A Tribute in Mas … Popular Kitchener tunes inspire Carnival creations

A Tribute in Mas … Popular Kitchener tunes inspire Carnival creations
Michelle Loubon, Trinidad Express, October 19th, 2024
https://trinidadexpress.com/features/local/a-tribute-in-mas/article_744512d8-8e86-11ef-aa41-a356f824ab19.html

Late calypsonain Lord Kitchener, (Aldwyn Roberts) left a rich panoply of hits including “Sugar Bum Bum”, “Miss Tourist”, “Flag Woman” and “Bees Melody”. For Carnival 2025, artistic director of Brass 2 D’ World Burt Marcellin has teamed up with veteran masman Chris Humphrey to bring the calypso icon’s beloved classics to life on the nation’s streets.

Marcellin, the son of the late celebrated musician Mano Marcellin, said it was a tangible way to honour the legacy of his father as well as the legendary Kitchener. He has also picked humourous songs, with infectous hooklines.

The official band launch took place at Qutie’s Restaurant and Lounge, One Woodbrook Place, to the delight of an intimate crowd. The theme presented by the enterprise Blow Mano Blow Mas is Mama Dis Is Mas.

Entertainment was provided by singers Sanelle Dempster, Snakey (Heaven Charles), KC (Kyle Cowie) and Second Sta (Nesta Boxill). They were accompanied by a complement of Brass 2’D World musicians. Entertainer Errol Fabien was the facilitator.

Blow Mano Blow Mas 2024 Monday Mas presentation Ms McCarthy Party, won the title of Most Original Band of the Day, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

The band’s head-quarters at 33 French Street, Woodbrook will open its doors to the public from January 5.

Mano Marcellin loved Kitchener’s music

Marcellin, who is also a graphic artist and plays the trombone, said: “Mama Dis Is Mas by Kitchener is a musical theme. Masqueraders have a fun option. They can come out and play. They can party hearty to live music from us. We have eight sections. The sections are named after humourous songs. They are classics from the venerable Lord Kitchener.”

Marcellin added: “When my father ruled the roost, he won seven Brass-O-Rama titles. The amazing feat was accomplished by playing six of Kitchener’s songs. My father incorporated live music on trucks during Carnival. We feel it’s our way of carrying on the tradition started by our patriarch. Both of these giants, Marcellin and Kitch have gone, but we want to ensure younger generations and the country remembers them.”

Loves local themes

In a phone interview Humphrey said: “I have decided to work with Burt this year. I was involved in Jouvert in 1986 and won in Port of Spain. I had stopped and I came back and played A Tribute to Chris Humphrey and Associates. I love mas so much that I decided to come out. I was told for the past two years, they looked very nice. I decided to venture into Monday Mas.”

He added: “I love when bands are playing local themes. I even played “A Tribute to Lord Kitchener” during Jouvert. That is why I admire very much what Burt and they are doing.” On his section Bees Melody, he said: “I used the colour yellow. Yellow will glint in the tropical sunshine. Yellow and black mixes well. A full hive of bees on Monday. Masqueraders will have a lot of fun stinging each other.”

Meanwhile, he’s preparing for Carnival in Tobago for October 25-27.

“I have two sections in a band called Bago Limers, who are portraying Oil Spill. It’s a Jouvert band,” he said.

Impressive sections

Guests at the band launch enjoyed the music of popular artistes like “Engine Room” by Olatunji (Olatunji Yearwood) and Mical Teja’s (Mical Teja Williams) “DNA”. The display of costumes did not disappoint as models waved a bunting of flags, bandanas and hats as they danced.

Though small in number, they had the energy and vitality of a small Jouvert band. Pretty in pink, masqueraders gyrated to “Sugar Bum Bum”, and sang the popular line, ““Audrey, where you get that sugar?” As expected, Brass 2’D World played the classic.

Sections

Verdant hues of green surfaced in the evergreen Miss Tourist. Steelbands are incomplete without the Flag Woman, depicted with brilliant and white colours.

A burst of sunshine followed with Humphrey’s Bees Melody. Colourful, full length socks enhanced some of the sections. Patrons captured the unfolding spectable on their cellphones.

The masqueraders seemed to be rearing to hit the streets on Carnival Monday. As the display wound to a close, Marcellin thanked everyone for their support and promised them a wonderful time on the road.

Kudos to Roy Cape

Also commenting on the late Roy Cape’s contribution, Marcellin said: “He’s a legend. He came from the days of my dad and Clarence Herman and Frankie Francis. He would have come from an era that would have stemmed the ‘university of music’. You got excellent training and you had a strong footing for life.” He added: “What is admirable is he came from the orphanage. He was a walking encyclopedia. For knowledge about theory and music, he was a vast repository. I want to say thanks for the music. Pappy, you will be missed.”