Jazz on the Greens ends on sour note

DEBRA RAVELLO GREAVES

SHORTLY after Ancel Valley performed, In The Name of Love, Jazz Artist Artists on the Greens (JAOTG) was shut down in the name of the law by police on Saturday night, bringing the show to a disappointing end for hundreds of patrons at WASA Grounds at Farm Road, St Joseph. After the show was stopped, performer Samuel Thomas was arrested and charged with using obscene language and resisting arrest.

Saxophonist Tony Paul was leading a group of musicians when around 10.15 pm, he told the audience police said the event’s licence had expired and the show could not go on. Paul who is the head of the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s (UTT) Jazz Department was performing with an all-star cast of musicians which also featured UTT students.

They were half-way through the final segment titled Jam on the Groove, which was a tribute to late musician Ralph MacDonald when Paul told a stunned audience that despite his appeal, police refused to let the musicians continue. There was some mix-up about the time the show was supposed to end and the expiration of the event’s licence.

Paul was of the opinion that the performance was scheduled to end at 11 pm. Attempts to verify the mix-up with organisers of event, Production One Ltd were unsuccessful yesterday. In a desperate attempt to keep Saturday’s show going, Paul then called on Nigel Campbell who is a director of Production One Ltd, to intervene as he said the band still had seven more songs to perform. Campbell too was also told by police that the show had to end.

The group had already done six selections: Calypso Breakdown, Mr Magic, J’Ouvert Jam, East Dry River, Mayaro Drive and In the name of Love.

Thomas was next in line to go on stage, but patrons never got to see him. In an interview yesterday, Paul said he was distraught over what happened to the musicians, particularly Thomas who almost lost his life late last year during a robbery, for which no one has as yet been arrested.

In that incident, Thomas a part-time student who is pursuing the artist diploma programme at UTT, was stabbed and robbed.

“To go from being where you almost lost your life and none of the people who did it were found or arrested and now to be arrested is a lot for any individual to handle. I called all musicians to come and play so I feel responsible for their well-being,” Paul said. He added that he understood the police had their job to do but in terms of their protocol, “it leaves a lot to be desired in how the communication is done and how they handle events.”

After Valley finished performing, Paul said he asked the officer if they could do one more song to wrap up the event, but was told, “that was your last song”. Paul and other musicians plan to accompany Thomas to the Tunapuna Magistrates’ court today.

Before the sour-note ending patrons were entertained by Barbadian saxophonist Elan Trotman and his band Tropicality, who got the party going with a mix that included reggae, Latin and soca. He was right on cue for those patrons who were having a happy time dancing, celebrating birthdays, catching up with old friends and feasting on a variety of food, snacks and drinks. Patrons were also entertained by Jeanine Ruiz and the J9Quartet who opened the show and then were followed by Edan Hagley.