Twenty-three calypsonians getting encores on one night extended last Thursday northern opening of Kalypso Revue to 1 am.
A mere six singers were not called back by the sparse audience at SWWTU Hall, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
Overall the tent has an entertaining programme though a lot of its cast sang compositions which dwelled on politicians who have fallen from grace.
Hosted by 105.1FM show host and disc jockey Derek “CG” Silman, the programme was opened by a short prayer by Anglican canon Knolly Clarke, followed by Minister of Community Development Winston “Gypsy” Peters who officially opened the proceedings. The tent had a premiere on January 16 at The Velodrome in Arima.
In his address, Peters made a poignant plea to the public to desist from purchasing pirated CDs and DVDs. He said: “I wish to remind citizens of their role in the development of the Carnival product and to specifically reiterate the need for us, as citizens, to willingly and consciously purchase only original material and not copies of music and Carnival-related memorabilia.”
He added: “As a calypsonian myself, I am aware of what it takes to produce a song and this effort must be duly compensated.” Gypsy also reminisced about calypso tent pioneers including Chieftain Railway Douglas, and Revue founders the late Kitchener, Jazzy Pantin and Sonny Woodley.
Of the cast of 27, while half a dozen didn’t receive encores, some of those who did were probably as surprised as I was when they were called back. Fluctuating inconsistencies of the sound system prevented one from actually discerning what some of the calypsonians were articulating but they all weathered the challenge of intermittent sound problems.
Two of the best compositions I heard on the night were Leave the Children Alone by Original Tempo, and Put Dem Up by Brian London.
I found though that the band accompanied London at too fast a clip. Also strong was Devon Seale singing My Humble Plea, his song’s catchy refrain of “go nah” encouraging patrons to join him in song. Pink Panther, mimicking Black Stalin, paid tribute to the former national monarch in Wait and was very entertaining in his delivery and performance.
Adorned in well polished gold jewellry, Sugar Aloes was his usual solid self singing I Believe and Bounce Back. Also typically well prepared for opening night was Chalkdust when he performed Reparation and Gypsy go get vex, his first “serious” political commentary in four years.
Blessed with a sweet voice, similar to Baron’s, Saint Nick performed a very melodious ditty named Perspective In Black and was deservedly ancored. Also impressive on opening night were Skatie (The Band); Dr Whitty (Compassionate); Rev (Fire Bu’n Fuh So); and, Ninja (Level the playing field).
Sharing emcee chores with CG was Sprangalang who seemed subdued in comparison to some of his previous performances. One of the pluses at the Revue is its quartet of chorus singers – Cindy, Dahlia, Abba and Michelle. They really harmonise beautifully and are visibly into every artiste they accompany.
Special guests on the show were former Grenada national monarch Ajamu and the pride of Antigua Swallow, reprising his popular Fire in de back seat. Going retro were Starr George, singing a cover of Kitchener’s Dr Kitch, and Baron who rendered Words, his classic of yesteryear.
This week Kalypso Revue is at its home base nightly with Tuesday and Wednesday being Ladies Night.
