The Tobago News

Duvone StewartTobago, W.I. - A petition is underway calling for Tobagonian panist Duvone Stewart to perform on the main stage during the 2014 Tobago Jazz Experience.


More than 240 people have already signed the petition which will be sent to the organisers of the festival and the Tobago House of Assembly's (THA) Division of Tourism and Transportation.

It has been started by local entrepreneur and media personality George Leacock.

Leacock said that as Stewart is a renowned panist, he would like the organisers of the Tobago Jazz Experience to explain why they have excluded Stewart from the line-up.
read more

You need to be a member of When Steel Talks to add comments!

Join When Steel Talks

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Real crying shame... https://www.facebook.com/groups/250305515143756/
  • Sammy I agree with what you are saying and that is a very good point which should be considered, but I supposed 

    that  Duvone being Tobagonian and his reputation as one of the leading pannist in the world, should  have the opportunity to 

    perform in his homeland in an international concert of this magnitude.

    • agreed Fitzy, its a Tobago stage and a Tobago artist deserves the opportunity, besides Duvone in my personal opinion can bring a performance that will outshine  the others mentioned...

  • I agree that Duvonne should be there. Let it not be the same people from the past with newer talent being excluded.

  • Doesn't the organizers of the show have a right to hire and showcase whichever talent they choose…what good would a petition do in this case?

    • Merrytones, The petition might not do any thing this time but it leaves a lasting mark for the future, showing our displeasure

      • Sure Bede, but has anybody enquired of the organizers if he was ever considered for their main show (I think sometime ago he performed at the Pan Trinbago Panyard show) or why he hasn't yet performed on the big stage? I would imagine that that is the best jump-off point instead of a petition…I doubt anybody could DEMAND of a private entity that they hire a performer..petition or not...

        • To be honest, the way in which this petition was framed seems more like a lobby to promote a particular artist rather than the artform which we purport to love. Why not lobby to have pan represented and let the organizers choose whom they wish to have. If Duvone were then selected then that would give more credibility to his selection as opposed to the pressure being put on the organizers by the circulation of a petition. This could also set a bad precedent for future shows in that people may feel that 'petitioning' is the way to go. If I were a performer I would be opposed to some group lobbying for me to perform - almost seems like begging. Sorry but that is how I feel and it is getting stronger as this goes on.

  • Duvone Stewart is one of the very talented Steel Pan Players of our time, and it would be a benefit to the Tobago

    Jazz Festival to have him on the Show to showcase His talent.   It a Plus for everyone.. Good Luck Duvone!

    j

  • First of all, MUCH respect to Duvone Stewart. Honestly, these young cats like Duvonne, Johann Chuckaree, and Leon "Foster" Thomas, actually play jazz. The least they could have done is give us some American jazz artists. Have you seen the line up? Earth, Wind & Fire, Brandy, John Legend, and Keyshia Cole; are you kidding me? Granted, they are some hard hitters, but they are not jazz musicians, by any stretch of the imagination. 

    Secondly, and finally, I agree that we have jazz musicians in Trinidad, not just those who play pan. My cousin, Patti Rogers, is one of the most respected female vocalists in the Trinidad and Tobago jazz circles. And, of course, I could argue, that a similar petition should be signed for Othello Mollineaux, who blazed the trail, and continues to trod on the trail he blazed. I guess, everyone has their favorites and their bias. However, I applaud the effort to have a Trinidad and Tobago pan jazz musician perform at the event. I would have signed the petition if if gave all of them an equal chance to perform, and not on just one person, because another person said so. In any case, again, it ain't jazz, so it really doesn't make sense to me anyway.

    Ghost. Same philosophy; different attitude.

This reply was deleted.