Love and Happiness Era with Don Silverfox

By William Doyle-Marshall

   Remember the days of the two tone shoes and the Blue Gardenia dances? That’s when young ladies frowned on any young man who failed to meet the dressing standards?  If you don’t, then you are too young. Those were the hey days in Trinidad and Tobago and indeed the Caribbean when you had to know your dance steps. If you stepped on a girl’s feet once that’s the end of your dancing chances. Even worse, you did not even think of saying “hello” to her or her friends. You would be banished in that circle.

    Well, a group of Canadians with Trinidad and Tobago connections are reintroducing that experience to real dance lovers as an end of summer venture. “I feel pretty confident in that I think we are going to be unique with what we are doing because you don’t get a concert, dinner and dance; you are not going to get the kind of music we are providing for dancing at all, says Trinidadian impresario and headline performer of that era, Don (Ali) Silverfox. Based on a really fantastic reception he received from a Queen’s Hall and Port of Spain Central Bank auditorium audiences, Silverfox has decided to undertake this Canadian venture. “I was told that nobody in Trinidad was doing what I did and I am saying the same thing is happening up here. I don’t know anybody who does what I do. The era of what I do up here, I don’t know anybody who does it,” Silverfox concurs.

   The September 17^th Nostalgia III is a formal evening of Concert, Dinner and Dance at the Thornhill Community Centre between 6:00pm and 1:00 a.m. The show will include performances in Spanish, Italian and English -- to illustrate the performer’s expertise and a little difference compared to regular pops and ballads entertainers. In addition, songs are being chosen to encourage audience participation. Don promises his repertoire for that night will evolve around compositions with which members of the audience will be familiar.

   Sel Duncan’s “Concert Hall Medley”: is lined up to begin dancing feet slowly moving on the dance floor on that special night. Tan Tan by Fitz Vaughn Bryan, Stormy Weather by the Dutchy Brothers and Clarence Curvan’s “Delicado” are among favourites that will be dusted off and spun for the crowd’s delight.

    Caribbeanites starving for the type of musical offerings synonymous with tender, loving moments will be in for a special treat on September 17 at the Thornhill Community Center. It will be a case of rekindling flames they may have thrown out with the dreams. Don Silverfox is dusting off his musical tracks and preparing his vocal chords to entertain music lovers. The Producers of Nostalgia III are promising Golden Pops and Ballads by Don – a nominee for the Canadian GMA Covenant Award. It will certainly be an opportunity to dance to some favourite bands of the era like Stanley Black, Los Indios Tabajares, Clarence Curvan, Dutchy Brothers, Perez Prado and more.

   Don first hit the stage at age six and ten years later he had already   performed live concerts, on radio to an audience at one point estimated at 10,000. By 17 he was introduced to live television and appeared at popular night clubs throughout the City of Port of Spain. Performing on stage with the Light Operatic Society provided Don a vehicle to appear in the internationally renowned Pirates of Penzance, Chu Chin Chou and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Nostalgia III is a continuation of Don Silverfox’ youthful ambition to command centre stage with an appreciative audience.

Wow! What a Cultural summer

Canadian summer cultural offerings

By William Doyle-Marshall

This year’s CaribbeanTales International Film Festival(CTFF), returns to Downtown Toronto, at The Royal Cinema, 608 College Street, with an Opening Gala September 7, then daily between September 14 - 17 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

   Now in its 11^th year, the festival celebrates the talents of established and emerging filmmakers of Caribbean heritage who practice their art across the Caribbean Diaspora worldwide - including Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, and those of African, Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern descent.

From September 6 through September11, the Festival hosts the 8^th Annual CaribbeanTales Incubator Program (CTI). This year the program is sponsored by Flow, the Caribbean's leading TV and communications provider, as part of its commitment to the development of the Caribbean filmmaking industry. The CTI's flagship program is the Market Incubator Program (MIP), a marketing and packaging forum for long-running series projects. It includes five weeks of online training, and one week of intensive workshops in Toronto. It culminates in The Big Pitch at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) Bell Lightbox. Winners of The Big Pitch will graduate to the nine-month CTI Production Support Program (PSP), that takes projects from pitch to production and for the first time ever, PSP projects will receive pilot funding from Flow.

    The annual Stone sculpture exhibition from Zimbabwe known as Shona sculpture, will be held at the Rice Lake Gallery, Rice Lake 17 from August 6th to September 4th.  The curator, Fran Fearnley, travels to Zimbabwe to purchase sculptures directly from the artists. She travels extensively around the country to choose a body of work that fully represents the breadth of style, form and stone that makes this art movement so dynamic and universal in its appeal. 
     Stone sculpture from Zimbabwe is often called Shona sculpture, named after the largest tribe engaged in this indigenous art movement. Zimbabwe, morphed from the Shona word “dzimbadzamabwe” which means “house of stone,” is the only country on the African continent that has large deposits of stone suitable for sculpting. 
   Zimbabwean sculptors, who traditionally carve entirely by hand, work outdoors – creating and frequently displaying their work in open air-studios. Al fresco shows of Zimbabwean sculpture are very popular in the UK, many European countries, Australia and the US. 
ZimArt brought this concept to Canada and hosts a number of public and private outdoor exhibitions annually, including The Rice Lake Series, which was launched in 2000.

 All summer long in cities across Canada jazz and other cultural events were staged in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Alberta as well as Victoria, B.C. and elsewhere.

Bonnie Lawrence, flutist and her Cuban counterpart Raul Tabera on
drumsaccompanied the Bruce Hoagg Latin quinntet during  the
Calgary Jazz Festival 2016.

It is Sunday afternoon with a sort of tropical style Victoria setting – brilliant sunshine and gentle breeze blowing through Veteran’s Memorial Park, Langford, Victoria. The audience is enjoying a musical journey by Fraser Kersley and his team of very experienced musicians called the Hornetz R&B Review. They took fans on a merry melodious route, tapping into hits of the sixties by Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, the Temptations, Wilson Pickett and many others popular in that era.

   Making up the Review were Fraser Kersley on guitar,  Raman MacArthur on lead vocals, Roger OPlant, bassist and Dave Pretty on drums.  The horn section goes by the name of 'The Capital City Horns' and when they jam with Seacruze the outfit is called the Hornetz R&B Review. 

   Whether they occupied wheel chairs, electric scooters, or park benches, it was almost impossible to keep them seated. Dancing is always enticement to musicians in any surrounding. These musicians were served their full share of appreciation especially with the presence of spontaneity throughout. When Peter Willing, coordinator of the series, stepped on stage with the band, he was applauded for his efforts. His outfit the Ready Willing Band will offer a repertoire of Motown R&B, Blues and rock combination August 14. Willing said the music series has been running for 15 years and was contacted by the Mayor of Langford to produce it over the past seven years. The City of Langford sponsors it and he is responsible for the eight-week production which began the first Sunday in July. It is a free public event from two to four o’clock every Sunday afternoon when parents bring out their children to have fun and enjoy the water park facility while adults embrace the concert offerings.

Gerald Mar, TD Victoria Jazz Int'l Festival

   This Sunday Fat Cats, a country band will be featured. The next week will be the Ready Willing Band with its offering of Motown R&B, Blues, rock combination to be followed August 21 by the Maureen Washington Jazz Quartet performing jazz and blues selections. Rukus will close out the series August 28 with its classic rock and roll numbers.

   Indeed, it is turning out to be quite a summer packed with cultural offerings across the country. Gerald Mar, founded the TD Victoria International Jazz Fest which celebrated its 32^nd anniversary this year as part of the Jazz Festival Canada network was elated with the Victoria turnout for his production..

George Victory's Message to the Nation

George Victory, Another Cultural Soldier Leaves

By William Doyle-Marshall

Hi Lites Combo of Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago has lost George Victory, a sterling member who now joins the many talented cultural contributors of the twin island Republic currently making music for Saint Peter. Others associated with this organization that made a very good impression on the music scene in the sixties include Jathneil (Jato) Thomas; Bertie Fraser, Owen Lynch, John Babb, Leroy Cuffie, George Bleasdelle, Alvin (the Bear) Vincent; Randolph Yearwood; Noel Wint, manager and William Doyle-Marshall, assistant manager.

George Victory

   Though the background info from KWest Productions on the Internet says George grew up in New York City I recall the young man playing a phenomenal role in Hi Lites Combo as guitarist and one of the lead singer. From my recollection, he was never afraid to try something new. When I introduced Jato to Earl Grant’s “Winchester Cathedral” George was there playing with his instrument in preparation for the clash at the Arouca Community Center with Roland Daniel’s combo – a leader at the time in the pop world. George and Thomas took the stage that night with the rest of the team established Hi Lites as an orchestra to be respected. Since that time George and many of us joined the band of migrants for other parts of the world. As one who spent good time in New York City, his presence has been unmistakable. He is known as one who has been associated with every calypso album produced not only in New York City but the Caribbean as a whole and Europe. He left this world as a very accomplished musician – guitarist, key boardist, background vocalist, studio man and more. That one of Errol Ince’s production, George’s talent shines predominantly with all the power and vigour at his disposal.. he has left us with numnerous recordings on You Tube – Trinbago y Home Sweet Home; Another Brick in the Wall; Papa Was a Rolling Stone; What A Wonderful World; Redemption Song; Pan In Yuh Ras

   We join George Victory’s relatives in time of mourning. But we know George would be pleased if we cancel the crying and moaning. So we’ll try. We are never prepared when our friends and relatives are taken away. But God helps us. We know he has other creative work for George with Art DeCoteau, Sel Duncan, Michael Jackson, Garfield Blackman, Dave Deastro (the Bandit), Andre Tanker, Percy Sledge, Aldwyn (Lord Kitchener) Roberts, Merchant, King Curtis, James Brown and so many others who preceded him. We know you’ll rest peacefully in the orchestra of cultural achievers.

   One song that George Victory has left behind is going to be memorable for a long time especially as one looks at the social conditions in the country of his birth. While participating in the 1994 edition of the World Calypso Monarch contest in New York City he sang “What have you done to my sweet and beautiful country? I cried oh I cried for days for my sweet, sweet La Trinity.” With much regrets he has left us and T&T has not yet found answer to his question. However we are confident that Victory is resting with one serious thought which I am compelled to share with you: “Whatever your problem may be I would never disown my country. Wherever I roam, however I roam, sweet Trinbago will always be my home, sweet home.”

   It is my hope is that as we put George Victory to rest the leaders in Trinidad and Tobago and indeed the Caribbean would stride and find answers to the ills that are affecting the people – crime and corruption at many levels. “Every day in the papers it’s robberies and murders like all out war. How it makes me wonder where is the peace and order that we had before. Oh  No. No respect, no regard for authority. They just killing every day doi doi doi but tell them I say there will come a day they will have to pay. No. No. No. they can’t get away.”

This is George Victory’s message which I trust will be acted upon. It’s never too late to take action for the overall good of our country.

Wm. Doyle-Marshall

   One song that George Victory has left behind is going to be memorable for a long time especially as one looks at the social conditions in the country of his birth. While participating in the 1994 edition of the World Calypso Monarch contest in New York City he sang “What have you done to my sweet and beautiful country? I cried oh I cried for days for my sweet, sweet La Trinity.” With much regrets he has left us and T&T has not yet found answer to his question. However we are confident that Victory is resting with one serious thought which I am compelled to share with you: “Whatever your problem may be I would never disown my country. Wherever I roam, however I roam, sweet Trinbago will always be my home, sweet home.”

   It is my hope is that as we put George Victory to rest the leaders in Trinidad and Tobago and indeed the Caribbean would stride and find answers to the ills that are affecting the people – crime and corruption at many levels. “Every day in the papers it’s robberies and murders like all out war. How it makes me wonder where is the peace and order that we had before. Oh  No. No respect, no regard for authority. They just killing every day doi doi doi but tell them I say there will come a day they will have to pay. No. No. No. they can’t get away.”

This is George Victory’s message which I trust will be acted upon. It’s never too late to take action for the overall good of our country.

 

Jazz Festivals and Theatre Firing Up Cities Menus

By William Doyle-Marshall

As usual, the City of Toronto and other cities across Canada are warming up with cultural activities designed to keep everyone involved. The diverse range spans music theatre arts, art, sculpture, dance, calypso, and the list goes on, Multi award winning trumpeter Brownman and his musical entourage will be appearing at 15 different locations around Toronto during this year’s Toronto Jazz Festival which runs through July 2.

In an exclusive interview recently with Indo Caribbean News the Trinidad-born musician and bandleader expressed a burning desire to see more Canadian bands featured on the main stage of the festival. While Brownman announced proudly that he is busy during the festival, he noted none of his gigs are on the main stage of the Toronto Jazz Festival which he considered “kind of weird”.

  “They don’t really support local artists. They put a handful of local guys on the main stage but really they’re saving their money to pay for the big names or the super stars so not much is left over for local support. Usually it’s a poor showing of local talent on the main stage but everybody runs into a club. So if you want to see Toronto talent during the Toronto Jazz Festival you got to go to the clubs. It’s about selling tickets and putting hums in seats,” Brownman remarked.”

Legendary super-group, KC and The Sunshine Band kicked off the festivities with a free concert marking the TD Toronto Jazz Festival launch of its 30th edition, Friday, June 24 at Nathan Phillips Square. With official DJ and hosting duties by Canada’s hip-hop ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, opening night featured the Heavyweights Brass Band and a special performance with a Swing vs. Street dance-off like Toronto had never seen before!

   The Brownman Akoustic Trio performs July 1 Second Cup Coffee Co. 287-289 King Street West. The Festival is expanding its footprint and by partnering, for the first time, with Second Cup Coffee Co. at the new concept café at King Street and John Street. “Programming will be chosen to reflect the contemporary and laidback environment, showcasing the wide variety of jazz being performed in Toronto year-round,” festival promo promises. Joe Sealy, June Bunnette, Hilario Duran, Molly Johnson, Toronto Mass Choir, Tanika Charles, Rhythm and Truth; We Came to Get Down: Swing vs. Street; Bill King Express and  are among Canadian performers booked to appear during the festival.

   Another Jazz event which attracted music lovers took place in Calgary, Alberta, where among the genres showcased was a taste of Latin offerings. Kodi Hutchinson, artist director of Calgary Jazz YYC Festival concurred that Jazz is such a wide ranging music that it’s really important having groups like that as part of the festival. Jazz is not just swing. It’s not just straight ahead. It’s really a vast diverse genre and there are quite a few Cuban groups in Alberta, Hutchinson concluded.

“Class In Session! Don’t Forget Your Eraser.” This Homeland Collective production will be premiering at the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival, this summer, from June 29 – July 10. During the period of the festival Eraser can be seen at Westside Montessori School, 95 Bellevue Avenue, Toronto. It is a site-specific physical theatre show, set in a downtown Toronto school. From kindergarten to grade six, the performers explore immigration, bullying, puberty, first crushes, racism, and queer family structures. This is Producer Winnie Nwakobi’s first show as a  producer. However, she is no stranger to the business having tastes as director, producer and performer. Last year, she directed 'The Vagina Monologues' at York University. Ms Nwakobi has also been part of The Paprika Festival for 3 years, where she produced, wrote and performed 3 different shows with other artists. She is also currently a Youth Link Artist with Canada’s highly successful Soulpepper Theatre Company.

   Eraser’s performers are some of Toronto’s rising talent who are sure to make you laugh and cry as you are transported back in time when pencils and erasers were among your best companions. “Once we become adults it is easy to forget our roots and earliest influences. Children are often thought of as innocent. Through our explorations, we have uncovered the depth, complexities and traumas that hide beneath this layer of innocence,” the collective promises

    Eraser, directed by Sadie Epstein-Fine and Elise LaCroix, features an outstanding 6-person ensemble: Moe Baloch; Christol Bryan; Deanna Galati; Victoria Gubiani; Michael Pintucci; Nathan Redburn. The creative team is comprised of Aman Banwait (Sound Design); Jocelyn Graham (Costume/Set Design); Zack Lovetime (Stage Manager); Madeleine Monteleone (Stage Manager);  Winnie Nwakobi (Producer); Molly Thomas (Dramaturg); Cole Vincent (Lighting Design).

   Meanwhile, members of the Caribbean community are gearing up for their big summer cultural extravaganza which showcases carnival costumes along the streets of the City of Toronto and calypsonians are sharpening their performance skills to entertain audiences between now and the end of July.

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