For almost four decades I have been known as a scribe of culture, entertainment and the arts. It may surprise some of you that I am also an avid sports fan, one with close emotional ties to cricket, football and athletics, especially cricket. It is why I have not had a full night’s sleep for the past three weeks, staying up all night at times to witness the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
My fervour for cricket goes back to my boyhood, as my late father, a member of Essex Sports Club, used to take me to the Queen’s Park Oval to see every international game played there, as well as to club matches in the Queen’s Park Savannah. In fact, it may very well be true that my father knew that I’d be passionate and in love with the game, as he named me after two famous English cricket captains and not after Errol Flynn’s swashbuckling character Dr Peter Blood as many people think. He named me Peter after Peter May, and Ray after Ray Illingsworth.
As a teenager, I took umbrage at my father’s choice of names, asking him why he couldn’t have named me after famous West Indies cricket icons; perhaps Frank, after Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, or Everton, after Everton Weekes. Who knows, had he done so my name would have most likely been Frank Everton Blood.
I had a very short career in cricket, one which ended practising with the college’s Colts team and ducking into a cork ball, bowled by one Noel Callender, which deviated from a crack on the QRC concrete pitch. The cherry missile connected with my jaw and I never played the game again.
I have so many fond memories of cricket, especially West Indies cricket. I have nothing but fond memories of so many of our gladiators, giants like Michael Holding, Vivian Richards, Conrad Hunte, Roy Fredericks, Gordon Greenidge, Wesley Hall, Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs, Charlie Griffith, Malcolm Marshall, Deryck Murray, Curtley Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and of course Prince of Port-of-Spain Brian Charles Lara.
The Oval was like a second home to me, particularly the Dos Santos Stand. It was a home that provided me with some memorable moments, some of them having nothing to do directly with cricket. Like the day when, during a test match, with the ground bathed in sunshine, a swarm of bees swept across the ground, sending every player and the two umpires on their stomachs.
Then, there was the test when, as the morning’s play commenced, a strong earthquake rocked the ground. First down the stairs from the stand, next to the western side of the pavilion, were two famous politicians at the time, much to the amusement of those who saw them.
As I grew older, I became a member of the Concrete Stand Posse, a West Indies support outfit which occupied the ground tier of the Constantine Stand for many years. We had some wonderful, colourful members in our posse, like Toco/Sangre Grande councillor Terry Rondon, Rupert “Socks” Pantaleon, Gabriel “Blue Food” Belfon, Rawle Dove, the Keller brothers, Andrew Clarke, the Andrews brothers and the late Nora Rose.
The Concrete Stand created history at the Oval, and the first time that music and a steelband were allowed into the hallowed precincts of this pristine ground during a cricket game, that honour fell to Scorpion Pan Reflections of Carenage. Another first by the Concrete Stand was the distribution of
of awards to deserving cricketers, including Mikey Holder, who eventually became an honorary member.
I subsequently became part of the all-inclusive Trini Posse Stand and remain in its midst after more than two decades.
The foregoing preamble is merely to try and emphasise the continuing, gnawing pain and distress I am suffering with the current West Indies team. It is with great trepidation that I watch tonight’s quarter-final match against New Zealand, to be played at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The Kiwis will be the toughest opponent we have faced this tournament. Captain Brendon MCCullum has been outstanding as a leader and strategist, especially in the areas of field-setting and rotating his bowlers, not to mention his batting prowess. In the team’s bowling department, speedsters Trent Boult and Tim Southee, aided and abetted by experienced veteran Daniel Vettori, are probably the most dangerous of the entire tournament. In batting, opener Martin Guptill is also a formidable opponent.
I agree 100 per cent with Lara in that we are doing the same things over and over, expecting a different result. I am truly concerned—which Chris Gayle will turn up at Wellington tonight? With my supposed limited knowledge of the technicalities of the game, I think that Dwayne Smith ought to be rested tonight as he seems to be out of it. The selectors should place Lendl Simmons in his slot, to open the innings with Gayle. A slightly injured Gayle must be better than whatever Smith is at present. I would bat Johnson Charles at one down, and rest Marlon Samuels. I would also rest Kemar Roach who seems to have a significant reduction in pace since his injury. I would replace Roach with Cotterell. The two Jamaican pace bowlers ought to be able to lay a good foundation for us, especially in the first ten Power Play overs.
I have seen West Indies previously snatch victory out of the jaws of anticipated defeat; I hope it will be that way tonight. Far away from home, and without the pressures of home advantage and WICB stress, and with a large antagonistic crowd against them, one can only hope that our lads would be sufficiently angry and focussed to give the Black Caps the hiding of their lives.
Jazz is in the air
The world’s biggest soca superstar Machel Montano (Monk Monte) has been added to the cast of the Tobago Jazz Experience (TJE).
Montano, who in 2015 again won the Soca Monarch and Road March titles, will perform at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park on Friday, April 24 alongside American stars Jenifer Hudson and Miguel.
Montano, who had a fantastic 2015 Carnival season, will bring to the festival his usual high energy performance and will be backed up by his full band.
TJE, which takes place between April 18 and April 26, will see a number of world renowned acts performing including Jill Scott, Kool and the Gang, David Rudder, Kess the Band, Busy Signal, Romain Virgo, Machel Montano HD, Sherwin Winchester, Jenifer Hudson and Miguel.
It will take place throughout the island starting with a free concert at Speyside and includes shows at Castara, Scarborough, the Shaw Park Complex and culminates in a weekend of music and fun at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park.
However, before TJE is held there is some truly great authentic jazz taking place tomorrow, Saturday, on The Greens, WASA Grounds, on Farm Road, St Joseph. Production One Ltd is the outfit staging Jazz Artists on the Greens, from 5 pm to 11 pm.
Leaning towards the Caribbean Jazz idiom for inspiration, Jazz Artists on the Greens has grown into the largest Caribbean jazz event in T&T, with the potential to expand further. This year, the event is celebrating its 13th anniversary, a milestone in the entertainment industry locally and regionally, which points to its validity as an entertainment option here. As with previous editions, the 2015 event promises a powerful mix of contemporary Caribbean jazz styles, delivered by some of the most talented performers to grace our stages.
This year’s line-up includes one of the Caribbean's finest musicians, Bajan saxophone superstar Arturo Tappin, American steelpan jazz fusion artiste Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Trinidadian smooth jazz guitarist Clifford Charles, and powerhouse songstress Kay Alleyne along with other surprise performers. The audience is in for a delightful treat. Fans are invited to walk with their mats and folding chairs and come and enjoy the open air ambience tomorrow.
First up in parang
Last week I wrote about the nearness of Carnival 2016, but even closer is this year’s Christmas, just 280 days away. It is not surprising that parang groups and seasonal artistes have already started planning for Christmas. First out of the blocks for this year is parang group Latino Soy of St John’s Road, St Augustine, with the release of a ten-track CD titled First Up.
Group leader Vincente Mario Holt told Pulse, “Latino Soy is a unique and exciting addition to the Trinidad and Tobago musical landscape. Founded in 2008, we have over the years embraced and carried the banner of the parang culture proudly.”
The group comprises Anthony Duncan (cuatro); Lee Cummings (lead vocals/percussion); Francisca Lucio and Franklyn Garcia (lead vocals); Christopher Tronchin (congas); Vibert Francis (bass); Kenneth “Panam” Clarke (arranger/keyboard /percussion); Godwin Bowen (piano/keyboard); Nicholas Jones (tenor sax); Leonardo Morales (drums); Aida Clarke (back-up vocals/diction coach); and Holt (back-up vocals/maracas/percussion).
Latino Soy has morphed into this formidable hybrid musical expression that has warmed the hearts and tingled the dancing feet of a wide cross-section of the Trinbago society. The group boasts a repertoire that embraces a collection of local, regional and international genres and rhythms. You will also find all tracks loaded with musical ideas out of the mind of renowed arranger Kenneth “Panam” Clarke and the fresh, exciting, contemporary playing of keyboardist Godwin Bowen, a prolific arranger of Pamberi Steel Orchestra.
Recorded at St Augustine’s Crossfade Studio, tracks on First Up are My Girl, Someone Loves You Honey (Latin Version), Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart, Rikki Jai’s Barman, I Could Fall in Love, Selena’s Como La Flor, Daisy Voisin’s Vamos A Gozar, Explainer’s All Inclusive, Marc Anthony’s Vivir Mi Vida and a reggae version of Someone Loves You Honey.
Produced by Clarke, with some beautiful engineering by Adrian Jaikaran and Renaldo Taylor, First Up is the first 2015 Christmas release, but it’s also a great gift and collector’s item. The CD was mastered by Side One Studio. It truly is a work of beauty.