Jazz Alliance of Trinidad and Tobago (JATT) in collaboration with LiveArt Bistro will offer a multi-module improvisation course for all instrumentalists from November 9 to December 15. The sessions will take place at LiveArt Bistro, 5 Albion Street, Port-of-Spain. 

Each musician will receive 18 contact hours and will kick off the course study with an assignment relating to scales and rudiments over eight weeks from September 23 to November 8. This is to allow for easy session flow when the lessons begin on November 9. 

The areas to be covered are chromatic scale, whole tone scales, major scales, dominant scales, minor scales, sight reading, sticks wrapping, posture, technique, thirds, triads, diminished chords, dominant chords, minor seventh chords, flat five chords, minor six chords, chord progressions, dominant rules, minor rules, 5432 phrases, jazz standards, calypso standards, rudiments, tuning, listening, transcribing, swing, Latin, funk, African, waltz-3/4, bossa nova, calypso-kaiso, rapso and soca. 

JATT staged the inaugural TnT Jazz Week 2013 and honoured Fitzroy Coleman for his profound contribution towards global music development. Honoree, Adriel Vincent-Brown, also received a scholarship towards his studies at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Manhattan, NY. 

The course will create a unique forum for musicians to develop and benefit from opportunities as well as to connect and interact with foreign artistes and to share ideas and hone their skills for TnT Jazz Week 2014. 

Deadline for registration is September 16. Musicians can contact JATT at 689-4298 or jazzalliancett.org for registration details. 

• For more information contact 689-4298, 625-7123 or jazzalliancett@gmail or liveartbistrott@gmail.com

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After 17 years, seven full length albums, and three major US tours under his belt as lead vocalist for Caribbean Rock fusion band Orange Sky, Nigel Rojas is looking forward to a bright future as he enjoys a 2013 full of “musical evolution.” 

Rojas, who is currently enjoying heavy rotation on local stations with the nation-building track Blue Skies Ahead, has been having a tremendous year both with his band and as an individual artiste, said a release from his handlers. 

The Trinidadian singer-songwriter whose influences range from rock greats Motley Crue and AC/DC to Caribbean music icons Bob Marley, Lord Kitchener and Andre Tanker made waves with Differentology, his Carnival collaboration with Bunji Garlin. 

Along with Orange Sky, Rojas recently performed for international music industry executives at the recent AMMBCON music business conference showcase and also shared the stage with celebrated Reggae stars Sizzla Kalonji, Richie Spice and Anthony B at the Good Life Music Festival on Independence night. 

For this event, Rojas and band performed a set which comprised of original Reggae and Rapso infused material. Orange Sky also performed the single Love Each Other which was composed by Rojas and featured T&T Reggae acts Marlon Asher, Jah Melody, Prophet Benjamin and Mr King. 

In the release, Rojas expressed his pride at performing in the Festival: “It is always a great honour to share the stage with artistes that I love and admire. In this event there were many such artistes, however, the local Reggae performers are very close to my heart”. 

Later this year, Rojas intends to launch a guitar instrumental CD entitled Sunset Siesta along with a supporting instrumental concert. He admits that musically he has been bitten by the Soca bug since his Differentology experience and hints of upcoming alliances with some of Soca’s biggest names. 

• For more information on Nigel Rojas please contact his management via 868-303-0590.

Margaret Elcock, founder of T&T’s first 24-hour gospel radio station ISAAC 98.1FM The Promise, has been awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree for her decades of work as a Christian broadcaster and for her work in founding and leading the Family Focus Broadcasting Network (FBN).  Elcock received the award from President of St Thomas Christian University, Jacksonville, Florida, Doctor  Zamekio Jackson, at a gala reception at Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s last Sunday. 

Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, Senator Fazal Karim, Minister of Tertiary Education, Mayor of Port-of-Spain Louis Lee Sing and Brig General Anthony Phillips-Spencer headed the dignitaries who witnessed the ceremony. Dr Myles Munroe, world renowned motivational speaker and leader of Bahamas Faith Ministries International and International Third World Leaders Association, in a televised message told the gathering that Elcock deserved such an award a long time ago. 

In an address to the gathering Elcock promised to continue striving to carry out her mandate as an innovative pioneering Christian broadcaster.

The National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) leaves on Wednesday for appearances at the Ninth China International Folk Art Festival that begins on September 14 in Yichang, Hubei Province, China.

Over 300 artistes representing 13 countries are expected to attend this year’s festival, with the theme: Developing Folk Arts, Promoting Friendship And Peace.

The 21-member NSSO, led by music director/conductor Jessel Murray, is scheduled to appear at the festival’s opening ceremony, as well as other programmes during the seven days of the event.

“The visit is an official one facilitated by the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism under a government-to-government cultural exchange programme between T&T and China,” said Murray, speaking at the Orchestra’s home base on Henry Street, Port-of-Spain. 

“During our time in China, the orchestra will spend 13 days performing, as we will be visiting Beijing for four days after the Folk Art Festival ends.”

The NSSO was formed in late 2007 under the auspices of the then Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, and comprises 33 of the country’s finest steelpan players who were auditioned and selected for both the high quality of their technical skills and music reading abilities.

The NSSO made its debut performances in 2008 at Queen’s Hall, Naparima Bowl and the Vanguard Hotel, Tobago. 

Other notable concert performances have followed including: The Genesis in Steel concerts as part of the NAPA Fest series in 2010; nationally televised concerts at Daaga Auditorium, UWI; and at Phase II, Skiffle Bunch and Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestras’ pan theatres. 

Other local performance credits include the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) at the Hyatt Regency (2009), the opening of the Hyatt Regency in 2008, and the opening ceremonies of the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in 2009, among others.

International appearances have included a marquee performance at Carifesta X in Guyana in 2008 where the Orchestra received a prolonged standing ovation for its concert which included a wide-ranging repertoire. 

The Guyana Chronicle, in a report, stated: “The orchestra made full use of its penchant for moving from muted passages to thundering big moments, very effectively indeed.” 

In 2010, the NSSO journeyed to Costa Rica to perform as part of the Credomatic XX International Music Festival, where it presented four concerts. 

A fifth concert was staged at the Trinidad and Tobago Embassy in San José on the occasion of the Independence celebrations of both countries. 

It recently appeared at Carifesta 2013 in Suriname.

Jessel Murray, the holder of degrees in Conducting and Music Education from Temple University, has conducted choruses and orchestras, regionally and internationally. 

He is a lecturer in Choral and Vocal Music at the DCFA and head of the Music Unit, UWI, where among other duties he directs the UWI Arts Chorale and co-directs the award-winning UWI SSTeel—both of which toured Massachusetts in 2008, and subsequently completed a triumphant tour of New York.

He has been the conductor of six musicals for the Town of Amherst (Mass.) including: The Wizard of Oz (2004); Cinderella (2005); and Oliver! (2006). 

Additional local productions include Man Better Man (2002) and I Am Risen (2006). Murray also conducts the National Sinfonia Orchestra.

The NSSO is scheduled to return home on September 27.

About the China International Folk Art Festival

The festival, held every three years, is a large cultural program that is approved by the State Council and hosted by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC). Established in July 1949, CFLAC is a non-governmental organisation composed of nationwide associations of writers and artists, federations of literary and art circles in the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government and those in state-level industrial sectors. It carries out extensive external exchanges and actively encourages and organizes its group members to do so. Each year, it receives hundreds of foreign writers’ and artists’ delegations.

What a weekend it has been, one in which I thoroughly immersed myself in pan music and, though under the weather, was vitalised by some beautiful music. 

Greatly contributing to this elixir of pan music was Supernovas steel orchestra, a relatively new aggregation out of Surrey Village, Lopinot, and under the musical direction of Amrit Samaroo, son of pan legend Jit Samaroo.

Registered with Pan Trinbago in 2010, Supernovas participated in this year’s National Panorama competition and placed third in the small band category.

Samaroo, however, aside from coming from good pan pedigree, has had past experience in the annual Carnival pan contest. 

He arranged for bpTT Renegades in 2008 and 2009, taking the Charlotte Street steel orchestra to the final on both occasions. 

Speaking to Samaroo this week from his Lopinot home, he said: “The band (Supernovas) is on a developmental trend right now. At present, we have a lot of young players, so we have Jit’s cousin, Peter Maltin, and Kelly Ramlal, doing tutoring with the young musicians. 

“We are also in the process of raising funds so we can have our own panyard as we have been sharing a space with the community in their centre. Though extremely grateful to the residents in the community, we have outgrown this facility. Next year, because of a lack of finances, we will be back in Panorama, in the small band category.”

The dictionary defines a supernova as a star that suddenly increases very greatly in brightness because of an explosion. 

Well, there certainly was a pan explosion across the land this Independence weekend but none shone as brightly as Supernovas did.

Performing alongside the long established Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove and Republic Bank Exodus last Saturday, at the annual Carib Woodbrook Playboyz Independence Day brunch, Supernovas caused all in attendance to take notice with its enticing repertoire and “panmanship.”

The band’s repertoire included Live Your Life Like you’re Playing Mas (Kees & David Rudder); Sailing (de Mighty Trini); It’s Now or Never (Elvis Presley); a Lady in Red ’80s salsa medley; Love Story; Portrait of Trinidad (Sniper); a Shadow medley of I come out to play, Bassman and Dingolay; a Lord Blakie medley of Hold the Pussy, Maria and Steelband Clash; a Sparrow Medley of 60 Million Frenchmen, Du Du Yemi and Statue; SuperBlue’s Fantastic Friday; and, Kitchener’s The Carnival is Over.

Also contributing to my weekend of scintillating pan music was Witco Desperadoes, headline performer at the open-air concert on the pavement of Western Main Road, St James, staged by Lisa Mc Kenzie, widow of Smokey & Bunty co-owner Ricardo “Smokey” Mc Kenzie. The Laventille band played all its fans’ favourites including Ordinary People, Jammer and Rebecca, against the background of fireworks lighting up the Independence night sky.

On Sunday, the Independence pan feast reached its pinnacle when Playboyz blocked off Tragarete Road, between Maraval Road and Cipriani Boulevard, Newtown, to hold its 2013 Inde-Street Fest. Again, Supernovas held its audience captive with a riveting performance.

The evening’s live entertainment package also featured Phase II Pan Groove; bpTT Renegades and Exodus, Desperadoes, CAL Invaders, Solo Harmonites, White Oak Starlift, San City and Playboyz. Also performing were Pelham Goddard & Roots, reigning Road March champion and joint International Power Soca Monarch SuperBlue, Scrunter, Rootsman and Poser.

This week, Pan Trinbago made me the perfect gift in the form of a copy of its 50th Golden Anniversary of Panorama publication. 

A definite keepsake and collector’s item, this glossy book is filled with archival material of pan and Pan Trinbago, from the inception of the organisation, the birth of the annual Panorama competition and stars of the 50-year competition. 

Among its riveting articles are documentaries on late iconic pan technician Bertie Marshall; past president the late George “Sonny” Goddard; past Desperadoes leader Rudolph Charles; and celebrated arrangers Ray Holman; Len “Boogsie” Sharpe; Ken “Professor” Philmore; Seion Gomez; and, Terrence “BJ” Marcelle.

Among the authors of articles are the late Ian “Teddy” Belgrave; T&T Guardian’s David Cuffy; Selwyn Tarradath; Merle Albino-de Coteau; Dr Jeannine Remy; Pan Trinbago vice-president Bryon Serrette; and president Keith Diaz. 

The publication is filled with several enlightening stories, photos and anecdotes. For instance, it reveals the only person to this day to lead T&T steelband “association” under all of its three names, including Pan Trinbago. 

He was also the only president of any of the three to be re-elected to the post, not once, but (at least) ten times. Also poignant is the fact that up to the first official instalment of Panorama in 1963, the overall winner received a first prize of $350.

The 50th Golden Anniversary of Panorama is currently on sale at Pan Trinbago’s head office, located at Victoria Square North, Port-of-Spain, at the reasonable price of $60.

Young Sparrow cops Emancipation calypso title

Sergio Francisco, son of the legendary Mighty Sparrow, is the winner of the 2013 Emancipation Calypso Competition, hosted by the National Action Cultural Committee (NACC), in association with First Citizens and the National Youth Action Committee (NYAC).

Held on August 24 at City Hall, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, Francisco, who bears a startling resemblance to his father, topped the 24-35 age group in the competition. 

This year, Francisco sang in two calypso tents—Generation Next and Klassic Russo—and made it to the final of the Young Kings Monarch competition, placing in the top five.

In winning the Emancipation title, Francisco sang Know Thyself. 

2013 Emancipation Calypso Competition results

7-14 age group

1st Melina Smith —My Guardian Angel

2nd Timel Rivas The Emancipation Story

3rd N’Janela Duncan-Regis Determined and Strong

4th Tsahai Corbin Emancipation Story

5th Tyrese Williams Teach Me the Truth

6th Zakiya Grant Dance of Freedom

7th Jeremiah James The Evidence

15-23 age group

1st Sasha Ann Moses Lies

2nd Shradah Mc Intyre Dey Doh Know

3rd Helon Francis Emancipation Heroes

4th Tenisha Weekes Thank You

4th Jerrisha Duncan Regis NUFF Respect

6th Ferdinand Smith One for Mandela

7th Aneka Collins Stand Up and Be Counted

24-35 age group

1st Sergio Francisco Know Thyself

2nd Marion Paponette Ek Wiloom Woon

3rd Khadja Antoine Pay Us Now

3rd Kerine Williams Berbice Revolution

5th Arnold Jordan Africa In Me

6th Alicia Paponette Turn Ah New Page

7th Philman Africa On De Rise

​

Two plays, Randy Ablack’s Same Ol’ Mas and Eslpeth Duncan’s The Perfect Place, will be staged at Trinidad Theatre Workshop (TTW) with patrons getting both acts for the price of one.

Directed by Timmia Hearn, starring Errol “Blood” Roberts, Soler Philip, Patti-Ann Ali, Eugenia Lemo and Arnold “Pinny” Goindhan, the one-act plays will run from September 19 to October 6, from Thursday to Sunday.

The Same Ol’ Mas looks at four vagrants who are living in Woodford Square as long as anyone can remember, and who make a claim of squatters’ right and get the deed to the Square. The prime minister and the other ministers throw the country into crisis in order to get their Square back.

“In this play, there is no hero here, and no villain. Power and drugs corrupt, while the search for identity and belonging push the characters to fight for their own dignity in a world which continually strips them of dignity, from politician down to piper,” said a release from the TTW.

In The Perfect Place, a chance encounter between a waiter and customer develops and reveals secrets about each, and forces them to face the lies under which they have been living.

Tickets cost $150 and are available at TTW, 23 Jerningham Avenue, Belmont, 624-8502 or e-mail trinidadtheatre@gmail.com

Showtime is 8 pm Thursday to Saturday and 6 pm on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.trinidadtheatreworkshop.com, Facebook page Trinidad Theatre Workshop or Twitter account @TrinidadTheatre.

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Gayelle founders Tony Hall, Christopher Laird and Bruce Paddington will be among those honoured by the T&T Film Festival (ttff) as “pioneers of film.” It will the first time the festival will honour contemporary pioneers, most of them still involved in the industry: Hall continues to write scripts, Laird is chairman of the T&T Film Co (TTFC) and Paddington is the founder and director of the ttff. The awardees will be feted at a luncheon on Friday. The eight-year-old festival had previously looked at legacy works and early T&T filmmakers through an exhibition of photos, clips, equipment and posters. The other pioneers to be honoured include Carla Foderingham, CEO of the TTFC, and Frances-Anne Solomon, founder of the CaribbeanTales Film Festival in Canada, and television producer Danielle Dieffenthaller.

The TTFF, which officially begins on September 17 and runs until October 1, will for the first time also feature a package of music videos, including those from the artist I-Sasha and the bands Mungal Patasar & Pantar and Gyazette. In acknowledgement of the increasing number of women filmmakers in the region—47 contributions this year were made by women—the festival will have a segment called Women in Film. In addition to film screenings, this segment will involve Q&A sessions and panel discussions about the topic. This year, for the first time, the festival will present films in two distinct sections: Caribbean films, produced by people living and working in the Caribbean or Caribbean people abroad, and “heritage” films, produced in the countries of the ancestors of Trinidadians and Tobagonians. The second category will include films from India, Africa and Europe. Chinese films will also be shown for the first time.

Acclaimed Ghanaian/British filmmaker John Akomfrah will attend the festival, which will present a retrospective of his work. The films from T&T filmmakers that will make their debut at the festival include God Loves a Fighter, directed by Damian Marcano; Forward Ever: The Killing of A Revolution, by Bruce Paddington; and Ten Days of Muharram: The Cedro Hosay, by Ernest Che Rodriguez. The T&T Film Festival will feature 142 films this year. The number is up considerably from when it began in 2006, when it featured 35 films. For the screening schedule, venues and other information, go to ttfilmfestival.com—Erline Andrews

Iere Theatre Productions is remounting its production of A Brighter Sun, first staged in June. The play, based on Sam Selvon’s iconic Trinidadian novel, reopens September 14 at 8 pm at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, and continues September 15 at 6 pm. The play moves to Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on October 2 and 3 at 7 pm, Victor Edwards, Iere’s artistic director, said in an e-mailed note. “Look out too for our special offers and like us on our Facebook page for ticket giveaways,” he added. Meanwhile, the Trinidad Theatre Workshop opens its 2013-2014 season on September 19 with Doubles: A Night of Two Trinidadian One-Act Plays. 

Doubles pairs two new plays: Randy Ablack’s Same Ol’ Mas, a political farce, and Elspeth Duncan’s The Perfect Place, a look at loneliness through the eyes of two women. Both pieces are directed by Timmia Hearn Feldman. The cast includes Errol “Blood” Roberts, Soler Philip, Patti-Ann Ali, Eugenia Lemo, and Arnold Goindhan. Hearn Feldman said in a brief telephone interview that the theme of the production is “reclaiming our dignity” and she promised “innovative and exciting pieces.” The name Doubles plays on the notion of the tradition of the cinema double feature, and the director said she wanted to encourage people to see the theatre as “not a ‘stush’ place to bring your date, but as a fun place to bring your date.” Doubles continues Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 6 pm, from September 19-October 6, at the TTW, corner Jerningham Ave and Norfolk Street, Belmont.

More info 

A Brighter Sun: 724-7041 or 788-3358; or Naparima Bowl box office, 657-8870.

Doubles: A Night of Two Trinidadian One-Act Plays: 624-8502 or e-mail trinidadtheatre@gmail.com

Local rock-n-roll exponents Jointpop played their first gig at Studio Rumours on August 29.

As they’ve done in their last several gigs, they performed music from their latest album release, The Pot Hounds.

But fans who turned up to the Tragarete Road club were treated to a sample of older material seldom played by the band. Although audience turnout was modest, those who did attend got to hear some older favourites.

Taking the stage at around 10 pm, the musicians—guitarist Damon Homer, drummer Dion Camacho, keypoardist Phil Hill, and bassist Jerome Girdharrie—arranged themselves around lead singer Gary Hector.

They got it started with the nostalgic Brass and Steel, from the album The January Transfer Window, and Paper Plane from The Pot Hounds.

On Who Shot Paradise, a dark love song about T&T from their Bess of Jointpop album, Hector showed off his penchant for metaphor: “Has anybody seen my girl? She used to be the prettiest girl in the world.” Regretably, the sound levels were not optimised, so although the band members were seated, they cranked it up loud, obscuring the lyrics at times.

January Transfer Window’s Desperate Housefly Quality Daydream Time took fans back, as did South of France, Planes Trains and Pain and We Can Work it out (from The Longest Kiss Goodnight).

But it was Superapple, of Pot Hounds, that sounded most polished, as the band has performed it many times since the albums release last year. The song—as does much of Jointpop’s best material—has shades of foundation rock-n-roll music, yet manges to feel contemporary, with a unique sensibility.

The second set was strong, with a better sound balance. They played more songs from The Pot Hounds, including Sexy Garbage Can, The Water Supreme, Dead Frog Perfume and Sweet Nothings. Hector’s witty lyrics and sideways sense of humour kept the audience entertained, both while singing and during his ad-libs in between.

Highlights of the second set included the passionate The Fool, from January Transfer Window, and I Hate Entertainment, a fan fave off 2002’s Exile Baby. The song, which they haven’t played in some time, explores the concept of “selling out” for success. For a band like jointpop that’s attempted to maintain artistic integrity for more than 15 years, it’s always a poignant commentary.

They ended the show before the intimate group of patrons with The Bleeding Broken Hearts Club.

Studio Rumours, at 145 Tragarete Road, features live entertainment every other Thursday night. Next up will be the band Supernormal, on September 12.

Keep up to date with the latest on Jointpop by visiting their website jointpop.com or their Facebook page: Jointpop.

The first part of the Prime Minister’s Best Village folk dance finals took place at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, last Thursday. 
Categories included African-, Indian- and Spanish-influenced performances as well as devotional dances. Among those participating in the finals were the Terry David Performing Theatre, the Blind Welfare Association, Maya Shakti Dance Group, Sarvodaya School of Dance, Amritam Shakti, Kalanayak Academy and Swastika dancers.

Through the sponsorship of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (TTFC), along with Caricom, USAIDS and The Back Lot, a Surinamese organisation that supports film, the T&T animation festival Animae Caribe had a significant presence in Carifesta XI, said Animae Caribe founder Camille Selvon-Abrahams.

Animae Caribe conducted workshops for over 150 young people, presentations, and screenings at the regional festival of the arts, which took place in Suriname from August 16-25. 

Apart from Selvon-Abrahams, the Animae Caribe team featured Alison Latchman, CEO/writer at Alcyone Animation and creator of the “Cabbie Chronicles,” a popular cartoon series from Jamaica. Latchman has credited Animae Caribe as the impetus for the creation of the series. 

After entering the 2010 Animae Caribe Animation festival Latchman and her team won the Best Caribbean Animation Award. 

The TTFC is a founding sponsor of the Animae Caribe festival, which has taken place annually for the past 11 years in Trinidad and Tobago. 

The festival screens local and regional animation and animators, hosts workshops for animators, and brings international animation experts to facilitate seminars and discussions.

“From the onset TTFC has been instrumental in our growth not only as a T&T festival but also as a Caribbean-wide festival and one of the major success factors is consistency in that support,” Selvon-Abrahams said.

“Caribbean animation has grown tremendously over the past 12 years; Animae Caribe has been a platform for this growth and gives animators something to look forward to every year.”

Derek Walcott’s succulent comedy Pantomime will be produced at The Little Carib Theatre next month for a limited run.

The play, one of Walcott’s best, will feature Michael Cherrie as Jackson Phillip and Maurice Brash as Harry Trewe. It is being directed by Brenda Hughes and produced by Fifth Business, a theatre production company. 

With music composed by Raff Robertson, and choreography by Carol La Chapelle, the story takes place in 1978, in a rundown guest house in Tobago. The set has been designed by Chadd Cumberbatch, of Montserrat, and the lighting design will be by Benny Gomes.

When the play opens, guest house manager Trewe (Brash) and manservant Phillip (Cherrie) are alone in the guest house which is closed for repairs. Trewe, an old Music Hall actor, is trying to get Phillip, a retired calypsonian, to help him create a pantomime with which to entertain the guests when the guest house reopens the following week.

Trewe wants the pantomime to be about Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday, with Trewe as Robinson Crusoe. Phillip resists because he thinks it is a stupid idea, plus he does not want to be an entertainer any longer. Eventually Trewe suggests that they reverse the roles. When an enthused Phillip assumes the role of Robinson Crusoe, thus assigning the Englishman to the role of Man Friday, Trewe, upon realising the implications, calls off the pantomime. Phillip refuses to accept that and his reaction catches Trewe off-guard and nonplussed.

This hilarious comedy has sobering undertones and begs questions about (British) colonialism, the hotel industry, and master/servant relationships. It is great fun and promises to have patrons in tears and stitches from laughter, while it stimulates retrospection. 

Brash, a multitalented actor, created the role of Trewe a lonely, pathetic, British expatriate consigned to “desolation” in the Caribbean in the original version of the play. This version is Walcott’s rewrite. Brash therefore brings a special resonance to the production. 

Cherrie, the consummate actor, plays the servant and retired calypsonian, and has embraced the role with both arms and a creative mind. He brings an interesting interpretation to Phillip’s role. To quote Cherrie, “Jackson Phillip is one of the few good roles for a male Trinidadian actor.” 

Part proceeds of the play will go to the Angels on Earth Foundation, a safe home for traumatised girls, and The Girl Guides Association. The play runs from October 11 to 13. Showtime on Friday and Saturday is 8 pm and on Sunday 6 pm.

​

Story and photos courtesy
Phoolo Danny-Maharaj

Ram Goes To Forest (Raam Van-Gaman), a shadow drama, which is thought to be the first staged in T&T was recently held at the Shri Adesh Ashram, Aranguez. 

The three hour-long production was written and directed by Professor Hari Shankar Adesh, also known as “Guruji.”

Forty members of the Bharatiya Vidya Sansthaan (BVS Institute of Indian knowledge), headed by Adesh, performed in the Vivek Adesh-produced drama. The lead roles were played by Sankalp Goberdhan (Raam), Ranu Sookdeo (Sita) and Arun Katwaroo (Lakshman).

According to Wikipedia, the shadow play or shadow puppetry is “an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated figures (shadow puppets) to create the impression of moving humans and other three-dimensional objects.”

In Raam Goes To Forest, these shadows were used in many ways to express heroism, devotion, humour, menace and even redemption in the drama. 

The lighting technicians skillfully skirted the boundaries between the brighter and darker aspects of characters of the Ramayan. 

The drama dealt with the 14 year exile of Raam, the hero of the Ramayan. 

Members of the audience who were seeing a shadow drama for the first time, were fascinated by how actors synchronised their movements with the voices of the supporting musicians, singers and narrators to produce a most brilliant theatrical performance. 

Dr Mavindra Maharaj, executive member of the BVS said in an interview, “Only Guruji with his expertise can take the darkness of shadows to reveal the light of the Ramayan.”

In ancient times, the shadow play was a popular storytelling device in countries like India and China as well as in Europe. Now that it has been warmly received by Trinidadians, there will be a repeat of this production, as well as two others written by Adesh in September.

About Professor Hari Shankar Adesh

​

Professor Hari Shankar Adesh arrived in T&T in the 60s as a cultural officer at the Indian High Commission. 

He adopted this country as his home and started teaching classes in Hindi, music and Indian religious knowledge free of charge. A spiritual leader, educator, poet, playwright, he received the Humming Bird Gold in 2001 for dedicated service. 

He has written hundreds of poems, songs, books and drama and the latest, Raam Goes To Forest draws on the Hindu religious book the Ramayan and from Adesh’s work on the mysteries of Shri Raam. 

Twenty-six feature films from beyond the Caribbean will screen in the Panorama section of the 2013 T&T Film Festival (TTFF).

The Festival, now in its eighth year, takes place from September 17 to October 1, and screens feature-length, short and experimental films from the Caribbean and its diaspora. 

The Festival also screens feature-length fiction and documentary films from world cinema in its Panorama section.

A release from the TTFF said this section comprises films from Latin and North America, as well as from T&T’s “heritage” regions, including countries in Africa and Europe, India, and, for the first time, China. 

The majority of these are new or recent films which had their world premiere at some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, including Cannes, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin. The announcement of the 26 Panorama films brings the number of features screening at this years Film Festival to 49. The total number of films screening at the Festival, including short films and experimental film and video works in the New Media section, is 151. 

“The TTFF will present a programme of world cinema, alongside our Caribbean selection of films, in order to offer our audiences the opportunity to see films primarily from the global south that will enlighten and entertain,” said Emilie Upczak, Creative Director, TTFF. 

“And we are pleased to be able, with the support of our partner diplomatic missions, to host a group of filmmakers and talent from selected Panorama section films to be present to engage with our audiences.”

No
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Pablo Larraín
Region: Chile
Year: 2012
Running Time: 118 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: PG-13

Screening Times
Sept 20, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre
Sept 23, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne POS 

Papilio Buddha
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Jayan Cherian
Region: India
Year: 2012
Running Time: 108 mins
Language: English, English subtitles, Malayalam
Rating: 16+

Screening times
Sept 19, 5.30 pm, Little Carib Theatre
Sept 25, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre

Pirogue, The
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Moussa Touré
Region: Senegal
Year: 2012
Running Time: 87 mins
Language: English Subtitles, French and Spanish, Wolof
Rating: PG-13

Screening Times
Sept 24, 6 pm, MovieTowne POS
Sept 29, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre 

Portrait of Jason
Type: Documentary Feature
Director: Shirley Clarke
Region: USA
Year: 1967
Running Time: 105 mins
Language: English
Showing At: Studio Film Club

Rock, Paper, Scissors
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Hernán Jabes
Region: Venezuela
Year: 2012
Running Time: 111 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: 18+

Screening Times
Sept 19, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre
Sept 28, 11 pm, MovieTowne POS

Senoritas
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Lina Rodríguez
Region: Colombia
Year: 2013
Running Time: 87 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: 18+

Screening times
Sept 23, 5.30 pm, Little Carib Theatre
Sept 26, 5.30 pm, Little Carib Theatre Q&A

Anina
Type: Animated, Narrative Feature
Director: Alfredo Soderguit
Region: Colombia
Year: 2013
Running Time: 80 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: GA

Screening times
Sept 18, 11 am, MovieTowne POS
Sept 24, 11 am, MovieTowne POS
Sept 28, 11 am, MovieTowne POS 

Born to Hate… Destined to Love
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Habib Faisal
Region: India
Year: 2012
Running Time: 120 mins
Language: English subtitles, Hindi
Rating: 16+

Screening Times
Sept 21, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne POS
Oct 1, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne POS

Candid
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Vishnu Seesahai
Region: Trinidad + Tobago, USA
Year: 2012
Running Time: 92 mins
Language: English
Rating: 18+

Screening Times
Sept 21, 11 pm, MovieTowne POS
Sept 26, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre, Q&A

Dream of Lu, The
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Carlos Sama
Region: Mexico
Year: 2011
Running Time: 106 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: GA

Screening Times
Sept 18, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS
Sept 28, 5.30 pm, Little Carib Theatre, Q&A

Free Angela and All Political Prisoners
Type: Documentary Feature
Director: Shola Lynch
Region: USA
Year: 2012
Running Time: 102 mins
Language: English
Rating: GA

Screening Times
Sept 22, 6 pm, MovieTowne POS
Sept 27, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS, Q&A
Sept 28, 8 pm, MovieTowne Tobago, Q&A
Oct 1, 8 pm, MovieTowne Tobago

Gloria
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Sebastián Lelio
Region: Chile
Year: 2013
Running Time: 110 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: 16+

Screening times
Sept 19, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS
Sept 28, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS 

Handsworth Songs
Type: Documentary Feature
Director: John Akomfrah
Region: United Kingdom
Year: 1986
Running Time: 61 mins
Language: English
Rating: GA

Screening times
Sept 23, 3.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS
Sept 30, 11.45 am, UWI 

The Kid Who Lies
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Marité Ugás
Region: Venezuela
Year: 2011
Running Time: 100 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Screening Times
Rating: GA

Screening Times
Sept 23, 11 am, MovieTowne PoS
Sept 24, 11.45 am, UWI
Sept 27, 11 am, MovieTowne PoS 

The Last Summer of La Boyita
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Julia Solomonoff
Region: Argentina
Year: 2009
Running Time: 93 mins
Language: English Subtitles, Spanish
Rating: PG-13

Screening Times
Sept 24, 8.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS, Q&A
Sept 30, 6 pm, MovieTowne PoS 

Middle of Nowhere
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Ava DuVernay
Region: USA
Year: 2012
Running Time: 97 mins
Language: English
Rating: PG-13

Screening Times
Sept 20, 6 pm, MovieTowne PoS
Sept 29, 3.30 pm, MovieTowne PoS 

Neighbouring Sounds
Type: Narrative Feature
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Region: Brazil
Year: 2012
Running Time: 131 mins
Language: English, English Subtitles, Mandarin, Portuguese
Rating: 16+

Screening Times
Sept 18, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre
Sept 23, 8 pm, Little Carib Theatre 

​

The curtains came down on the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition finals with the La Reine Rive queen show, Le Gran Z’Affair at the Queen’s Park Savannah last Saturday. 

Anissa Ali, representing Tri Murti Dancers, was crowned queen by Community Development Minister Winston Peters, with Rosemary Mitchell representing Ah We Theatrical Horizon, taking the first runner-up prize and Patrice Thomas of Nationwide Cultural Performers chosen as the second runner-up.

Tobago stole the spotlight on the final night’s performances as the Tobago Heritage Performers did a piece entitled Treasured Reflections. 

Not to be outdone, Terry David’s Performing Theatre presented a wonderful Chinese fan dance in tribute to Best Village founder Joyce Wong Sang, while the Malick Folk Performing Company gave a command performance with a precision drill-type show that won them resounding applause. 

​

Artist Martin Superville is showing his new work in an exhibition titled Tavaco: The Beginning at 101 Art Gallery, Newtown. The exhibit, which consists of 33 oil paintings, ends on Friday. Superville is a painter and curator of a small gallery—the Tobago Art Gallery. In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian, Superville said a true understanding of the themes explored in the paintings could only truly come from viewing the exhibit. However, the inspiration for the work came from life in general, he said. “My inspiration came from living on the earth and walking around in it. Isn’t that the intention of most artists? To recreate their observations of planet earth? Well, likewise, I’m just one of them.” 

Although Superville has been based for over 18 years in Tobago , where he shows his work and others’ at his gallery, he regularly exhibits in Trinidad. Among his reasons for bringing this particular exhibit to Trinidad, were a need for space and the interest of patrons. The art market in Tobago is slower than in Trinidad and generally caters to a tourist market, he said. “The art world in Tobago was basically foreigners showing interest in whatever creative aspect anybody in the island could do. And even if I did have the space, the art lovers would be too minute a crowd to make the effort worthwhile. That doesn’t say that the pieces won’t be back in Tobago.”

It also doesn’t say that Superville won’t continue to work in Tobago either. In terms of space to create, he said Tobago was peaceful as compared to Trinidad and his gallery does more than host exhibitions—he has worked in graphic design, interior decorating and even photography. He is also the curator for the Magdalena Grand Art Gallery which opened in April. While there seems to be a lot happening with art in both Trinidad and Tobago, Superville said more needs to be done, particularly by the authorities. “Who is to say you are an artist? Where are the criteria? There needs to be established criteria and programmes and we have to question the ability to know what is good and what a government could invest in,” he said. “We have to look at the arts holistically. If you want to have a society that is dedicated to the arts, you have to shows that it’s worthwhile to pursue it as a career.” Superville said his main immediate concern was maintaining a standard among artists and finding more avenues for them to work while still keeping their perspectives.

Nostalgia–An Enchanting Evening of Golden Pops and Ballads featuring Don Silverfox, Baron and Denyse Plummer will come off at Queen’s Hall on September 15. The concert will include former broadcaster and the show’s co-promoter, “Big Brother” Dave Elcock as emcee, with Baron and Plummer performing the great pop oldies. It will also be the fulfilment of Silverfox’s decades-old dream of performing on stage once again. Pelham Goddard and his ten-piece ensemble will provide musical accompaniment. According to Elcock, “The evening’s songfest will consist exclusively of the golden oldies—pop classics and beloved evergreens guaranteed to warm the heart and soothe the mind.”

Born Donald Ali, Silverfox is a former Gospel Music Association (GMA) Canada Covenant Award nominee. The silver-haired songster first hit the stage at age six and by 16 had performed on radio and at live concerts. He also performed on live television and at popular night clubs in Port-of-Spain. As part of the Light Operatic Society he performed at Queen’s Hall in the internationally renowned Pirates of Penzance, Chu Chin Chow and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. He also did solo acts at that venue. Other gigs included the Hugo Blanco Band, Dennis de Souza Quartet and sharing the stage with Sparrow and Duke. Before migrating in 1982, he had enjoyed considerable popularity as a radio, TV and night-club entertainer. Having married at age 22, Silverfox dutifully laid aside his showbiz aspirations and with his wife put their children through tertiary education. 

Four decades would elapse before Don’s burning passion returned to the fore. In his golden years he again took up his first love, producing his premier CD, Dreams Come True in 2010 followed by Christmas with Me in 2011 and In His Light in 2012, all produced by renowned Grenadian musician, Eddie Bullen of Thunderdome Sound Studios, Toronto. That year, Whispering Hope,” a cut from the In His Light CD was nominated for a Song Of  The Year award by GMA Canada. Drawing upon the influence of vocal greats like Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstein, Paul Anka and Frankie Laine, Silverfox has gone beyond the realm of tribute artists, becoming known as a master interpreter of yesteryear’s gems by applying a different twist to the traditional renditions.

 
With a repertoire of over 250 songs spanning the decades 1920 to 1970, Silverfox’s music has been described as “a nostalgic kaleidoscope of vocal melodies that will make you reminiscent of life, love and liberty.” He said, “My music is based on the melodies and lyrics of great artistes I grew up enjoying. I prefer to offer music lovers alike an opportunity to hear these great songs in other languages and with a different flavour whether with a twist in tempo or even influencing an outright change in its recognised genre.” This show marks the silver-haired songster’s long desired re-emergence on the entertainment landscape and for an enjoyable stroll down memory lane.

Tickets for the opening night gala of the 2013 T&T Film Festival (TTFF), which runs from September 17 to October 1, are now on sale, the TTFF has announced.

The gala takes place on September 17 from 6 pm at Queen’s Hall. It comprises a red carpet cocktail reception and the Caribbean premiere of the film Half of a Yellow Sun. 

Based on the award-winning novel by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun is an epic drama set in that country in the late 60s. The story brings audiences into a land torn apart by civil war and shows how the interwoven lives of five central characters intersect during a struggle to establish the independent republic of Biafra.

Half of a Yellow Sun stars acclaimed British actors Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Olanna, the daughter of a wealthy family, and Odenigbo, her “revolutionary” lover, respectively. The film recently had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, where it was well received.

In its review of the film, the magazine Screen Daily wrote: “The sheer scope of its story is absorbing and fans of the book will enjoy its vision of a tense and changing country rent asunder by tribal feuds. Nothing can be taken away from the intensity of the drama.”

Variety magazine praised the film’s performances, saying, “Newton is at the top of her game as Olanna” while “Ejiofor does his reliable best as the suave, articulate Odenigbo.”

Tickets for the gala are TT$150 and available from the Festival. Call 621-0709 to purchase.

MORE INFO

Founded in 2006, the TTFF is an annual celebration of films from and about T&T, the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival is presented by Flow and given leading sponsorship by RBC Royal Bank, bpTT, The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company and the Ministry of Tourism. Guardian Media Ltd is the Festival’s official media partner.

Visit ttfilmfestival.com

It is the only mas band that is granted permission to hold a masquerade band launch down the main street in the nation’s capital. Ronnie & Caro launched De River at Port-of-Spain City Hall after a street jump up down Frederick Street, from the Memorial Park, a tradition for the past few years.

With a police escort and costumed masqueraders gyrating along the city’s main traffic artery, the procession attracted scores of onlookers as well as intrepid people in office wear joining in.

De River, designed by Mc Intosh’s wife Caroline, and Abina John and Carlotta “Coty” John, comprises nine sections, appropriately named Bloody Bay, Royal River, Rainbow River, Shark River, Vine River, River Lime, Waterfall, Mud Slide, Washer Woman & Water Carriers. A “guest section,” to be produced by Dilyn Explosives, is called The Over Flow.

A former International Soca Monarch and music band lead vocalist, Mc Intosh became a mas bandleader in 2008 presenting De Gulf. Prior to this transition, Ronnie & Caro presented mas for two years with Masquerade (2004-05), and two with Legacy (2006-07). Ronnie & Caro has enjoyed tremendous success in the Band of the Year medium category competition, winning the coveted title on five occasions.

On the weekend, Mc Intosh said: “We like to keep our themes local. We come together on Ash Wednesday to discuss and come up with a theme for the following year.

“Minshall is the original ‘river man’ so Washer Woman & Water Carriers is a tribute to this great mas man.”

Registration is well underway for De River, at the mas camp of Ronnie & Caro, located on Warren and Ana Streets, Woodbrook.

Citizens are hurting in T&T today and theatre-veteran Jemma Allong-Redman believes only the arts can bring some much needed healing to the emotionally wounded in our country.

Allong-Redman of San Fernando, has more than 30 years’ theatre experience and is seeking to harness the great therapeutic value found in the arts through her Centre for The Arts & Development located at Pamela’s Mall, Marabella. 

In an interview last week, Allong-Redman said, her centre will encompass all facets of the arts to offer citizens an avenue to express their emotions and begin the healing process using art.

“This centre is dedicated to the celebration of the artistic expressions of spirits. A lot of people have things bottled up in them and they do not how to express. There is something called art therapy, where you are using art for therapy and it (brings) healing,” she said.

Allong-Redman said she wants her centre to be a source of comfort for people who want to use the arts for solace and healing.

She said while there are places like places like Raj Yoga Ashram and places of worship for spiritual healing, many people are craving for an outlet to express the feelings they have trapped inside and the arts offers that avenue of expression.

“There are a lot of people who are going through certain things and they do not have a place to release, to be able to express themselves for empowerment. The church is one thing, but people have to live in an everyday way of life,” she explained.

At the centre, Allong-Redman said, classes in all areas of the arts will be offered such as, drama, dance, music and singing.

Allong-Redman, who lived abroad for a number of years and worked in the New York theatre, explained that she had a yearning to return to T&T to share her wealth of experience and give back to society.

She said her vision for the centre is to help heal the wounded “soul” of T&T, its citizens.

“The centre is about development, spiritual development. It is to address your minds, your body and your spirit. It is a holistic development, anything you want to address it can found there,” she said.

Allong-Redman said through the classes at the centre attendees will “get a world view of themselves, to be able to understand and appreciate their culture and history and apply it to daily life. n Continues on Page B6

“You could you live it (your culture) and you can then become your authentic self,” she added.

At the centre, she said, classes are available in the various forms of dance including; modern dance, Latin dance, Bollywood and ballroom dance.

She said Tai Chi, Yoga, sculpting, drawing and painting would also be available.

The classes are open to all ages. For registration and information call 324-1448 or email artsdevelopment714@gmail.com

​About Jemma Allong-Redman

Jemma Allong-Redman has been involved in theatre for the past 30 years, both in Trinidad, New York and Central Florida. She was the artistic director for the only professional theatre company for Caribbean artists in New York for 15 years, served on the Funding panel for Queen’s Council on the Arts; directed a production for the famous Billie Holiday Theatre, which ran for three months; wrote several plays including On A Bigger Plantation and Echoes from the Diaspora, which received great reviews in the Village Voice. 

She also served as special events coordinator for the largest African American community organisation in New York -The Southern Queens Park Association, NY; and as president of Faces and Voices of St Lucie County, Florida, a cultural arts organisation.