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Laventille music genius for Sando Jazz Trinidad Guardian, Friday Published: 25 Sep 2009 http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/2009/09/25/laventille-music-genius-sando-jazz |
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All systems are go for tomorrow’s San Fernando Jazz Festival, scheduled for 7 pm on the San Fernando Hill. On the programme—titled Celebrating The Grand Master—one of the ultra-talented local stars on the bill is son of Laventille Aldwyn Albino, to be joined in paying tribute to the late Lord Kitchener by Ray Holman, Arturo Tappin, Witco Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. Raf Robertson, Lord Superior, Errol Ince and his Quintet and Vaughnette Bigford. Aldwyn Albino, the first child born in the musical family of the Albinos, of Success Village, Laventille, was given a well-rounded education. He began music with both parents, who were musicians in their own right. At age 12, he took lessons, together with his sister Merle, from the village music teacher, Rita Daniel. But he was never satisfied with playing only the five-finger exercises and little tunes. After some doing, he convinced his parents that he wanted a crash course in playing by ear and went to Dawlet Ahyee [ensemble] for about three months. From there, there was no turning back. He could play any song he heard on the radio. He started playing the organ in St Dominic’s Church, Morvant, as his sister Merle was playing in the village Church, Corpus Christi, Laventille. Aldwyn was always restless and wanted to explore, so he began frequenting steelband yards. He began arranging for City Symphony, where he got the opportunity to arrange his favourite tune, Dream of Aldwyn. At this time; Aldwyn arranged for orchestras such as Norman “Tex” Williams and later, Joe Chet Sampson. He then turned to transferring his knowledge to the youth. He became the organist at the Assumption Church, Maraval, which then led him to form a choir with children from Bossiere RC School. When he taught at Calvary RC School, he got pans from Angostura and formed the first school steelband, which performed at the Rosary Church in Port-of-Spain, in November, 1968—with selections such as Kyrie Elesion, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Zacchaeus—with the choir from the same school accompanying their schoolmaster. Aldwyn was the resident pianist for Scouting for Talent for many years and for Ricki Tikki, the children’s show, on Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT). Aldwyn migrated to Canada, where his musical talent was further explored. He is organist at the Catholic Church in La Salle and has played at the St Patrick Church in Montreal. He is a teacher at Laurendean-Danton School and leads music classes in keyboard, violin, guitar and recorder. Aldwyn Albino is a son of the soil, a pannist of yesterday and one who helps to keep T&T culture alive and well, even though he is in North America. (Courtesy 1997 Gideon Maxime: Pg 188; PAN THROUGH THE YEARS (1952 - 1996) |