Last Saturday, Production One Ltd (POL) staged one of the best editions of its 14-year-old Jazz Artists on the Greens.
Staged at the Wasa sporting facility in St Joseph, the event attracted a large crowd and seemed to be enjoyed by all. The main acts on the billing included Cuban trumpeter Alexis Baro, Massy Trinidad All Stars crackshot pan player Dane Gulston, former H2O Phlo vocalist Jason "Fridge" Seecharan, guitarist Clifford Charles, Moricia Cagan, Dean Williams, Arita Edmund and Vizion.
All of the artistes were at the top of their game on the evening but there were a few who made my pores raise. Coming immediately to mind is the interpretation of Voice's Cheers to Life (Winner) performed by opening act Vizion. Vizion is new on the music scene and comprises young musicians, but range and musical diversity belies the short time the aggregation has been in existence.
I was equally impressed by percussion Modupe Onilu on the xylophone, vocalists Llettesha Sylvester and Cagan, the Bro Superior/Gulston duet, and of course Baro, the star act. I feel Onilu needs to step out a bit more and master this instrument as the late Andre Tanker did back in the day.
Prior to the official start of the programme at 6.15 pm, early bird patrons were entertained by an hour-long performance by the Ice Water steel ensemble of Diego Martin.
POL is on to something positive and must be saluted for keeping the jazz idiom alive locally. The POL committee includes Anton and Rolf Doyle, Martin and Maria Wellington, Nigel Campbell and Keith Niles. Many of Saturday's patrons, on leaving the venue, were overheard telling organisers they would return for Jazz Artists on the Greens 2017, scheduled for April 1, and making suggestions of international jazz stars they would like featured.
Among the names suggested were popular American R&B and jazz artiste Ledisi, Steel Pulse, Usher, Eddie Bullen, Etienne Charles and a return by Barbadian saxophonist Arturo Tappin.
From Trini Love to Sidewalk Karaoke
This time next week, although many of you would already be at the beach, either in Trinidad or Tobago, the Christians among us may have already had their hot cross buns for breakfast or be preparing for the lengthy Good Friday Stations of the Cross in churches nationwide, or on the street, and in the Botanic Gardens in the north.
But the entertainment menu for the long Easter holiday weekend actually begins on Thursday night at Kaiso Blues Cafe, 85 Woodford Street, Newtown. It's where acclaimed vocalist Vaughnette Bigford will headline A Night of Trini Love, produced by Foreday Morning Entertainment from 8 pm.
Veteran musician, entertainer, singer, songwriter, founder of the successful band B Sharp Majors and CEO of the newly formed Wow Factor Events Co, David Baptiste is producing an explosive package of live entertainment from Monday at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp), on French Street, Wodbrook. Baptiste believes that his MAS (Music Art & Sport) project can save our society from the ills of school violence, domestic disputes, crime and community challenges. It is with this objective in mind that he has initiated this ambitious project.
Baptiste's Entertainment Week begins with Sidewalk Karaoke–all are invited to participate, on the outside of the showplace, from 9 pm.
The entertainment continues on Tuesday with Latin music and dance, followed by calypso on Wednesday. Thursday is Tribute Night when Baptiste and Gail Valentine will be joined by a cast of popular artistes performing the classics by some of the popular R&B, disco, hip hop, reggae and soca artistes.
On Friday, Wow Factor will host De Big Party from 10 pm. This week Baptiste said: "I am inviting all musicians, singers, poets, artists, sports personalities, promoters, the media and all arms of the entertainment fraternity to be part of this much needed initiative. I strongly believe that through entertainment and sport, we can save the youth of our nation."
More information can be obtained from the Wow Factor Events Co website or Facebook.
Good Friday: Curry,Card & Cricket
For some enjoyable Good Friday open air fun, Pure Events Ltd is staging Good Friday Curry, Card & Cricket in the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. The fun begins at 11 am and takes place opposite Citi Bank.
Next week Saturday, Kaiso Blues Cafe will showcase Arthur Marcial and Jeff Bournes in Concert at 8 pm and also on that night Randy Glasgow Productions will reprise its Alternative Comedy Festival at Shaw Park Entertainment Complex, Tobago. Headliners include Gypsy, Lingo, Black Sage and Kenneth Supersad.
Easter Sunday outings
Easter Sunday is traditionally an outdoor family day, especially to our beaches, rivers and wide open venues. One such venue is the Morris Marshall Recreation Grounds, at Trou Macaque, Laventille, where Roadblock School for the Arts is holding its Sports and Family Day at 10 am. A cultural extravaganza starts at 6 pm, featuring 2016 National Panorama champion Desperadoes, Roadblock with Martin Cain, City Sun Valley, Mr King and much more.
Also on Easter Sunday morning, JMVP Promotions will host an Easter Sunday Morning Brunch at Kaiso Blues Cafe, featuring Pelham Goddard & Roots, Moricia Cagan, Jason "Fridge" Seecheran and Natalie Yorke.
Many of us still have fond memories of lead vocalist David Hinds, with his skyscraper dreadlocks, and Steel Pulse. Easter Sunday offers the opportunity to go back in time and enjoy the music of Steel Pulse when the renowned reggae act performs at the San Fernando Reggae Festival, to be held at Skinner Park, San Fernando. Also on the cast are Jah Cure, Jamelody, Prophet Benjamin, Black Loyalty, Jah Defender, Jalifa and Ras Lett.
Pichakaree finals
Another perfect family day outing is the Kendra Phagwa Festival Pichakaaree Pichakaaree Final and Ranga Barase being staged by the Hindu Prachaar Kendra. Scheduled to begin at 2.30 pm, the event will be held at the Kendra Headquarters, Gilibia Trace, Raghunanan Road, Enterprise, Chaguanas.
A TEAM headlines at Point Fortin Borough Day
The A Team band will return as the headline act for Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations next month. The Park Street-based unit, best known as the official backing band of the International Soca Monarch, will put their reputation as T&T's tightest sounding mainstream ensemble to the test with three consecutive nights of performance at the festival.
Fronted by lead singers Eddie Charles, Prestan Andries and Kerlene "Kerlz" Joseph, A Team plays at the Bollywood Meets Hollywood show on April 27 at Egypt Village, and the following day before closing the festival at the Icons In the Sun showcase on April 29.The band is then booked to play a charity gig on April 30 at Success RC School's annual Gospel concert at St Mary's College, Port-of-Spain.
"We're ready. We live for moments like this to perform night after night and show new audiences what we're capable of," said band manager Zarin Morean about the Borough Day appearances.
Morean said A Team is also set to take its show on the road with bookings at Caribana in Toronto, Canada from July 22 � August 7, followed by appearances in BVI Tortola in August; New York City Labor Day in September; and Miami Carnival in October.
"The entire band is looking forward to once again hitting the road. Everywhere we go we bring passion and energy to our set and to see it reciprocated by foreign audiences who may not only be seeing us for the first time, but who may be hearing soca music for the first time, that's all the validation you need," he concluded.
Log on to the A Team band social media pages for their tour dates and for fully interactive up-to-the-minute updates, photos and videos of their 2016 tour.
A TEAM Band
Zarin Morean–Manager
Eddie Charles–Lead vocalist
Prestan Andries–Lead vocalist
Kerlene "Kerlz" Joseph–Lead vocalist
Kareem Romain–Drummer
Elon "Tone" John–Bass guitarist
Isaac "Darce" John–Guitarist
Keron Robinson–Percussionist/programmer
Kelan Douglas–Keyboardist (MD)
Joshua Caines–Keyboardist
Remembering Joey Lewis
The family of Joey "Pal" Lewis will hold a memorial service for him tomorrow at Sushamachar Presbyterian Church, 5-7 Carib Street, San Fernando, at 4 pm. Lewis passed away on 8 February 8, at 78.