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Kitch ‘comes back‘ at Normandie tonight By Terry Joseph, Trinidad Express February 24, 2003 |
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Three years after his passing, calypso's Grandmaster, Lord Kitchener, will tonight be the subject of a special tribute in song by professional colleagues, as Hotel Normandie stages “Kitch Come Back” as part of its Carnival Under the Trees season. Appearing in tonight's tribute will be recently crowned Young King Roger George, reigning national Calypso Monarch Sugar Aloes, former calypso king Scrunter, Funny, Pink Panther and Kitchener's son Kernel Roberts; all of whom will be doing songs made famous by The Grandmaster, backed by soca band Roots. “We felt it necessary to rekindle the memory of Kitchener at this time when the debate on calypso cannot help but reflect on the work of The Grandmaster,” said Normandie proprietor Fred Chin Lee. “This is not to make a point, for it has already been successfully argued, but to establish a reference position and at the same time provide good entertainment.” For more than 50 years, Aldwyn Roberts provided the world with a singular brand of music, steeped in walking bassline and exciting chord constructions, a direct consequence of his familiarity with the guitar and bass. Astonishingly, Kitchener won the national calypso crown only once (1975) but in that year also took the road march title, one of 12 such victories at what is Carnival's vox populi judgement.He passed away on February 11, 2000. Stamping his imprimatur on Carnival in a way few can match, Kitchener's presence in the panyards is legend, having made his first major intervention with “The Road” in 1963 and retaining his hold on both steelband and general revelry over the next two years with “Mama Dis is Mas” and “My Pussin”; conceding to Sparrow in 1966, 1969 and 1972, then Shadow in 1974, during a 14-year domination of road music. It took blockbusters from Sparrow (“Obeah Wedding”, “Sa Sa Ay”, “Drunk and Disorderly”) and Shadow's phenomenal “Bassman” to disrupt the Kitchener run, which left us with timeless originals, including “Sixty Seven”, “Miss Tourist”, “Margie”, “Mas in “Madison Square Garden”, “Rainorama”, “Tribute to Winston Spree” and “Flag Woman”. Kitchener however retained panyard principality much longer. Having returned to Trinidad in the inaugural year of Panorama (1963), his reign in that kingdom began in 1964 with the memorable rendition of “Mama Dis is Mas” by Tony Williams' North Stars Steel Orchestra and again was only interrupted by Sparrow's “Obeah Wedding” (Desperadoes, 1966) and Starlift's “Queen of the Bands” in 1971; in a stretch that saw The Grandmaster's music bring victory to steelbands until 1978, when Sparrow and Starlift again conspired on “Du Du Yemi” to temporarily halt the Kitchener streak. In the sum, Kitchener's music was the choice of 17 of the 40 steelbands that have etched their names into Panorama history. Kitch Come Back is a dinner and show combination in the Normandie tradition, with service beginning at 6 pm and showtime two and a half hours later. |