Sweet pan music in the city

SWEET pan music filled the city on Friday afternoon during Pan Jammin in D Square hosted by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, the TT Music Co Ltd and the Port of Spain City Corporation.

It was the first of the Live @ Lunch series that will continue at Woodford Square on the last Friday of every month.

Pannist Johann Chuckaree thrilled the crowd with Iron Love (Nailah Blackman) and Party Start (Swappi), then had the crowd shake a leg as he played Full Extreme (MX Prime & the Ultimate Rejects). It earned him lusty applause from the audience that took shade under the towering trees in the square from the sweltering heat. The sno-cone man was happy to do a brisk trade during that hour of live music.

TT’s oldest steelband Shell Invaders followed Chuckaree with an explosive performance that began with Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez’s Feel Good, followed by Iron Love. Towards the end of this song, the bells tolled at the nearby Holy Trinity Cathedral signalling 1 pm. But the concert, having started late, the band played on and delighted the crowd with Hello (Kes the Band), This Melody Sweet, an oldie goodie from the Baron (Timothy Watkins), the very popular Hookin’ Meh by Farmer Nappy, then ended their with Hulk (Blaxx).

Earlier, young pannist Joshua Joseph, a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, opened proceedings and warmed the crowd with Hello, Technically (Farmer Nappy/Destra) and Hookin’ Meh.

Obadele Allick, another young pannist followed and entertained the crowd with a smooth version of the Latin song Havana (Camila Cabello), then got into the music of the season and delivered Social Media (Fay-Ann Lyons), Hello, Practice (GBM Nutron) and Year For Love (Voice), before closing his set with Nah Let It Go (Kes The Band).

Amrita Maharaj-Dube, senior corporate communications officer at the culture ministry told Newsday: “The Live @ Lunch series is intended to promote our up and coming artistes across all genres of music. This follows last year’s launch of the Live Music District initiative by MusicTT and the ministry of Trade and Industry. Essentially it is about bringing music back to the heart of the capital city during everyone’s lunch hour. We want people to just step away from your desk and come and enjoy the talent that is available from our up and coming artistes.”

Next show is on February 22, when soca, chutney and calypso will be featured.