Good night with the Stars

Judging night of the Cave Shepherd All Stars tent was a perfect example of calypsonians using rhythm, lyrics and melody not only to entertain, but to make a convincing case for traditional calypso (social commentary) to take its rightful place in the cosmos of international music.There was no doubt on Thursday night that the All Stars cast were comfortable with the slower form of calypso. The singers, for the most part, exhibited good voices and excellent phrasing and benefited from harmonious and exciting arrangements.Jennifer Walker carried the show. Usually risqué in her offerings, Walker in her caricature of a cane cutter wielded her blade a bit too much, cracking one joke too many on the same sexual theme, and ruffling a few feathers in the process.The evening’s presentation at the Plantation Garden Theatre, Christ Church, was divided into the judging for 2010 Pic-O-De-Crop and Party Monarch competitions, and guest act Adonis, featuring Jalani Enforcer Miller doing Little Rasta, were the curtain raisers. They were warmly received for their courage and performing ability.Seasoned performersThen it was time for the seasoned performers.Michael Director Forde of Sousie fame, was first before the Pic-O-De-Crop judges with Freedom, a song about the virtues of living in a free Barbados. It was set to the shango rhythms and he showcased good voice and range. His other song, a party number, was Tiefing Croney, which had shades of his past hit Sousie.The usually laid-back Colin Spencer was in your face with confidence as he rendered Dey Dun Wid You, a lyrical interplay between two diehard political rivals, and Lyrical Master No 2, a humorous recital of the criteria for being considered a kaiso writer of class.Lady J is a good singer with a pleasing stage presence. Her lyrics – also used by singers annually appealing to the judges as if to say “pick me for the crown”, have become an annual dirge. Not that they were not well put together in the song Match Fixing  – whatever that means – but for the seasoned kaiso followers this technique seems tired and overworked. Still, she got an encore. Her next song was Calypso In Crisis.Kyrstal has grown in confidence both vocally and in stage performance, as evidenced in Crystal Ball and Get On Your Knees And Pray, the former with some lyrical concepts heard before.Tassa did Old People, a tribute to the seniors, and a witty number called To The Dump, based on an idea of staging the Party Monarch competition at Greenland, a proposed garbage site. Hee Haw, whose lyrics are Christian-based, continues to make a good impression on the audience. Thursday was no different when he did Christians and Show Your Face. Troy Special enhances his tent’s image and wins hearts with songs like Real Issues and We Ain’t Listening. He also judged for Party Monarch with Excuse Me but Troy must also listen to his voice to maintain his key.Adrian Clarke, a twice-crowned calypso monarch, stood out vocally, lyrically and in arrangements in Mr Jekyl And Hyde and Crowd Response. Clarke is good, but it sometimes seems that the audience does not know that. Other contributions for the night came from the De Announcer, who made his return to stage after saying last year he would not compete again, doing Kill Bill and Gangsta Blame; Charisma, with I Had To Come Again and Abstinence; Duke, with Just A lil Lower; Lana Storm, with Bounce; Jafari, with Fi, Fo Fum; and Villain, with Soca Vibe.Whoever the judges decided to send forward to next stage would have deserved their nod because the competition was keen throughout the tent and supported by an excellent band.