Year for love and youth

CULTURE and entertainment had many highs and lows in 2018.

Among the highs were the emergence of young calypsonians who made their presence felt in the Carnival season like Rondell Donowa, third-placed in the Calypso Monarch competition, Calypso Monarch Helon Francis and International Soca Monarch Aaron “Voice” St Louis, whose Year For Love was the winning Panorama song and Calypso of the Year at NYAC’s Top 20 stars of Gold.

The music and messages of these artistes resonated with a wide cross section of people thus propelling them to greater success.

The name Duvone Stewart would forever be remembered. After knocking at the door for a few years too many, some have noted, he finally captured the champion large steelband arranger title, and in the process, ended the 21-year drought for BPTT Renegades in the National Panorama competition. The victory, coming in the band’s 70th anniversary year, was cause for additional celebrations which ended with one of the best-ever pan concerts on November 17.

Stewart also took Pan Elders to its fifth consecutive win in Panorama medium band competition. And in so doing, he became the first person to arrange for two winning bands on the same final night. He also became the only arranger to take steelbands titles in all four categories in the modern era of Panorama –in the single band category with LH Pan Groove for six consecutive years and San Juan East Side Symphony for five; with small band Merrytones in 2004; Pan Elders; and in 2018 with Renegades.

Calypso Rose’s (McCartha Linda Sandy-Lewis) celebrity status in France and other European countries continued unabated. With the release of the album, SoCalypso, she continued touring to sold-out crowds in some of the best concert halls in Europe. She also gave a performance on Caribbean island of Mustique, where Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were among the audience. But the highlight of her year was the issuing of a diplomatic passport by the TT Government. The accolades and awards continued throughout the year, culminating in her winning the prestigious Grand Prix Sacem Writer’s Award for World Music.

Young Nailah Blackman’s musical career continues to achieve success. She copped several regional and international awards including groovy soca of the year (Barbados), Best New Soca Artiste nominee and Best Collaboration nominee (Jamaica), Best New Crossover Act (TTCO), her Sokah in NJAC’s top 20 songs and the highlight, being nominated for the Viewers' Choice: Best New International Act of the 2018 Black Entertainment Television’s (BET) Awards. She also held her first kids show (Lah Lah Land) and her second concert (Sokah Origins Iron Love edition).

On the international stage Ola (Olatunji Yearwood) took UK’s X-factor by storm, making it to the first of the live rounds of competition. By all reports, his performances mesmerised a great number of people.

Another high was the success of local actors making it on the world stage –Winston Duke in the Marvel film Black Panther and Teneisha Campbell. TT people went Wakanda crazy during the global airing of the film.

However, the biggest set of lows came with the saga of Pan Trinbago and the passing of several cultural icons.

Pan Trinbago power play began right after Carnival with one part of the executive headed by then secretary Richard Forteau, challenging the authority of president Keith Diaz, who then decided to shut down the office, set a date for early elections in April, and step down. At a meeting, the membership voted out the executive, however, the dissident part of the executive filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the April meeting. That resulted in a standoff between the executive and the president which meant no release of funds to pay pan players and as well, carry out the organisation's work. Both Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Colin Lucas and later, Winston Peters, refused to get involved in Pan Trinbago’s internal affairs, insisting that they sort out their own differences.

But the saddest part of the year came with the deaths of pannist extraordinaire Ken "Professor" Philmore, and prolific calypsonians Winston "Shadow" Bailey, Winston Scarborough aka the Original De Fosto Himself, Brother Superior (Andrew Marcano) and Fred “Composer” Mitchell, and music store owner Cleve Calderon in the space of nine weeks. These deaths rocked the culture world like never before.

Carnival bacchanal

From very early, the annual Carnival bacchanal began when Nailah Blackman expressed her utter disappointment when ace pannist Len "Boogsie" Sharpe changed the Panorama song for Hadco Phase II from her Sokah to Kees Dieffenthaller's Hello. The latter said he was about winning Panorama.

Then there were songs that were deemed contentious that caused anxieties. Those included Take Jamm (Motto, Shal Marshall and Hypa 4000), Rowlee Mudda Count (Massive Gosine) and Wine Like a Criminal (Patrice and Shal).

With monies for Carnival events cut by one-third, promoters of Soca Monarch and Chutney Soca Monarch did their usual granstanding, threatening to cancel shows but they went on as usual, while the Ministry of Education took over the Junior Soca Monarch competition.

Calypsonian Bro Musa (Anson Alleng), upset he was not selected for the calypso semi-finals, sauntered into the office of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) on Jerningham Avenue in Belmont, and when the time was right, much like the dish that ran away with the spoon, he made a dash for the door and ran away with his score sheets.

Calypsonian Duane O'Connor, who was a semi-finalist in the same competition, sent a pre-action protocol letter to TUCO president Lutalo Masimba challenging the results after finding a discrepancy in one of the judges' score sheet. He was included in the Dimanche Gras final.

Tightness of economy hit fetes, masqueraders, calypso tents and Carnival king and queen costumes. Recession also hit calypso with sponsors pulling out, leaving tents to close earlier in the season. However, Army Fete and Machel Monday kept their usual large crowds.

January

Unofficial masman and former president Max Richards passed away and was missed in several Carnival activities.

Mas designer Peter Minshall and the Exodus Steelband teamed up to produce The Eyes of God – Pan and Mas 2018.

Soca Monarch prize went down to $300,000. Seasoned artistes pulled out the competition. Same with Chutney Soca Monarch where co-defending champ Ravi B pulled out.

Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly spoke of audits on TUCO and Pan Trinbago to be done after Carnival.

Fresh bail for Machel Montano and Kernal Roberts after the setting of a retrial for allegedly assaulting patrons during a brawl at Zen nightclub in 2007.

Sparrow lost his court battle with his niece over piece of land in Diego Martin.

Mas kings and queens returned to Dimanche Gras show, and the NCC Nostalgia Parade was moved to Carnival Monday, a welcome move for visitors.

Carnival big winners

Pan

Large Conventional Band BPTT Renegades copped its tenth title and Pan Elders, both under arranger Duvone Stewart, won the medium band category.

Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra recorded its11th victory in the Open Junior Panorama competition; St Francois Girls College copped the School Panorama Secondary title and St Margaret’s Boys Anglican School Panorama Primary title.

Other winners were Golden Hands Steel Orchestra – Small Conventional Band; Newtown Playboys Steel Symphony – Single Pan;

Calypso/soca/chutney soca

Junior Calypso Monarch was Duane O’Connor, Junior Soca Monarch – Desle Julien and Sergio Camejo.

The Incredible Myron B took the Extempo Monarch title; Kevan Calliste won the Junior Extempo for the third time.

The Chutney Soca Monarch went to Nishard Mayrhoo and Neval Chatelal. Aaron Duncan was crowned Junior Chutney Monarch for the fifth time, and bowed out of the competition.

Young King and Calypso Queen won by Mark Eastman and Stacy Sobers respectively.

Soca Kingdom created by Travis World gave Road March title to Machel Montano/SuperBlue.

Mas

Ronnie & Caro again captured the Large Band title with Life's Checkered Board; K2K Alliance and Partners –the Medium Band category; Call of the Tribes –Small Band and Spirit of the Whip –Mini Band.

Senior mas king was Earl Thompson –Death and the Maiden The Fancy King Sailor plays Pegasus; and senior queen, Roxanne Omalo –Lilith Mistress of the Eternally Damned.

Junior King was Nikolai Jagdeo –Explosion Of Our Cultures and Celebrations; and Junior Queen Jermiah Walters –Explosion Of Our Cultures and Celebrations.

February:

There was the return of Champs of Steel Plus that delighted visitors in particular.

Bianca Cabrera was condemned for playing mas with her six-mont- old baby strapped to her chest.

MP for Port of Spain South Marlene McDonald vowed to pen a letter to Attorney General Faris Al Rawi about instituting legislation to settle Carnival issues that have been plaguing her constituents, especially in the Woodbrook and St James areas for far too long.

Among the residents' demands were for the authorities to establish a J’Ouvert route, get J’Ouvert back in downtown Port of Spain, ban the use of paint in all J’Ouvert bands, have only the northern pavement on Ariapita Avenue used for vending and legislate on the decibel level of music, especially in the wee hours of the J’Ouvert morning and las lap on Carnival Tuesday night.

John Arnold was appointed new head of the Copyright Music Organisation of TT (COTT) and will serve until 2019.

The 32nd Biennial TT Music Festival ran from February 18-March 17. Among the big winners were Marc Mahase, the Champion Guitarist trophy and the Newsday Cup; RIPE Steel Ensemble – the Fitzgerald Jerry Jemmot Memorial Trophy; Shiva Boys tassa drummers –the South Trinidad Music Association Shield; Lydians Female Voice Choir – TT Music Festival Association trophy; Baritone Solo – Brendan Prince, Republic Bank Trophy; Arielle Pierre and Gabrielle Alleyne – Ladies Vocal Duet, TTMFA Trophy; Brendan Prince – Contemporary Religious Solo, Geraldine Connor Trophy; SJC Ladies Voice Quartet –TTMFA Trophy 3; Craig Siboo – Operatic Arias Male, Republic Bank Trophy.

Golden Hands netted 17 trophies and one special award. Among them were awards in the Junior Steelpan Ensemble Category, the Open Steelpan Ensemble Category, various solo categories ranging from pan solo under-12 category to pan solo open category, and the Golden Hands Chamber Duet.

March

The popular Goretti Group of the 60s and 70s paid tribute to its founder Maria Alonzo.

The establishment of a Live Music District, similar to other international music districts, was launched to provide appropriate spaces for live music and other musical activities year-round. The ministries involved intend to develop the programme in phases with open spaces and hotels such as The Residence and The Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, hosting local performers.

TT model Naomi Chin Wing, 18, a Coco Velvet model, continued her climb to fashion heights as she made a catwalk debut for Alexander Wang’s Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion show at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in February. She later walked for nine other fashion houses including Calvin Klein, Coach 1941, Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs, Brandon Maxwell and closed Carolina Herrera's runway show.

Senior mas king was Earl Thompson –Death and the Maiden The Fancy King Sailor plays Pegasus; and senior queen, Roxanne Omalo –Lilith Mistress of the Eternally Damned.

Junior King was Nikolai Jagdeo –Explosion Of Our Cultures and Celebrations; and Junior Queen Jermiah Walters –Explosion Of Our Cultures and Celebrations.

Continues tomorrow