Posted by Bugs on April 16, 2009 at 10:06am in News
ALL THE music and singing that will be heard during the 45-minute cultural segment of the official opening of the Fifth Summit of the Americas carded for Friday April 17, at the Regency Hyatt in Port-of-Spain, will be pre-recorded. In effect, all the artistes will be miming their parts during their performance for leaders and delegates at the Summit.
Sources told Newsday the organisers of the segment decided to go the route of pre-recording to avoid any sound malfunctions or delays in any of the performances. In fact, some of the artistes have already recorded their music at the Haleland Park studio of Anil Hardath-Singh, the sound engineer contracted to put together the 45-minute music track for the cultural show.
Mas designer Brian Mac Farlane, is responsible for this entertainment segment, while other cultural segments, including those at the Summit Village and others aboard the Caribbean Princess are being handled by the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC).
Artistes selected to perform at the Summit Opening include dancers from Amrttam Shakti Dance Company/Vishal, the Caribbean School of Dance, Carol La Chapelle Dance School, Marcia Charles Dance Group, Northwest Laventille Cultural Group, Malick Folk Performers and Tobago Reel.
Also on the cast are members of the Defence Force Steel Orchestra, Arts and Entertainment Inc/Cleveland, Jeunes Agape, Jewels of Nature, Jhawhan Thomas, Trisha, Nydia Byron, the Laventille Rhythm Section, Los Alumnos De San Juan, Sean Singh, Twin Inc/Dion Baptiste, United Entertainers, and Unity Tassa/Jameel.
The grand finale will feature singer Ella Andall, former Calypso Monarch David Rudder, soca star Machel Montano, Montserratian calypsonian Arrow, Tony Prescott and pannist Ken “Professor” Philmore.
Throughout this week at the Summit Village, there have been “live” entertainment segments featuring artistes such as former Calypso Monarch Denyse Plummer, whose repertoire included her 2001 hit “Nah Leavin”, as well as Celine Dion’s “I’m Alive”, a reggae track from June Lodge, “Someone Loves You Honey”, a medley of songs composed by Super Blue, and a medley of old time calypsos.
Other artistes performing in the Summit Village throughout this week include David Bereaux and Friends, UWI Parang Group, PHI Band, Sitara Baal, the Codrington Pan Family, Relator, the Marcia Charles Dance Troupe, Jeunes Agape Choir, Brother Resistance and Renee Solomon. Also in the entertainment line-up are Sadiki Pan, Michael Boothman, Shurwayne Winchester, Vanessa Briggs, Blue Culture, Ken “Professor” Philmore, H2O Phlo, Noel La Pierre (pan soloist), Shiv Shakti Dancers, Mungal Patasar, Kay Alleyne, Three Chords, the Sandra Sukdeo Dance Troupe, The Alternative Quartet, Jewels of Nature, San Juan Tassa Youngsters Group, and Sagicor Exodus Steel Orchestra.
International Soca Monarch, Groovy Soca Monarch and Road March Champion Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez and her husband Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez have been contracted to perform at a dinner on board the cruise ship at the end of the Private Sector Forum this evening. Two-time Road March Champion Shurwayne Winchester with his band YOU are also listed to perform.
Other performers featured during the two-day forum are the Shiv Shakti Dancers/Malick Folk Dancers, Malick Tassa and Folk Drummers, Sadiki Pan and Pelham Goddard.
Meanwhile, several persons in the local entertainment industry say they are bewildered that several of TT’s most celebrated artistes were not included in the Summit’s entertainment programmes, notable among them Calypso King of the World the Mighty Sparrow and National Calypso Monarch Chalkdust.
Sparrow has sung calypsoes about several world leaders in the past, including Queen Elizabeth II of England, father of our nation Dr. Eric Williams. He was the first local entertainer to pen a calypso for United States President Barack Obama, who is among the leaders attending the Summit.
Also missing from the Summit entertainment line-up are the Roy Cape All Stars, the number one calypso and soca music band, calypso veteran Stalin and extempo bards Lingo and Gypsy. When asked about the matter, Gypsy said: “I don’t know if they are even inviting me to the Summit itself, far more to perform.”
One well known sound technician wondered about the criteria used to hire technical personnel for the shows.
“I’ve noticed that only a select few have been contacted. It appears that it was done very quietly,” he said.
Music producer Jean Michel Gibert said: “Calypso Rose has been a cultural ambassador representing this country all over the world for years. She is currently on the front cover of the April/May 2009 issue of Songlines magazines and yet nothing. It is amazing that she is here and no one has called her to perform.”
Trinidad Newsday
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The only reason I can think of why they decided to go this way is because of "delays in any of the performances." By doing it this way, they have complete control of the time...they don't have to worry about performers showing up late or having to clear a stage full of pans, etc. It seems they want a flawless production, which IMHO can be achieved if they planned the event properly in the first place and have contingencies for artistes who are MIA or who show up late.
What's next taped panorama performances? They must not have heard about the fallout from tape performance malfunctions. Imagine that - Rudder doing the "Milli Vanilli" - fake performances. Embarrassing.
Replies
The only reason I can think of why they decided to go this way is because of "delays in any of the performances." By doing it this way, they have complete control of the time...they don't have to worry about performers showing up late or having to clear a stage full of pans, etc. It seems they want a flawless production, which IMHO can be achieved if they planned the event properly in the first place and have contingencies for artistes who are MIA or who show up late.
bugs