Chin Lee calls for kaiso, soca music festival

“Did not Jamaica identify itself with rggae?” he asked. “Is this not destination promotion? A solution to our despair, disappointment, anxiety, and loss of hope, perhaps lie in the harnessing of our people’s intelligences.

This means harnessing the exceptionalism of our music to impact on the development of tourism and the travel industry.

So why not host a kaiso/soca music festival, instead of a jazz festival.” Chin Lee’s remarks were delivered during an address at the launch of the hotel’s 24th edition of its “Under The Trees” Carnival programme with at its Ciao Restaurant on February 1.

The 2017 programme opens on February 14 (Valentine’s Day) at 8.30 pm when patrons are invited to “Soca Under The Trees” with Ronnie McIntosh and D’ Experience Band, featuring calypsonians Anslem Douglas and Impulse (Wayne Modeste).

Making a special guest appearance will be balladeer/calypsonian Kenny J (Kenrick Joseph).

Elaborating on his suggestion, Chin Lee told the gathering of calypsonians, chutney artistes, musicians, promoters, and members of the entertainment fraternity they should not depend on government to initiate the festival, but use the “exceptional intelligences” to be found among them to create and manage the undertaking.

“Think of the ‘Under The Trees’ programme not as a Carnival programme, but a musical programme, and let us work together to extend it into becoming the country’s Kaiso/Soca Music Festival,” he suggested.

He proposed that a six-man team, comprising a strategist, expert communicator, political writer, financial expert, prominent calypsonian, and a prominent Carnival bandleader, be convened to look into the possibility of creating the event.

Under The Trees schedule: February 14 – Soca Under The Trees Ronnie McIntosh and D’ Experience Band, Anslem Douglas and Impulse February 15 – Chutney Soca Under The Trees, Ravi B and Friends.

February 17 – Superior and Relator, with guest performers Bro Mudada (Alan Fortune), and Twiggy (Annmarie Parks-Cudjoe).

February 22 – Rudder and guest artistes.

February 23 – Sparrow and Lord Nelson with guests Aaron Duncan, Chef Jason Peru and Gypsy.

February 24 – Remembering Kings and Queens, featuring Shadow, Superior, Sparrow, Rudder, SuperBlue and Gypsy.

February 26 – Big Cups Party Under The Trees with music by DJ and guest appearances.

All shows begin at 8.30 pm.