US studio burns 16-track Xmas CD

“I’ve gone bonkers over Trini parang and this CD should go down well with listeners. I dedicate this CD to the memory of my mother who along with my dad, supported me from day one,” Noel, a past Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) TT Music Awards winner, told Newsday.

Noel’s studio which he operates in tandem with his energetic wife Natasha Andrews-Noel, is responsible for churning out music CDs of a distinctive Trinbago Soca flavour. In the past, Noel has worked closely with such Trini soca giants as Bunji Garlin, Faye Ann Lyons and Shurwayne Winchester.

Noel, who is a nominee for the upcoming COTT 2006 Music Awards in the “Song of The Year” category, is responsible for packaging mainstream calypso and parang/soca music for both an American audience and the large West Indian community living in several American States and in Canada.

Though based in Brooklyn, New York and Trinidad, Ma$tamind caters to the Soca fraternity the world over having released songs and albums throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the United States.

However, this time around, Noel is taking a different slant. With his innate love for Christmas music (he boasts of being able to “handle his stories” on the Cuatro), Noel has composed and produced music for 16 tracks which will be featured on a Christmas album dedicated to his father Simon Noel and the loving memory of Shawn’s mother Hazel Noel.

A Ma$tamind Christmas takes listeners on a musical journey through a West Indian Christmas, ensuring listeners will enjoy the eclectic musical treat mixed with Latin Christmas songs, Trini Parang, Trini Soca Parang and traditional Christmas Carols.

The album, which will be distributed by JW Records in early November features music from Noel’s mother Hazel, Soca and Calypso artiste Crazy (Edwin Ayoung), Leon Coldero, Patch, Eddy Charles, Jason “Shaft” Bishop, Third Bass, Fuki, Guyana’s Reigning Road March and Soca Monarch King Adrian Dutchin, Annesia, Creig Camacho, Squeely Dan and many more.

The company’s production catalogue consists of countless collaborations with today’s leading Soca stars, including the songs that won Bunji Garlin’s International Soca Monarch Titles in 2004 and 2005 and Shurwayne Winchester’s Groovy Soca Monarch in 2006.

The Ma$tamind Christmas track list is as follows: 1. Hazel Noel - Alegria De Sonar 2. Leon Coldero - Curry Christmas (written by Leon Coldero & Adrian Hackshaw) 3. Third Bass - Who Party is Dis?? (written by Adrian Hackshaw) 4. Shaft - Tabanca Christmas (written by Jason Bishop) 5. Eddy Charles - Curtain Rod (written by Eddie Charles) 6. Creg Camacho - Garlic Pork (written Creg Camacho) 7. Fuki - Suzie (written by Lucille Charles) 8. Annesia - Bobolups (written by Jason Seenath) 9. Merc - Puncheon (written by Jason Bishop & Adrian Hackshaw) 10. Patch - All I want for Christmas (written By Roger Joseph) 11. JT - I Love She Nanny 12. Leon Coldero - Parangin’ In Brooklyn (written by Leon Coldero) 13. Da $pirit$ 14. Adrian Dutchin - Merry Christmas ( written by Adrian Dutchin) 15. Squeely Dan - Ghetto Christmas ( wirtten by Neil Alexander) 16. Crazy - Maria (written by Edwin Ayoung)