by ANDREA KING in TRINIDAD Compliments of the Barbados Nation News

IT WAS YOUTH VERSUS EXPERIENCE in Sunday night's Dimanche Gras calypso monarch finals at the Jean Pierre Complex, but experience won in the form of the diminutive Cro Cro, who now has four titles and the TT$500 000 first prize.

Known for his biting social commentary, his performance of the comical Nobody Ain't Go Know was a radical departure, but proved to hit just the right note with the judges and the audience. He was the only contestant to raise roaring reaction from the sparse audience, as he appeared onstage with bags upon bags of luggage filled with things people gave him to take to New York.

It was all these packages, including an old bicycle and various local foods, that made him declare he was not telling anyone when he was leaving or coming back from a trip to the United States. < Read more >

by ANDREA KING in TRINIDAD Compliments of the Barbados Nation News

THE NATIONAL PANORAMA FINALS was a real Carnival symphony of steel, and it was a very close race between last year's winners Phase II Pan Groove, and the Neal and Massy All Stars for top spot last Saturday night.

But with just a two-point difference, the All Stars edged their way to first place and the historic TT$1 million first prize playing the Leon "Smooth" Edwards arrangement of Pan Lamentation.

The 120-member Phase II did justice to the Pelham Goddard arrangement of Crazy's Sharing Licks, and their presentation was enhanced by a short choreography which preceded them on stage – the jab jabs with whips to demonstrate exactly what they would do with their rivals.

The ears of the judges must have been fine-tuned to the musical complexities of the arrangments between the two bands. Certainly they were evenly matched in sheer energy while playing and choreography. < Read more >

It was all about the juniors in Trinidad 2006 Carnival. In the last-lap weekend where Carnival climaxes, the Junior Parade of Bands saw over 100 bands playing mas'. The children made their way through the streets of Port-of-Spain and ended in a sea of colour at the Queens Park Savannah. Bands portrayed varied themes from magical to religion. Above are two little ÒnoblesÓ from the band, Somewhere In Mexico. (Picture by Sandy Pitt.)

Compliments of the Nation News

THREE THE WINNING WAY. Sunday's Dimanche Gras show in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, produced three winners, pictured here. From left are Queen Of The Band Pamela Gordon, The Winged Jewel Of The Nile from the band Poison; Calypso Monarch 2006 Morel Luta Peters, and 67-year-old Gerald Vieira, who copped the King Of The Band title portraying The Might of Rome, from the band Colourseum. (Picture by Sandy Pitt.)

Music is synonymous with Trinidad, as this land where the steel pan was born vibrates with rhythm, especially at Carnival time.Nothing compares to the wonderful sounds of massive pan bands practicing in the pan yards prior to the start of carnival.

The Esso Trinidad Steel Band recently reseased a CD that is proving very popular.

Calypso music brings together rhyme and rhythm and Trinidad's singers are masters, such as the Mighty Sparrow and mistresses of the art.

There are Trinidadians making an impact throughout the region.and one of Trinidad's daughter's is much involved every year in Barbados' Crop Over Kadooment carnival.

Gwyneth Squires had no “Dark Illusions” when it came to her band winning this year’s Grand Kadooment, and next year will be no exception, she says.
The Trinidadian-born who has been living in Barbados for 36 years is certainly not a comer to calypso festivals, and has been involved in Crop-Over for 21 years, winning over 300 trophies for her outstanding designs.

“I have been in mas’ camps since I was 11 years old. It is something in me. That’s why when I came here to live. I was always interested in the culture,” Squires explained.

< Read more >

Multi cultural Trinidad has much to offer World Music. An excellent CD rated highly by customers is Trinidad & Tobago: Music from the North Indian Tradition by various artists.

Caribbean Holidays

Caribbean Accommodation

January 18, 2006 Compliments of the Nation News

	STEEL PAN FEVER will reach the hearts of pan-loving Caribbean patrons from June 2 to 4 2006 when Astrology Promotions present the eighth annual Barbados Pan Festival. The festival's second Caribbean Seven-a-Side Steel Pan Competition on June 3 will pulsate with the rhythms of nine ensembles from across the Caribbean.
Bringing that night to a close will be the "after party" music by Cable & Wireless Diamond Steel Orchestra, reigning Panorama champions of St Lucia. The following night, Sunday, June 4, will be called 96% Bajan Pan Concert featuring top Bajan acts Aja with a fusion of poetry and steel, Red Plastic Bag with calypso and steel, Pan Extreme Steel Ensemble, Omele Inc. Ensemble (featuring Wayne Willock) with tuk and steel, and a guest performance from TCL Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra of Trinidad.
	The venues are still unnamed, but festival producer Mike Murray told MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT: "The Caribbean seven-a-side competition will see BWEE Invaders Steel Orchestra (Trinidad) defending the title against groups like TCL Skiffle Bunch (Trinidad), C &W Diamond Steel (St Lucia), NCB Angel Harps (Grenada), C &W Starlift (St Vincent), and for the first time a steel orchestra from Guyana by the name of Park Side Steel Band."

"Since the inception of this event, we have organised many workshops and matinee concerts for both primary and secondary schools. Our workshops have made available to our youth some of the biggest names in the pan world," he added.

This year, Skiffle Bunch and the National Cultural Foundation will also conduct a workshop for students on June 2 as part of the festival's "ongoing effort toward promoting musical interest among the youth and the vision for a national schools' steel orchestra."

Skiffle Bunch, in association with the Barbados Pan Festival and the NCF, will also be recruiting five Barbadian pan players to play with that band for next year's Panorama in Trinidad.

Applauding this development, Murray said: Exactly what is needed is the formation of strategic alliances among industry players. Pan as a creative industry can enhance the tourism product and assist in terms of employment."

He also praised last year's sponsors, the Barbados Tourism Authority, which promoted the festival on 21 radio stations in seven territories.