The Stars Came Out - And They Did Shine - Trinidad All Stars in New York

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Date: 06.27.06

The Stars Came Out -
And They Did Shine

CASYM & Trinidad All Stars at KC's Hideaway - In Pictures

Brooklyn, New York - The most important thing to note is that they were here. Yes, Trinidad All Stars steel orchestra was actually in New York. Rumors had been flying around that they were not the 'real Trinidad All Stars;' some said it was really 'New York All Stars' that had been around for previous years, but had not been heard from in a while; others said that they were just pan players masquerading under the All Stars banner. And when it became undeniable that it really was All Stars, complete with manager Berry Hunte (pictured right) in tow, the rumors were revised to 'it's really a "small" side' that came up to New York. It was a 'first' at KC's Hideaway - Trinidad All Stars and CASYM steel orchestra.

Well, June 17 and 18 have come and gone, and the rest, as they say, is history. The record shows (and so to do the performances) that Trinidad All Stars (pictured left) featured twenty-five musicians in their line-up - as much as any regular New York stage side steel orchestra. And the legendary band put on a show worthy of their international renown at KC's Atlantic Avenue-located Hideaway in Brooklyn, New York.

When Steel Talks was there for All Stars' Saturday night performance. Though doors opened earlier in the evening, by midnight there were just about two hundred people (pictured left) present, including the players from All Stars and CASYM, who would open up the show at 12:10 AM. In addition to being past champions on the New York panorama scene, CASYM are year-round favorites on the performance circuit, and for one hour, they gave the audience a taste of the many offerings in their musical arsenal. The popular Blame It On The Music was first up, and before they were done, CASYM (pictured below) had gone through a repertoire which included Just The Two of Us, Footprints, Can't Help Falling In Love and their 2005 Panorama selection, Trini Gone Wild. Both Blame It On the Music and Can't Help Falling In Love can be found on CASYM's "D'Blueprint" CD. The band is also scheduled to be a staple at KC's upcoming pan events in July and August featuring Desperadoes and Starlift steel orchestras, respectively.

There was a discernible difference between the almost-deafening sounds of the DJ, and the sounds of the steel orchestra when CASYM started to play. Not too long after they began, those responsible for sound at the event 'tried something'. But two microphones placed upon two chairs directly in front of an orchestra (pictured left) does not a proper sound system make - at all. Not for a performance by any artiste - or steel orchestra - especially given the specialty needed for the proper micing of the latter.

Interestingly enough - other accommodations had been made for All Stars who performed directly after. While the results were not much better, mics were in place for the band, not on chairs, but on regular mic stands. Additionally - given the low ceiling room of the galvanize covering above the band, the levels of sound distortion was unmistakable.

All Stars were on an elevated stage in comparison to CASYM; they took the small but appreciative crowd on a well-thought out musical journey. They gauged their audience well and entertained with several well-known numbers including Amazing Grace and Crawfish (from their Nostalgic Panyard CD).

Promoter of the event, Kenneth 'KC' Charles aka the 'James Brown of soca' joined All Stars on stage (pictured right) for his interpretation of a couple of Brown's best known hits including It's A Man's World. It is safe to say that the novelty of the KC/Trinidad All Stars combination stimulated the most interest and response during the event. Displaying his interpretation of some of James Brown's classic stage moves with an alacrity which belied his age, KC was a sight to behold.

A key performance for the evening was All Stars' rendition of their timeless, Leon 'Smooth' Edwards-arranged Woman On The Bass. It was a fabulous experience, but one which was sadly detracted from by what can only be termed the 'MC Wassy factor.' One could not possibly imagine that someone would ever think of (much less actually do so), vocally 'ad-libbing' through an entire classic pan performance - practically drowning out the amplified pans every time. One person was heard exclaiming 'sacrilegious!' Others had never had the privilege of hearing All Stars perform that classic live. It is not everyday that New Yorkers, or pan lovers on the whole for that matter, are privy to a live Trinidad All Stars execution of Woman On The Bass. And many of those present might have wished for another occasion to savor All Stars performing this selection - unaccompanied by MC Wassy.

There were of course some recognizable faces in attendance as well. Present was Pan Trinbago's Secretary, Richard Forteau who traveled to New York exclusively for Trinidad All Stars' New York appearances. Also supporting the event was Yohan Popwell, himself a veteran member of the All Stars enclave, but in New York in his other capacity as arranger for New York's Sonatas steel orchestra.

Some patrons attended the show on both nights. They were fortunate enough to catch All Stars' with Soca Warriors on Sunday, as the band's repertoire differed from Saturday. Overall, a very good evening of entertainment was put on. It was definitely a great opportunity to see Trinidad All Stars in concert, and When Steel Talks would like to thank both Kenneth 'KC' Charles and Trinidad All Stars for making possible access to both the show and themselves.

CASYM and Trinidad All Stars @ KC's Hideaway - In Pictures

Trinidad All Stars and CASYM Steel Orchestras in concert at KC's Hideaway, Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, New York - Saturday 17 June, 2006