By Roger Gibbs
Images by Dave Douglas
Toronto’s East City Banquet Corridor in Scarborough was abuzz with pleasure and anticipation on the climax of the 2024 KAISO 365 Calypso Monarch Finals which came about on Sunday, July 28. Held the weekend earlier than the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade yearly, this 12 months an enthusiastic calypso followers gathered to witness the judging and crowing of veteran calypsonian/actor King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) singing ‘The place Carnival Going’. The songs catchy melody and mockery of contemporary Carnival costumes resonated with the panel of 5 judges and standing room-only home simply sufficient to edge out robust performances by the opposite eight singers.
The ten-piece band The Reality led by dance music maestro Ossie Gurlie pulled off an thrilling programme that went from calypso battle to gospel soca to bounce celebration. Brilliantly hosted by all-round artistic tour de drive Rhoma Spencer, the night opened with the presenting of Particular Awards by Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine to eight KAISO Champions for his or her excellent contributions to calypso improvement in Canada. The awardees had been:
Angela Pierre – Former OCPA Board Member, Carnival Arts administrator
Anthony Berot – Photographer, Videographer
Clevil James – Former Calypso Head Choose
Oswald James – Musician, Arranger
Gail Frances King – TLK Tent (The Professionals)
Frances Lochan– TLK Tent (The Professionals)
Judith Thompson– TLK Tent (The Professionals)
Brian Thornhill – ‘KAISO 365’ Calypso Monarch 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011.
Crooner’s (Invoice Newman) hilarious track ‘Stormy’ received the Peoples’ Selection choose, the Finest Composition on a Native Matter, and Most Humorous Calypso – positioned a detailed second. Naki, returning to the calypso enviornment after a twelve hiatus, belted out the highly effective ‘Unfinished Enterprise’ for third spot. Connector, Yellows, Susan G, Lando Hooks, Blocker, and Bajan Brown Sugar made up the remainder of the solid and all put in worthy performances. In the meantime, King Cosmos deserved his win. The viewers favorite Crooner and several other others may have prevailed however the factors system in judging music will be extremely subjective, and the judges’ choice is ultimate.
Judging standards was out of 100 factors: Melody (35), Lyrics (35), and Rendition (30). The ultimate tally for the night was: King Cosmos – 265; Crooner – 263; Naki – 247; Connector – 246; Yellows – 237; Susan G – 227; Lando Hooks – 217; Blocker – 216; Brown Sugar – 214.
Particular nod have to be given to featured visitor artist Trevor B, who had the very tough job of taking the stage after the climactic announcement of the outcomes. He introduced the viewers to a different sort of excessive, this time with a religious message – The Goodness of God. Native soca star – Leon Spice – then took issues into his arms with a fiery las’ lap session to cap off the night time.
The general high quality of the work was an enchancment from final 12 months, however nonetheless a option to go to match the highs of the early 2000s with the likes of Jayson, Newbie, Construction, Macomere Fifi, Panman Pat, and others. The very fact is the present group of singers dominating the calypso scene is nicely previous their prime and a brand new youthful cohort of singers have but to seek out their toes.
Not like soca, calypso presents a far larger musical problem to younger artists. Rising calypso singers wrestle to command the lyrical sophistication and storytelling aptitude required of nice calypso, a ability that may solely come from finding out the greats of the 200-year-old artwork type. The excellent news is that there’s an thrilling new crop of singers able to take the highlight. The Junior Carnival’s Calypso Showcase in Malvern Park launched some formidable skills who, in a number of years, may flip the calypso scene on its head.
