On September 24, from 7.30pm, the Central Bank Auditorium will burst into musical flames when Ataklan, Natasha Joseph, Mavis John, Stacey Sobers, and 3Canal take to the stage for the concert, Chantuelle Vibz—A Musical Tribute for Andre Tanker.
Produced by Empress Aje (ah jay) or Chantuelle Queen, who too, will be igniting her special ball of fire, the event promises to offload a full tank of hits, vibes, memories, and emotions, like never before.
Tanker was a globally-recognised original musician and prolific composer who will be remembered sporting his afro hairstyle, playing his special guitar accompanying himself while performing his masterpieces, some of which are Sayamanda, River Come Down, Basement Party, Morena Osha, Ben Lion, Ya Ya Monde, and Steelband Times.
His work is said to define Caribbean folk-jazz genre. Many didn’t know that the very first instrument he played was pan, and that he evolved into a guitarist and cuatro player upon entering his teenage years. His jazz spirit was heavily influenced by the Cuban percussionist, Mongo Santamaria. He also developed a love for black consciousness and liberation with a bit of focus on Orisha music, and African drumming inspired by Andrew Beddoe, an Orisha priest.
Having had a passion for diversity, his love for Indian music was influenced by Ravi Shankar further growing to fulfillment in partnership with Trinidad’s once most sought-after sitarist, Mungal Patasar. Tanker’s music also brought him fame in the film industry. He and Patasar scored the soundtrack for the movie Bim, and wrote the music for the version of Derek Walcott’s Ti-Jean (tee jah) and His Brothers, which was a production for the New York Shakespeare Festival, 1972; Earl Lovelace’s The Dragon Can’t Dance; and a Mustapha Matura’s Playboy of the West Indies production at Lincoln Centre, Manhattan, USA.
Tickets at $300 can be sourced from 678. 2843 or 482.3111, or at Crosby’s Music Centre, St James; Xtra Foods, Arima, Grand Bazaar and Edinburgh, Chaguanas; and online at IslandETickets, and at Central Bank Box Office on the day of the show.