Discover Trinidad & Tobago Travel Guide 2019 (issue #30)

For live music experiences,
what are some of the names to
look out for?
You could make the case that these islands
are the Caribbean music capital. The
spread of genres mean there is something for
most — clubs, festivals, concerts both mammoth
and intimate.
Music in T&T has “seasons”. During
Carnival (Boxing Day until Ash Wednesday),
soca reigns. The week before Carnival sees
the most significant events — including over
50 fetes. Listen out for Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann
Lyons (the soca First Couple); Voice, the new
generation’s leading artist and three-time winner
of Soca Monarch. Calypso tents still hold
a place for understanding the roots of calypso
as social commentary and reportage of scandal,
obsessions, and life here.
The “centre season” (post-Carnival) is
where jazz festivals, reggae, opera festivals
abound. Jazz Artists on the Greens kicks off
the short jazz season, which culminates with the
Tobago Jazz Experience in the last weekend
of April. Elan Parle, Clifford Charles, Theron
Shaw star among a recent generation of artists.
Clive Zanda, a pioneer in kaiso-jazz fusion,
is still a standing icon. Many top musicians are
resident overseas: Etienne Charles, Leon Foster
Thomas, David “Happy” Williams.
Lastly, there’s Christmas for choral and
parang music, where leading choral groups
deliver annual Christmas shows — the
Marionettes Chorale, the Lydians, the Love
Movement. Parang, music from the old Venezuelan
tradition, signals the Trinidadian experience
of the season. The fusion genre of parang-soca
serves as the musical fuel for endless liming
and drinking and conviviality. Scrunter, Crazy,
Kenny J, and Relator are key figures.
Pennie
actor, educator & TV host
Musicians I appreciate include
3canal for their cutting edge
rapso style, thought-provoking and
catchy music; Vaughnette Bigford
and Bri Celestine — their mellow
voices can hook you in; the intoxicating
Mavis John; Machel Montano, Bunji
Garlin, and Olatunji. Their work speaks
to me — Olatunji’s mix of traditional soca
and African beats are to die for.
Voice performs at Dimanche Gras
RAPSO IMAGING
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