Anguilla’s carnival is with our bands. The band plays an integral part in the entire excitement and festive environment, and it is the music that generates the buzz, provides the excitement, the talk under the trees, in the bars, on the radio and wherever people assemble.
We must give it to our bands, past and present, for the contributions that they have made and still are making to carnival. But I won’t let it slip to give a thumping where I see it necessary.
Anguilla has a rich history of breathtaking, captivating music, arranged by some well-decorated arrangers and players of instruments. Our bands, over the years, managed to capture the hearts and souls of those who truly love and adore sweet music.
But I think that musical foundation – that was set by Keith ‘Tampa” Gumbs, Kingsley “Power” Richardson, Collins “Jessie” Hodge and Dexter “Snaggy” Recaldo Mussington – seems to have been shaken up tremendously and almost destroyed. Not by the recent tremors we felt during the year but, from my vantage point, by the loss of identity, innovation and creativity. We have drifted away from what was the distinct sound, called Anguilla Music, to feed on the rhythms that are neighborly – and our bands depend mostly on the drum machine. This is happening while many people who are my age and older – and even a few younger ones – long to hear some guitar strings and a bass line that can lead the feet in dancing. The patterns of Tawanta and Imorley, the sweet strums of Kelvin and Supuo, appear to have vanished in recent times.
No longer can be heard sweet refrains and harmonized vocals. As a resident who is not a born Anguillian asked, “What are they fighting and quarrelling about?” This is not to be taken as condemnation, but as a word of advice to our musicians and bands. The music, if there is not a shift in focus, will be labeled as not fit for export – or some CD players will automatically eject the product.
I have heard some really interesting songs on the radio. I must commend Klass Fm radio for the energy that it has given to the Summer Festival and the buzz of excitement that is created, even though it gets a bit heated sometimes and sends the adrenalin to peak heights.
I am indeed impressed by the Infusion band. That band shows consistency and I am honest with this – my own opinion – that Infusion band still has its own identity from whence it came.
DMB shows and shares this attribute as well. When its music is played, you know it is uniquely the band’s music and its style.
Well that makes me want to creep up to Pantha Vybes and Exodus. These are known in many corners, locally, as the big musical warriors. Both bands have the potential to reach where The Mellow Tones, North Sound and Musingtons took Anguilla Music. But there needs to be a change of game plan. They need to get back their identity and make some adjustments. I know it appears as if Daddy Jones and Pantha are inseparable, but Sherrod can be allowed, perhaps, to do some more work and thus provide the Anguilla flavor like his granny’s tarts and his uncle’s, Pupa Lash’s patties.
Daddy Hodgie and Latest seem to have a chemistry that works well, but I was hoping to hear Hodgie giving us that Hodgie unique style he created from the days of the Vito band, through to the Better Band and even the ABC band. Hodgie is extremely masterful and seems to always bring something new to the game each year. Alwyn “Daddy Jones” Baptiste Jr., who Anguillians have embraced as one of their own, is a professor, no doubt, and appears to be lots of furlongs ahead of many others.
But Jones and Hodgie, as you all have four and five star stripes in the business, I think it is time that you lessen the number tracks on the CD. Wasted material people described it, because they feel there is no need for more than 6 to 8 songs on the CD. But another of the people’s concerns is that the CD should have a variety of genres. Yes the local road march tunes, but when last was consideration given to a splash of reggae, a Salsa or even a beautiful, melodious heart penetrating rhythm of soul?
I can recall this practice as a member of the Mussingtons band – and the evidence is there that such a mixture of music was the trend in those memorable times. That did the magic. Persons actually used to book the band for parties and other events, locally and overseas, based on the CD/album content. Food for thought, my friends. And I retain the right to use the phrase “Don’t Get Personal” as I coined it long ago.
Now my commendations for the Better Vybes band. This band, from the selections I have heard, has a future in the business if it sticks to its unique style and don’t get sidetracked with wanting to be like PUMPA or sounding like Daddy Jones. Guys, you did yourselves and Anguilla proud and I am willing to offer any support possible. Good sound!!!
Finally, as DJ Hammer would ask, who will be the Commander of the reveling forces on the Black Mat to Sandy Ground come August Monday? Well that is left to be seen, but I think we need to bring back de tuning fork and have some intense classes with tonic sol-fa. We can’t have Teacher Lee at those sessions, but we have Teacher Eudora and Lennox.
By the way, I would have chosen a song like “No Style in ’85” by Ras Ibo, or “On Guard” by Mega Force, for the test tune for Bandorama 2013.
