New York
- It was already quite light in the sky as the 2008 New
York J’Ouvert celebrations got underway in Brooklyn.
Lining up on Flatbush Avenue in the vicinity of Grand
Army Plaza, then turning on to Empire Boulevard, the
bulk of onlookers was along Empire.
Enthusiastic rhythm sections armed with iron men and
more, colorful characters (especially those who dared
come out costumed somewhat prettily and proper, despite
the ever-present promise of oil, paint and powder as an
‘additional dressing’), traditional ‘mud mas’, the
signature of J’Ouvert – the ole mas characters
showcasing their social and political commentary on the times
-
and of course, the steelbands, all completed the
fabulous audio-visual and marvelous mosaic that was
J’Ouvert this past Monday morning – the unofficial start
of Labor Day.
New York’s J’Ouvert is a perfect study of storytelling,
performing arts (drama, dancing, music performance,
tradition and theater) with a live and interactive
audience. It is Broadway on the road - real
theater, for the masses, by the masses, and with the
masses.
There were tents set up for adjudication along Empire
Boulevard, the main route - where the ole mas bands
performed their skits before judges, and steelbands
played their ‘road or “bomb” tune’ – all in an effort
for top honors.
There were many humorous happenings
aside from the official bands, like the woman, looking
ultra chic in her short top and tight-fitting jeans,
with hair recently ‘permed’, and looking for all the world
like she had just stepped out of a beauty shop - busy
telling a man she was trying “to stay clean” because she
had to go out later in the day. This – in the middle of
all types of happily muddy and painted characters all
around her!! She was joking, right? That was a comedy scene in itself!
Even a couple of the younger NYPD (New York Police
Department) members found themselves a bit ‘dusted with
power’ and smudged with paint. Many officers were on
hand as escorts – mandatory for music and mas bands who
paraded along the route for J’Ouvert. But most of the
officers were on duty in their regular law enforcement
capacity.
Some
stood by with benevolent or bemused expressions on their
faces, some obviously West Indian or African American,
looking much more comfortable than their peers.
And then there were the others that looked on in barely
concealed disgust, while some appeared to wish that they
had pulled another gig off the duty roster. Nonetheless, if one is familiar with the
J’Ouvert participants, you would understand that like it
or not, people came out to enjoy themselves, and as the
saying goes “doh play mas if yuh ‘fraid power!”
That includes being in the midst of the event, by
accident or design.
Back in 2005 though, during that year’s J’Ouvert
celebration, there were a few NYPD officers at various
points along the route who got ‘jammed’ on by determined
women who were not taking ‘no’ for an answer - not that
those particular officers seemed to mind...
(pictured above).
As customary, popular topics and current burning issues
were the focus of many ole mas characters – like current
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama; known
personalities were zinged, like president Bush,
Republican presidential nominee John McCain and USSA
(United States Steelband Association) president Anthony
‘Ike’ Hinds, associate Tom Montvel-Cohen and Cecil
Rhodes.
After the euphoria (and psychological downer, for some)
of the
New York panorama, the orchestras’ road band
representations, usually between fifteen and thirty
players out of their original panorama showing of up to
one hundred musicians – also took to the road for
J’Ouvert. From ‘Philly’ came Philadelphia Pan Stars,
while 2008 Panorama champs ADLIB steel orchestra from
Long Island turned out, with leader and band captain
Franklin Mayers and their
eighteen-year old champion arranger André White
(pictured in white and
blue tops, respectively)
still on hand doing a bit of directing.
There was no sign of Pantonic, Sonatas or Sesame Flyers Steel
Orchestras in the J’Ouvert as has been the case in
previous years, due, some say, to the current discord
surrounding which organization is claiming rights to the
overall J’Ouvert event. But Pantonic’s players had no
intention of being out of the mix, and many hung
out with the already quite large showing of fellow
Brooklyn band D’Radoes Steel Orchestra, which was on the
road with many supporters, playing their very melodious
2008 panorama selection ‘Oil and Music.’
Utopia Pan Soul: the Next Generation which does not
participate in panorama but makes its mark in other
places such as J’Ouvert, took to the road with a tune
penned exactly for such a time –
one of the 2008 soca
hits, Zan’s ‘Out on De Road.’ Pan music lovers, mas
characters, and revelers in general made much merriment
with the panside as they played with gusto while making
their way along the boulevard.
Other bands along the route included Brimblerz
International featuring many of the famous Moods Pan
Groove veteran, but deadpan, serious-faced steelpan
musicians, still of course managed by Clyde Durant. CYP’s (Caribbean Youth Panoramics) arranger and leader
Joseph ‘Franklyn’ Gerald was happily behind a
double guitar
(instead of in front of a band as arranger), ‘taking a
knock’ with Dem Stars. Harmony Steel Orchestra came out
with a strong roadside, playing Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore’s ‘Hooked.’ Queens-based Steel Sensation
headed
by Ian Japsi ably provided music for mas band No
Technology. CrossFire, led by Douglas ‘Dougie’
Martin was also on the road with arranger Khuent Rose
and other band musicians enjoying the J’Ouvert. Ace
arranger Pelham Goddard with Sesame Flyers for the third
year in a row, was now happily and literally – bringing
up Crossfire’s rear on ‘iron.’
Despers USA, which was the only band who could truly and
literally claim to have been ‘on the road’ when they
took to Eastern Parkway in 2007, were out in good
numbers both in terms of musicians and supporters.
Band
captain Wayne ‘Bumpy’ Inniss
(pictured) happily paused for a
picture for
When
Steel Talks, as he unwound and really
enjoyed the J’Ouvert after the pressures of panorama.
CASYM Steel Orchestra, who took second place at the
competition, appeared with a small but very effective
group of musicians, including band captain Travis
Roberts. Hearts of Steel which debuted back in 2007 and
fairly compact for J’Ouvert 2008, came armed with a
large contingent of supporters - mature men and women
enjoying themselves chipping down the road to the band’s
music, and sporting what else but Hearts of Steel
t-shirts. It was not only the known steelbands on the route. Several small
sides, and other dedicated rhythm sections – complete
with the beloved two-note dudup (bass kettle) - took
part, and were attended by their own equally determined
and loyal supporters who did not let a small thing such
as ‘size’ hinder their J’Ouvert morning.
From an onlooker’s point of view, the 2008 J’Ouvert
celebration was obviously enjoyed by all who were there.
There was a sense of community and controlled abandon
that is essentially lost on the Eastern Parkway parade
later in the day, now that the latter is so heavily
regimented and restricted unless one is a bonafide
member of a band. Nonetheless J’Ouvert was smaller than
in previous years, and at times with larger gaps between
the bands. For some reason bands appeared held up at the
corner of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard. They
seemed ready – the steelbands and rhythm sections were
kicking, while the mas characters and J’Ouvert
participants danced around. But why they were stationary
in one place for any particular period of time is
unclear.
The
2008 J’Ouvert celebration itself began considerably later
than in previous years. It seems as though the days of the
true J’Ouvert starting in ‘pitch blackness’ is a thing
of the past – we will have to wait and see.
Also, the route has been shortened. This year, the cut-off point
was at Rutland Road and Nostrand Avenue,
with NYPD’s
‘finest’ in their numbers standing by with their
infamous orange sweeper net
(pictured above),
strung across the road to
enforce the fact. There would be no tolerance of pleas
by panmen and revelers to proceed further. Just a couple
years ago, bands rolled further south past Winthrop
Street; and even further down memory lane, the ole
timers would tell you - as far as Church Avenue, and for most,
ultimately back to panyards with their diehard
supporters in tow for the ‘las’ lap.’ The writing could
be on the wall for New York’s J’Ouvert and its lovers.
With a much later start time, and ever-shortening route
– what’s next? For 2008, though, those who made it to
the J’Ouvert celebration would probably tell you
they had themselves a really good time. And for, now,
that is all that matters.
New York’s J’Ouvert may be the only
real performance opportunity left for the steelpan
musicians to interact with fans and culture lovers in
the purest traditional sense -
no trucks, no obnoxious blaring and deafening sound systems
- and no
ignorant audiences (those who regard pan music as
‘noise’ or ‘below them’ socially). Participating
are just pan lovers, musicians and overall supporters in a symbiotic loving
and re-energized relationship at ground level.
Any steelpan player who has not experienced playing on
the road surrounded by an adoring and soulful audience
has been deprived of one of the greatest music
performance
opportunities ever. New York’s J’Ouvert is the only
live performing arts theater - by the people, and for the
people - left that allows the panman and pan
woman to connect to the African
traditions that stretch back over centuries. Maybe it
is
time for the academically educated percussion professors to step down from
their ivory towers, step out of their lab settings, to
experience the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ this music operates
on this uniquely high and spiritual level - right here
in urban New York.
New York’s 2008 J’Ouvert in
Pictures