Originally written for and published in the 2008 edition of Discover Trinidad & Tobago travel guide The steel pan (it’s really a bit of a faux pas to call it a steel drum!) is one of Trinidad’s proudest exports. It distinguishes itself by being the only acoustic, non-electric instrument invented in the 20th century, and one incubated right …
Continue reading The Making of a Steel Pan | Discover Trinidad & Tobago
Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2007 This September, Geraldine Connor’s epic musical Carnival Messiah will be presented in a rather unusual setting. The mammoth production will be staged under a 1,000-seat big top on the lawn of the sprawling Harewood House, home of the Queen’s cousin the Earl of Harewood, and an estate …
Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2007 Last January 22, Carlos Lezama, the man known as “the Father of Brooklyn Carnival”, died at King’s County Hospital in his adopted home town of Brooklyn, New York. He was 83. The West Indian Day Parade, also known as Brooklyn Carnival, happens each Labour Day …
Continue reading Passing of a king of carnival | Caribbean Beat
I had heard all the buzz, and I’d read the awful deconstructions in the press, and was eager to see how I felt about Carnival Messiah. As I expected, I could see where the strong feelings for and against the production had originated. The programme described it as a ‘two-hour spectacular’, but in reality, it was some three and a …
Caroline Taylor 