In launching his new CD last Wednesday night at De Nu Pub in Woodbrook, AllRounder (Anthony Hendrickson) proved beyond a doubt that after decades of performing on the kaiso stage, he's still got it. The show, hosted by his daughter Shirlane Hendrickson, was a feast of new music for Carnival 2010, and an early peek into this year's offerings from Tuco's Klassic Ruso Tent, ahead of its launch on Friday night at City Hall. With a good mix of serious compositions taking on current events, personal statements, humour and double-entendre, the bards gave the standing-room-only audience a night of great entertainment and plenty to talk about afterward. Early on, Dr Will B sang Index Finger, which tells of losing his pan stick mid-performance and continuing to play.
Contender sang the song that took him to the Big Yard last year for the first time since the start of his kaiso career in 1966, Yuh Cyah Buy a Extempo, as well as a new one for C2K10 that told the tale of his feat. He had the audience on his side; they enjoyed his songs and sang along with the refrains. Luta's performance was a high point and his My National Pride seems destined to win him many encores this season. The song describes the common woes endured in day-to-day life in T&T, but says sardonically that the sight of the infamous $2M flag at the National Stadium is enough to take all the pain away. D Diamond sang on the rise of gangster culture among the young, coming on just after a smartly dressed Pink Panther. Crazy sang the rather naughty Rub It Up on Meh, which, illustrated with some hilarious antics, had the crowd in stitches. Lady Wonder, AllRounder's first daughter, came out in an admiral's hat to sing Don't Rock de Boat, which dealt with ills facing the country.
She was followed by her younger sister, who warned of the omniscience of the Almighty in Jah Knows. She also performed her own flag-inspired ditty, with some saucy moves that the audience enjoyed. Then it was time for the man of the hour, AllRounder himself, who, from the time he took the stage, showed the reason for his kaiso reputation. Backed by his daughters, he gave perhaps the most powerful performance of the night, showing poise, showmanship and good command of the stage, dressed in tuxedo trousers and a trendy black shirt. He performed new songs (a couple of which were not yet recorded and were delivered with Wonder and Shirlane doing a cappella accompaniment) and a couple of old favourites like Keep Fit and Jimmy Swaggert. But the highlight of his performance was his new track, Dive, for which he disrobed to reveal a black and yellow diving costume and even dove down on the floor to illustrate his swimming lesson. It was a great night for the kaiso veteran, one which showed the calypso art form is alive and kicking going into Carnival 2010.
