‘Jazzy’ gets a great send-off

A LARGE number of well-known calypsonians, promoters and dignitaries gathered yesterday at the Holy Rosary Church, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain to pay their last respects to the man who stood side by side with the late Aldwyn “Kitchener” Roberts to make the Calypso Revue the force it is today. Big calypso names like Singing Sandra, Black Stalin, Mighty Terror, Brother Resistance, Poser, Cro Cro, Karega Mandela, promoter Randy Glasgow and Community Develop-ment, Culture and Gender Affairs Minister Joan Yuille-Williams turned out to pay their last respects. In addition Denyse Plummer, one of the calypsonians attached to the Calypso Revue, bid her farewell in song with a taped rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Pantin, who would have turned 75 in December, lost his battle with heart disease last Sunday.

Yuille-Williams noted that if “Jazzy” had not been there to give “Kitch” the critical support needed in 1967, “Kitch” would have returned to England and the Calypso Revue would not have been born. She pointed out that it was his strength, commitment and determination that kept the doors of the Calypso Revue open after Kitchener’s death, and the tent’s eviction from their Wrightson Road  home in 2004. The Minister explained that after the doors closed at Wrightson Road, Prime Minister Patrick Manning called on her to assist “Jazzy” and the tent to find a new home, and the first choice for him was the Forum at Henry Street. She said she could not understand what would make him want to go there, especially since there were other venues that could be made available, but after speaking with him, she decided, “Here is a man who has contributed so much to Trinidad and Tobago and to the world who had just one wish,” and so she decided to assist him in fulfilling his vision.

Yuille-Williams called on the new management, consisting of Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins), Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna), Pink Panther (Eric Taylor), Sonny Woodley, Skatie (Carlos James) and Denyse Plummer, which was put in place by Pantin, to continue the work he had been doing. She advised them to ensure the tent lived on, that the management he put in place functioned and  continued his legacy. Reminiscing about the good days she had with her brother, Grace Bason explained that “Jazzy,” who was one of 14 children, attended Rosary Boys’ RC school up to Post Primary. After leaving Rosary Boys’ he started to work at the Port-of-Spain Gazette newspaper.

In 1967 he joined with Kitchener to open the Calypso Revue and was involved in the industry from that moment up to the time of his passing. She described him as a unique strategist with a great sense of humour, who read a lot on history and contemporary affairs in his spare time. She noted that he accomplished all that he had despite not having a University degree. Also paying her last respect was his daughter Debra Pantin, who explained that her father lived a life rich in culture and with a passion for calypso. She said although her father was no longer here, he “would live on through us, we would make you proud.” She said she would always remember the good advice he imparted to her, most importantly to “work hard, appreciate people and never take anyone at face value.” Following the funeral service, “Jazzy” was laid to rest at the Lapeyrose Cemetery.