's team as this showed the camaraderie of the steelband fraternity. The bowling of the female players, many of them never played cricket before, created an exciting atmosphere, especially with their slow bowling.
In winners' row on Monday were Massy Trinidad All Stars, Scherzando, Renegades and Exodus. As comPANions continues its steelband games, All Fours and football will be played at SIS Harmonites panyard in Morvant this evening, with more elimination rounds carded for tomorrow at Trinidad All Stars panyard on Duke Street.
Round 2 of the cricket tournament will be contested on Sunday, April 12, also at Exodus Amphitheatre, starting at 2:30 pm. The cricket semi-finals and finals will be held on Thursday, April 16 at Exodus.
Cruising for a cause
While thousands were having the time of their lives for Carnival, the homes of Gerry Evelyn and Simone Pierre were completely destroyed by fire on Carnival Tuesday and the Saturday after Carnival, respectively. Come Saturday, April 18, the members of La Flor and BAP are turning on their heart lights to raise funds for the unfortunate two. Both party outfits will host the Part Aid fund-raising cruise aboard the Harbor Master at 11 pm.
This is a party with a purpose and a cause to support with real vibes coming from Alicia the Duchess, John Boi and Ezel, Custodian Int, Studio Production and Kerry D drummer. Tickets are reasonably priced $150 and are available at Bazo's, Jem's, Italians and Committee members, and by calling 685 1068. Landlubbers will receive welcome drinks from Brydens upon boarding.
National Humour Calypso Monarch Competition2015 finalists, tent and selections
1. Brother Alpha (Kaiso Karavan) � I Ain't Hold Nobody
2. Brother Ebony (Klassic Ruso) � Sign Language
3. Snakey (Kaiso House) � Cyar Rhyme
4. Kid Kallaloo (Kaiso Karavan) � Deafy Claire
5. Ninja (Kalypso Revue) � Level the Playing Field
6. Brown Boy (Kaiso House) � Captain Rowley
7. Mr Mike (Klassic Ruso) � Naked
8. Bunny B (Kaiso House) � Tame, Tame, Tame
9. Defending monarch The Incredible Myron B (Kaiso Karavan) � Ebola Scare / Bacchanal Bacchanal
�2 Reserve: Spicey (Kaiso House) � D'Advice