End of 2014 greetings!

Wow it's almost the end of the year, and you like me was probably wondering is that chap ever going to blog again!?! Where has the last quarter of the year gone? Well yes tempus fugit or something like that eh?!I guess it was all my travelling in October and November to Milan, Florence, Palermo, Bordeaux and Paris primarily that kept me busy. It was just wonderful spending time with lovely friends and enjoying beautiful works of art in the churches and museums on this visit to Italy and France in over thirty years!
Now I' back in Bim having enjoyed the Race of Champions at Bushy Park on Dec. 13 and

The World Premier Classical Pops Festival Barbados on December 12th which featured  a 70-piece All-Star Orchestra comprising members of the world's greatest symphonies and Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra with special guest Alison Hinds at Apes Hill Club, St. James.

Here is a description of the performers on the first night:Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Irvin Mayfield is one of the most electrifying composers alive. Mayfield leads his New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) as they introduce their swinging sound and a “party that is part jubilee and part battle royal.” Barbadian superstar vocalist Alison Hinds performs as a special guest like you’ve never seen her before.

Orchestra Gala Opening Concert - Film Night by Thomas Wilkins Film Night, conducted by Maestro Thomas Wilkins is sure to become a signature event of the Classical/Pops Festival. As Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Mr. Wilkins’ “Movie Night” concerts, in which the orchestra plays scores live in sync with film clips on gigantic screens, draw as many as 17,000 fans.Mr. Wilkins will conduct a special program created exclusively for the festival in Barbados that celebrates the influential, iconic, and instantly recognizable scores from film music masters such as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Leonard Bernstein, and Ennio Morricone. Hear cherished and unmistakable themes from such favorite movie scores as Schindler’s List, Superman, James Bond, On the Waterfront, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Alison Hinds was in fine form and well received by the audience!

About the Festival:

Classical/Pops refers to an orchestra that plays both well-known classical works as well as contemporary popular music, accompanied by pop and rock stars, Broadway performers, opera singers, and film composers as featured guests. Some of the world’s most esteemed orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra perform these programs. These collaborations are almost universally loved and draw tens of thousands of fans to the symphony.

A very pleasant Xmas day in St. Lucy and St. Lawrence which started off with a 5 a.m. service at Mayers Road Pentecostal Church with Fred, Shortman, and listening to an inspiring homily by Rev. Marshall, some relaxing days swimming with the "Worthing Beach Cabinet"(Perch, Marsh, Fred, Yvonne, Lucy and The Speaker) and playing cricket at Worthing Beach, what more could I ask to close 2014?! So I wish you a most enjoyable Christmastide! Happy Kwanzaa! Yes it's a time of ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment, and celebration! As we head into 2015 as positive as possible let's have UNITY, SELF-DETERMINATION, COLLECTIVE WORK and RESPONSIBILITY, COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, PURPOSE, CREATIVITY, and FAITH!
Peace,
alex  

RACE OF CHAMPIONS at Bushy Park, St. Philip, Barbados this December 13th and 14th!!

Last weekend two friends and I attended Down In The Artefarte Gully and enjoyed it tremendously. It was held at The Reggae Lounge which was transformed into a most comfortable setting by The Gap Theatre. It is well written and directed by Amanda Cumberbatch and captivatingly acted by Patrick Foster, NALA, and John Walcott with the strong support of Carole George, Wayne Thorne and David Neilands, I think this weekend is its last run, but please check www.facebook.com/GAPTheatre or email thegaptheatre@gmail.com for more information. I strongly recommend this playful yet deep piece on some of Bajan folklore!
And I'm excited for my certified feter friend Howard who is super excited about the fact that Barbados will host the Race of Champions in December! He sent me the following article this morning, and of course it has been in the news the last couple days!

2 September 2014

The 2014 Race of Champions will be held on the Caribbean island of Barbados at the newly redeveloped Bushy Park, it is announced.

Barbados will host the 2014 Race of Champions in December, marking the first time the annual end-of-season 'head to head' motorsport event will be held in the Caribbean.

With the host of this year's event being determined by the public via social media, together with competitors and officials, Barbados emerged triumphant to secure the right to run the 2014 event at Bushy Park, which has undergone a major redevelopment this year in an effort to attract higher profile events.

The RoC, which has attracted a high calibre of motorsport star since its inaugural event in 1988, has grown in profile in recent years, with Paris' Stade de France, London's Wembley Stadium and Beijing's Olympic Bird's Nest Stadium among those to have hosted the event.

However, officials freely acknowledge the decision to award the 2014 tender to Barbados intentionally harks back to RoC's spiritual home in the Gran Canarian dunes, which played host to the event between 1992 and 2003.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response to our Venue Vote over the past few weeks,” said ROC organiser Fredrik Johnsson. “We received over 14,000 votes for a mix of different stadiums and circuits all over the world – which will join our list of venues under consideration for future ROC events.

“As for 2014, the Bushy Park Circuit was one of the most popular venues in our vote and we are very excited to be heading to Barbados as we assemble some of the world's greatest drivers for another festival of motor sport and entertainment.

“Hosting ROC at a circuit marks a break from our last ten years of stadium events but this is a throwback to our long-time home at Gran Canaria, which hosted the Race Of Champions from 1992 to 2003. We will certainly return to stadium events in the future but for 2014 we will take advantage of the available space to build a truly spectacular ROC parallel track at Bushy Park. We now look forward to seeing a packed house for a guaranteed weekend of thrills in December.”

The Barbados venue will house ROC's specially constructed tarmac track with two parallel lanes linked by a unique crossover bridge. Drivers will pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year taking place on December 13, ahead of the individual Race Of Champions the next day.

Last year's RoC was due to be held in Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium, but was cancelled due to political unrest in the region.

Previous editions of the RoC have seen wins for Romain Grosjean, Sebastien Ogier, Sebastien Loeb, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel

LATEST MUSIC CHART by A.W.!

A.W./KAISO RISING TOP TUNES ending August 31, 2014!

1.  PANKATANG – BIGGIE IRIE                                                                                   

2.  THAT IS WHY/ROLLER COASTER – RED PLASTIC BAG

3.  TUNE IN THEY RUKUNG KU TUN TUN/ WHEN CALYPSO WAS KING - AJAMU   

4. WINE BACK ON DE WD - CHAIN /MEGA MONDAY - SANCTUARY

5.  SOCA TRAIN – MIGHTY GRYNNER/ GET OVER - IMANI & BIGGIE IRIE

6.  CAN’T KILL MY VIBE/LAST MAN TO LEAVE/ GREAT DAY – LIL RICK

7.  MEH RUM – GORG/ AH FEELING – LEADPIPE & SARDIS/ AH FEELING – ARTURO TAPPIN

8.  STEELBAND COMING DOWN – MEXICAN/ BACHANAL ROAD - IMANI

9.  FOR DE SAKE - SHORTPREE/ HORN CHILD – SHELDON DOUGLAS

10. CERTIFIED FETER – BLOOD/ BARBADOS IS STILL MY HOME – IAN WEBSTER

11. BEFORE YOU GONE – MACOMERE FIFI/ PROMISED LAND - SCHOLAR

12. SOCA MAN – FIREMAN HOOPER/ NOTHING FOR NOTHING - SCHOLAR

13. HOW AH LIKE IT – EDWIN/ HOLD YUH – EDWIN & LUTA

14. DOING ME – IAN WEBSTER/ J.A.M. – KHIOMAL/ SO GOOD - HYPASOUNDS

15. DOWN IN DEY – JAMESEY P/ PULL THAT STRING/TAKE YOUR CHANCES – AJAMU

16. WUKKIN UP – SKUNG YUNG/ COME OUT TO PARTY/COME OVA - STATEMENT

17. STRESSLESS – MR. DALE / DON’T DISTURB DE JAM – MR. DALE

18.  NAH SUCCUMB – MADZART/ ONE ON ONE - SKARPYON

19. I LIKE UM/SO BAD – LIL RICK / SALTFISH – SKINNY FABULOUS

20. HORN (MANUAL) – INSPECTOR/ WE NAH CHANGE - LAVAMAN

21. OUTA WUK/FINE ANTS ON DE PORK – SERENADER

22. UPSIDE DOWN – R3CKA/ OBSESSION – PROBLEM CHILD

23. PLAYING FOR TEAM GRENADA – SMALLIES/ MAS / GUN TOWN – MIGUEL

24. FIESTA – TONY “REBEL” BAILEY & CRYSTAL CUMMINS-BECKLES/ THE TORTOISE – DE CROONER

25. ISLAND JAM - THE RB QUARTET / IS VIBE – FOREIGNER FRANK & LIL RICK

26. I’M NOT YOUR WOMAN – VASHTI/ STUSH – SHANTA PRICE

27. FREE UP YASELF – D2/ START IT – ICON

28. NO STRESS – JENIQUE/ PUSH UP ON IT – PATRICE ROBERTS

29. DE DAWG – MR. DALE / GIDDYUP – PORGIE & MURDUH

30. SOCA ANIMAL – ALISON HINDS / GOING NO WHERE FAST - WIZARD

1688 Orchestra at the Esplanade on Bay St. was the bomb!

Just got home after a beautiful sunset concert by the outstanding vibrant 1688 Orchestra under the very able leadership of Stefan Walcott! This splendid band of over 20 delightful young musicians delighted an appreciative audience for about an hour as the sun set over Carlisle Bay, opposite the government headquarters! So very relaxing and so very thrilling! My friends Phil and Julianne were feeling so good that they didn't want to go home, so after this late Sunday afternoon treat I took them to Blakeys by the Boardwalk at Hastings to experience some more sweet stuff! This time it was Tamara Marshall singing smoothly and Leonard Griffith with his usual fantastic fingering of the keyboard!Bumped into Jackie and Archie,and Lisa and Mathew and several others who were enjoying the performers immensely!Ah another beautiful weekend in Bim! I wish you a fulfilling week! Shalom!

Turbo Charge wins Road March at Spicemas!

Spent a relaxing afternoon swimming in front of Umbrellas Restaurant on Grand Anse Beach after an energetic day on the road yesterday! Jamming (yes, I did a brief stint on de iron) with LIME Commancheros Steel Orchestra, dancing with Coyoba Beach Resort New Dimensions Steel Orchestra, and  Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra was most enjoyable despite the hard work of pulling and pushing the players and pans on their mini platforms! Horn Child by Sheldon Douglas was the tune of choice by the steelbands!
At the end of the night( well sometime after noon today) Squeezehead was declared the Road March King with Turbo Charge! Here are some detailed results of an enjoyable Spicemas:

DIMANCHE GRAS

1. AJAMU – WHEN CALYPSO WAS CALYPSO & TUNE IN YOU RUKUNKUTUNTUN – 870 POINTS
2. SCHOLAR – THIS IS THE PROMISE LAND & ASPHALT – 832 POINTS
3. SOUR SERPANT – COMPLEXION OF CALYPSO & PAN ISSUES – 819 POINTS
4. BIG J – HOLDING A SLACK END TIGHT & THE COMPOSER – 814 POINTS
5. SHELDON DOUGLAS – BAD MAN & HORN CHILD – 804 POINTS
6. MR X - ONE MATHEMATICS & LEGALISED – 802 POINTS
7. KETURAH GEORGE – GRENADIANS WHAT DO YOU WANT & AH WANT TO SEE YOU– 794 POINTS
8. WIZARD – GOING NO WAY FAST & NNP’ISM - 789 POINTS 
9. RANDY ISSAC – MY CARNIVAL & THE WORLD NEED AH MAKE OVER – 402 POINTS
10. SUPERSTAR – LIVE BY EXAMPLE & CALYPSO – 783 POINTS
11. JANIS – DOH DELIVER ME & NO POLITICAL COMMENTARY – 769 POINT

LUCAZADE KING OF THE ROAD MARCH WINNER 2014

SQUEEZEHEAD – TURBO CHARGE

KING OF THE BAND

1. HELEN MARIE & ASSOCIATES – GANESHA THE PRINCE OF RICH VALUES – 230 POINTS
2. LIME COMMANCHERO’S & ASSOCIATES – DRACO VOLAN – 211 POINTS
3. FRANCIS REDHEAD & ASSOCIATES – WONDERS OF GREAT REEF – 186 POINTS
4. ANDRE GARVEY & ASSOCIATES – CARIBBEAN JAZZ – 180 POINTS

QUEEN OF THE BAND

1. LIME COMMANCHERO’S & ASSOCIATES – MASQUERADER: SUSAN STEWART - PORTRAYAL: MYSTICAL – 264 POINTS
2. ANDRE GARVEY & ASSOCIATES - MASQUERADER: KELLY ANN BUBB – PORTRAYAL: SOCA – 223 POINTS
3. FRANCIS & ASSOCIATES – MASQUERADER: AMA DIXON – PORTRAYAL: WEEDING BUTTERFLY – 212 POINTS
4. HELEN MARIE & ASSOCIATES – TRICIA CLEMENT – PORTRAYAL: TILL THE END TIME – 206 POINTS

FANCY MAS – PAGEANT

1. ANDRE GARVEY & ASSOCIATES – LET THE MUSIC PLAY – 351 POINTS
2. COMMANCHEROS & ASSOCIATES – IN FLIGHT – 344 POINTS
3. HELEN MARIE & ASSOCIATES – P.O.P PURSUIT OF PERFECTION – 315 POINTS
4. FRANCIS REDHEAD & ASSOCIATES – MAMA LOOK AH MAS - 236 POINTS

FANCY MAS – PARADE OF THE BANDS

1. LIME COMMANCHEROS & ASSOCIATES – INFLIGHT – 519 POINTS
2. ANDRE GARVEY & ASSOCIATES – LET THE MUSIC PLAY – 517 POINTS
3. HELEN MARIE & ASSOCIATES – P.O.P (PURSUIT OF PERFECTION) – 480 POINTS
4. FRANCIS REDHEAD & ASSOCIATES – MAMA LOOK AH MASS – 389 POINTS

BAND OF THE YEAR

1. LIME COMMANCHERO’S & ASSOCIATES – IN FLIGHT – 1338 POINTS
2. ANDRE GARVEY & ASSOCIATES – LET THE MUSIC PLAY -1271 POINTS
3. HELEN MARIE & ASSOCIATES – P.O.P - PERSUIT OF PERFECTION -1231 POINTS
4. FRANCIS REDHEAD – MAMA LOOK A MASS - 1023 POINTS

TRADITIONAL MAS – PAGEANT

WINNERS OF EACH CATEGORY FOR TRADITIONAL MAS
1. HERMITAGE SHORTKNEE – SHORTKNEE – 368 POINTS
2. TELESCOPE APACHIE – WILD INDIAN - 325 POINTS
3. DEMONIC ANGELS – VIEUX CORP - 318 POINTS

OVERALL WINNERS OF TRADITIONAL MAS (PAGEANT)

1. HERMITAGE SHORTKNEE – TRUE SPIRIT OF SHORTKNEE – 368 POINTS
2. SHEEP HEAD SHORTKNEE – HOUSE OF JUSTICE – 349 POINTS
3. TELESCOPE APACHIE – 325 POINTS

More results of Spicemas!

Another good year for Panorama and Dimanche Gras, and with increased numbers I was told! I thoroughly liked the performances of the calypsonians and especially of Scholar,  Big J, Sheldon Douglas, Mr. X, last year's monarch Keturah George and the King himself, Ajamu who returned to competition after missing several years! He was outstanding singing When Calypso Was Calypso and Calypso in Yuh Rung Gitung Tung Here are the results of this competition and Panorama which took place at Tanteen this year. Pretty Mas today and if you're coming to Grenada in the next couple of days, make sure you attend UNCLE, a play by Richardo Keens-Douglas on Friday night at The Trade Centre in Grand Anse! Enjoy!

2014 SMC Dimanche Gras Results

Position	Stage Name	Full Name
1	Ajamu	Edson Mitchell
2	Scholar	Findley Jeffrey
3	Sour Serpent	Sean Niles
4	Big J	Jason Joseph
5	Sheldon Douglas	Sheldon Douglas
6	Mr. X	Lloyd Panchoo
7	Keturah George	Keturah George
8	Wizard	elwyn Mc Quilkin
9	Randy Issac	Randy Issac
10	Superstar	Germaine Simon
11	Janis	Janis Augustine

 

SMC - 2014 King and Queen of the Band Results

SMC Pageant Mas - King of the Bands

NO.	NAME OF BAND	NAME OF MASQUERADER	NAME OF PORTRAYAL
1	Helen Marie and Associates	Kishwan Thomas	Ganesha - The Prince of Rich Valves
2	Commancheros and Associates	Kenneth Skeete	Draco Volan
3	Francis Redhead & Associates	Calvin Charles	Wonders of Great Reef
4	Andre Garvey & Associates	Preston Andrew	Caribbean Jazz

SMC Pageant Mas - Queen of the Bands

NO.	NAME OF BAND	NAME OF MASQUERADER	NAME OF PORTRAYAL
1	Commancheros and Associates	Susan Stewart	Mytical Fire Bird
2	Andre Garvey & Associates	Kelly-Ann Bubb	Soca
3	Francis Redhead & Associates	Anna Dixon	Weeding Butterfly
4	Helen Marie and Associates	Tricia Clement	Till the End of Time

2014 NLA/SMC Panorama Results

Position	Name of Band	Presentation Song	Composer/Singer	Arranger
1	Coyaba New Dimensions Steel Orchestra	Save the pan	David 'Peck' Edwards	David 'Peck' Edwards
1	LIME Commancheros Steel Orchestra	Soca Feeling	Black Wizard	Andre Greenidge
3	Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra	Bring back the old time Jam		James Clarkson
4	Waggy T Pan Ossia Steel Orchestra	Last attack	Burguess Mcphie and Robert Cadet	Robert Cadet
5	Rainbow City All stars Steel Orchestra	My Grenada	Ajamu	Andy Chichester
6	Pan Lovers Steel Orchestra	Don't take that road	Robbie Vernel & Shanda Williams	Ignatius Bayne
7	Grand Roy Pan Angels Steel	Sound of the Pan	Killa B	David Mendes
7	Digicel florida All Stars Steel Orchestra	On the Road again	Ajamu	Desmond Campbell

 

At Spicemas now and enjoying it!

Came in on LIAT on Friday night and headed straight to Soca Monarch and lasted until the end around 4:30 a.m.! So tired from Crop Over I can't remember if I gave you the full results of Kadooment Day in Bim. Sanctuary's Mega Monday and Imani's Bachanal Road tied for second place on the parade from the National Stadium to Spring Garden Highway! The Large Band winner was Gwyneth Squires with her Controversee 2014 and Small Band of the Year was Kaiso Tents in De Festival of Betty West. The Historical Band of the Year went to Youth Explosion Band with their Crop Over We Love and Best Fantasy Band was won by Krave the Band with The Big Bang. A band from Guadeloupe was outstanding on the road! I would like to see more percussive bands like this one and more steelbands on the road next year! Now it's more spicy music and feting in Grenada as I anticipate Dimanche Gras tonight as I hang out quietly in Grenville, St. Andrew today! In the meantime here are some results of the last two days here:

 

SMC/LIME - Soca Monarch and Groovy Monarch Results

SMC/LIME Soca Monarch

NO.	FIRST NAME	LAST NAME	STAGE NAME	SONG
1	Kellon and Kelson	Ogiste	Luni Spark and Electrify	No Mercy
2	Keishon	Hazzard	Squeeze Head	Turbo Charge
3	Jalon	Olive	Boyzie	State of Emergency
4	Elimus	Gilbert	Inspector	No Current
5	Hernard	Bernard	Terra Kid	Carnival Rabies
6	Edson	Mitchell	Ajamu	The Broom
7	Jevaughn	John	Lil Vaughn	The Purge
7	Brendon	Mckie	Killa B	Soca Army
9	Finley	Jeffrey	Scholar	Asphalt
10	Nyelon & Dingaan	Williams & Henry	Little Natty and Thunder	Your Time To Show Up
11	Randy	Isaac	Randy Isaac	Transform
12	Finber	Andrew	Short Pree	We that do it
13	Paul	Sherwin	Mr. Walkie	Dust in the Air
14	Dave	Peters	Boogie B	Born for this
15	Brandon	Durham	Bramor	Inferno
16	Asim	Bernard	Sylum	We nah behaving

SMC Groovy Monarch

NO.	FIRST NAME	LAST NAME	STAGE NAME	SONG
1	Fimber	Andrews	Shortpree	For the Sake
2	Finley	Jeffrey	Scholar	Nothng for Nothing
3	Sheldon	Douglas	Sheldon Douglas	Horn Child
3	Edison	Mitchell	Ajamu	Pull that string
5	Randy	Isaac	Randy Issac	I love my Carnival
6	Jevaughn	John	Lil Vaughn	Do it again
7	Chevon	Cox	Coxilus	Love Me
8	Brendon	McKie	Killa B	Sound of Fan
9	Teddon	Mark	Teddy Rhymez	Symptoms
10	Dave	Peters	Boogie B	Life Style
11	Allan	Gaskin	Allan G	Caribbean Girls
12	Leonie	Patrick	Baby L	Handle it
13	Wenron	Ogiste	Blacka Dan	Do ah ting

2014 NLA/SMC Panorama Results

Position	Name of Band	Presentation Song	Composer/Singer	Arranger
1	Coyaba New Dimensions Steel Orchestra	Save the pan	David 'Peck' Edwards	David 'Peck' Edwards
2	LIME Commancheros Steel Orchestra	Soca Feeling	Black Wizard	Andre Greenidge
3	Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra	Bring back the old time Jam		James Clarkson
4	Waggy T Pan Ossia Steel Orchestra	Last attack	Burguess Mcphie and Robert Cadet	Robert Cadet
5	Rainbow City All stars Steel Orchestra	My Grenada	Ajamu	Andy Chichester
6	Pan Lovers Steel Orchestra	Don't take that road	Robbie Vernel & Shanda Williams	Ignatius Bayne
7	Grand Roy Pan Angels Steel	Sound of the Pan	Killa B	David Mendes
7	Digicel florida All Stars Steel Orchestra	On the Road again	Ajamu	Desmond Campbell