TIME MACHINE: THE MINSHALL TRILOGY

ny time I take a trip to carnivals past, the Minshall name crops up, that is simply because of the impact the body of his work made on Trinidad’s Carnival full stop.

I don’t know if any of you ever noticed the video bar on the right but on it are some Minshall videos, I have decided to post these 6 videos, because, I believe, a lot can be learned from them not only about the mans work, but maybe some of you who don’t have a clue how deep mas can get can understand the potential this art form has.

And for the young designers that think the path to global critical acclaim, and respect as an artist can be found in the sparkle of the bead and the mirror, think again.

THINK FOR ONCE.

The documentary ‘The Minshall Trilogy’, was directed by Dalton Narine and covers Minshall’s trilogy of ‘River’ 1983, ‘Callaloo’, 84, and ‘The Golden Calabash’ in 85.

This is a special period in my life, for it was during these 3 years as a little boy sitting between my Uncle and Aunt in the North Stand, that the Carnival Jumbie, touched my soul, I also remember it as being the first time where, my vote, my opinion counted, my first lesson in democracy was in the North Stand, voting for the peoples choice.

The documentary features interviews, from Peter Minshall himself, legendary bandleaders, Elsie Lehung, and Raol Garib, and the most successful King of Carnival to date Peter Samuel, (8 times king) also one of the most famous Queens of Carnival, a young Sherry Ann Coelho (Guy), and a name well known in Notting Hill circles, Alwin Chow Linon.

It also features the music of David Rudder with Charlie’s Roots, two names that during this period (1980’s) was synonymous with Minshall and Callaloo.

so the MASSASSINATION TIME MACHINE PRESENTS,
for your edutainment this is

THE MINSHALL TRILOGY.

Related articles

• Publisher Ian Randle Receives the 2012 Prince Claus Award
• First Queen of the Bands
• K2K kicks off Carnival 2013 mas
• Paparazzi launches "Paparazzi" for Trinidad Carnival 2013

BURROKEETS UK 2008 SYMPHONY OF LIFE.

hat do I say about a band like Burrokeets?

Its one of those bands that has a great vibe on the road, but the costumes are consistently inconsistent. One year they HOT next year they NOT, I don’t know if its that they have different designers every year, or what , but this years presentation called Symphony of life is more like a boring melody an old one at that.

The theme is music, types of music, musical instruments, music with different cultural backgrounds, yet the costumes look as dated as the theme. Yes the theme has been done on both sides of the Atlantic, many times, but nothing in carnival is new. It’s

How it’s done is what counts.

Any experienced Carnivalist can tell you they have seen a section of this band in another band some where already, I can NEVER understand how, or why designers or teams of researchers and designers fail to explore the universe outside that of their little minds.

In a multicultural metropolis like London, your telling me that the design team at Burrokets could not do better, with all the musical influences , that bounce around the airwaves from funky house, to hip hop, to soca, to dance hall, to classical, to, pop so many influences all over the airwaves yet THIS IS YOUR SYMPHONY OF LIFE?

I would hate to see their symphony of death…….

MASQUERADE 2000 PRESENTS : OLE`

aturday (26^th) was the launch of the Masquerade 2000 presentation for Notting Hill Carnival 2008 Ole`, I really wanted to see it but could not make it, however taking a look on carnival central I saw some of what I needed to see.

The theme is Spanish, with sections like Matador, Carmen, Flamenco Dancers, Semana Santa, and Stampede, with the moko jumbies section comes the African element to the band, if this was done on purpose or accident I cant say but it does add to the theme.

It seems like the artistic direction of Lincoln Rahamut and designer David Brown has come up with a potential band of the year, putting M2K back on the road with a style that was synonymous with the band in the past.

Looking at the photos on island mix did have me questioning at first the bands, ability to successfully challenge for the Band of the year title, but the little I saw on the video created an atmosphere that if re-created at the splash and the road on Carnival day, with sufficient floor members they can pull it off.

It is hard to tell what the quality and workmanship will look like or what damage was done to the bands creative team if any by the exodus of the Bacchanal Mas sect.

However the big band M2K has creatively survived the hijacking of its image and the exodus of some of its members, only time will tell if they can maintain their position as a force to recon with on the streets of Notting hill this year.