Calypsowanda
joan summers | France | 08/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As sparrow said on the cd " yankee's gone"! This brings back the memories of classic calypso and is true to the tone and climate at the time. I hope the video will come out soon in the states, I saw it in Europe and it was really something! They mash up deh place!
"
The best film is Calypso at Dirty Jim's
Author Poet | Toronto, Ontario | 02/11/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My review of the film: Calypso at Dirty Jim's
by Henrietta Akit
A documentary called Calypso at Dirty Jim's celebrates the lives and history of Kaisonians of the 1950s debuts finally in Toronto on Feb. 5, 2006 for Black History month.
Everyone should purchase an original copy of this DVD of Calypso at Dirty Jim's, because the film has some excellent recordings that we can cherish as part of our cultural heritage. Bomber, in his younger days, had to suffer on the bench in the Young Brigade Tent for four weeks until he got his opportunity to step up to the stage to sing. He said, "Is when the car shut down, and the others were late, the manager of the tent call him to sing, he say - you could sing boy?" So he finally got his chance to sing.
Calypso Rose, said that today, the younger "jump up and wine" group of performers/singers are downplaying the real meaning of the calypso which she calls - "the assassination of calypso" because the young artistes today have lost respect for the music genre. Few "real" Kaisonians are left, according to the group who originally performed at Dirty Jim's because the younger people don't write their own lyrics, there is too much "smut" in the music, and the new artistes can't do the extempo. There is a difference between the "true Kaisonian" and the "Calypso singer". Interestingly, a lot of issues in the film were discussed in Professor Hollis Chalkie Liverpool's latest book, "From the Horse's Mouth" (it deals with the history of the professional Calypsonians and their fights and struggles as professionals in their calypso world.) There was a lot of friendly competition in the old days, and each performer had "true love" for each other in the old days.
One could postulate that the "assassination of calypso" happens on the radio - sometimes, I hear the good stuff now and then, and sometimes I hear "stuff" and meh blood pressure does go up and meh eyes start to roll backwards, as we may hypothesize on the topic. Being a feminist - women should speak up and say that we must enforce the calypso as a sacred form of music that should be preserved in it's original context. Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing that tells me, we should respect the art form and request that pleasant and sensible calypsos or soca music be played on our Canadian radio stations.
When I read the advertisement on the net, the Dirty Jim's Club of Trinidad of the 1950s was compared to the Buena Vista Social Club. The Cuban Buena Vista Social Club (is of Cuban, African and Spanish heritage) they have their own unique music - a sweet combination of pop, classical, Cuban folk, African rhythms finely blended with jazz influences - that is the mambo. KAISO is a unique form of music with its own roots and history - in sound it's not the same, neither is the language the same. Both forms of music are equally beautiful. Reggae, too, by itself is also unique and that music has Jamaican and African roots.
Kaiso (the Trini version) has its roots in Trinidad and Tobago which can be traced to Africa. Many Africans brought their religions, knowledge and music to the West Indies. The various versions of the calypso can be heard in all the islands in the Caribbean.
Canada is a great place to live after all! That was the best film ever. I received an e-mail newsletter from Harbourfront Centre telling me that a film about kaiso called "Calypso at Dirty Jim's" would be premiering, and who else would be moderating the electrifying panel discussion? William Doyle-Marshall, Canada's foremost music critic in the genre and journalist, and he was performing as the moderator/film critic, all live and interactive, with Eddie Bullen, Jayson, and Villaz.
If anything, it is surely a massive blessing for this year that, for Black History Month, a recent film - a documentary to boot, was shown at Harbourfront, Toronto. It's not just any old film, it's called Calypso at Dirty Jim's (2005, 86 minutes). The documentary's film producer is Cameroon-born, Paris-based Pascale Obolo. The film was first launched in Paris, France in April 2005 by the Producer and with the cast. A contingent of 17 artists and musicians journeyed to Paris for the premiere of the Calypso at Dirty Jim's show. Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Bomber, Relator, Brother Superior and musicians of the Dirty Jim Orchestra, including Ralph Davies (piano); Anthony Voisin (guitar); Harold Richards (double bass); Hayden Robin (trumpet); Godfrey Greenidge (alto); Charles Ross (tenor); Wayne Dopson (cuatro); and back-up vocalists Candice Antoine and Djamilah.
The first launch that happened in 2005 in Paris, France attracted the attention of the international media: television stations France (France 2); Italy (RAI); RFO; BBC Caribbean and BBC World, RFO, Radio Nova and RTL (France), RTL (Italy) radio stations; and, press/magazines like Liberation, Figaro and La Republica of Italy; Vanity Fair; and a few widely-read German magazines.
This was the first showing of the film back in 2005, and it took place at the prestigious Cirque D'Hiver in Paris on April 13, 2005, as part of the Blue Note Festival, a Jazz/World Festival. Then it showed in Trinidad.
Now it has arrived in time to celebrate Black History month in Canada. Of all places, it is in Toronto - we are all lucky to live here where we are protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are also fortunate that Harbourfront has these great shows. We must show our true love and appreciation for our culture by recognizing the importance of our roots and history, and not relegate it to the back pages of our Canadian newspapers or our dusty shelves in the Canadian archives.
The Canadian premiere film screening and panel discussion of Calypso at Dirty Jim's, on Sunday February 5 at Harbourfront, in the Brigantine Room, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., was an exciting educational event that promised to teach us the behind the scenes stories of the lives of Calypso Kings and Queens, who have endured serious hardships during their lives. Respect for the profession of a Calypsonian is a big issue these days. We must be grateful for our Calypsonians, our calypso promoters, deejays, authors, historians, music critics, journalists and panelists, for they make our world a brighter place.
This film version offered a microcosmic view of the history of the calypso world in the 1950s in Trinidad in one tent - it featured Calypso legends Lord Superior, Mighty Terror, Mighty Sparrow, and Calypso Rose (among many great other Calypsonians and legendary characters of our time to include Holly Betaudier, Kitchener, Bomber and Relator) performing hits live and recounting the days at the infamous Dirty Jim's Swizzle Club in 1950's Trinidad.
The film also mentioned various issues about the Calypso art form, past versus present. (More info at www.calypso-at-dirty-jims.com) After the documentary there was a serious panel discussion called From Extempo and Calypso to Soca, Rapso and Beyond."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1