Giving Phase II a play

Speaking about his 2017 composition Red White and Black, arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe introduced the arranger, the writer, the engineer and the vocalist.

This was a formidable team in Godwin Bowen, Chris Morris, Joe Brown and Damien Alexander respectively.

Vocalist Alexander, who is a musician said it was his first time at singing a song but it came easy because of the team behind the composition.

Skerritt told the audience every year Phase II had several challenges when it came to Boogsie’s music.

“First we struggle over who will sing the song. Should we take a popular artiste or should we go the other way and find someone who we can groom.

Over the years we have tried using unknown artistes.” According to Skerritt, “The second challenge is to get airplay, I understand there are 1,500 new songs for Carnival 2017.

Right there is a challenge to get the song on the airwaves.

It is too much in one little Carnival space and the popular artistes get the nod.

It has nothing to do with the quality of the music, soca music first then some of the good Savannah songs. Very few of the pan selections are played.

“That is why we try to get away from the pan song label and use topics not related to pan but effective to the Carnival. This is what has been happening to Boogsie’s music over the years.

“When we did Archbishop of Pan (GB) we wanted it to be a legacy for our cultural hero Dr Pat Bishop for her contribution to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago but that too ended up in the dustbin after the Carnival.

“So all I asking is to give we ah play.” Alexander then sang the song for members of the media. He said he was really the second choice as Morris was already singing his song. After performing the song at the National Panorama Large Bands semi-final last Sunday at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Phase II placed sixth with 272.5 points, tying with T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps.