Nobody truly expected the November 23 “Headley Show” to run for the appointed two hours at the UWI School in St Augustine as advertised.
Almost three hours into a late start and following a memorable performance by acclaimed sitarist Mungal Patasar and Pantar, there was still no sign of much-awaited headliner Tunapuna Tipica Steel Orchestra.
Some clinical trimming of a programme comprising vastly uneven performances would have helped. To many, patriarch pan legend Harold Headley, and his accomplished brother Kenrick could have stayed centre stage throughout.
Together, and separately, these two musical masters showed what pan playing is all about—Harold himself being a co-founder of Pantar alongside Patasar, and the mastermind behind Tunapuna Tipica now led by his son, Denzel.
It was not that Indian dancer student, Shrishti Anjali Ramsubhag, did not provide a thrilling opening, or that Joshua Headley failed to deliver a soul-stirring moment. But that a packed, unwieldy programme comprising wildly varying competencies does not a great show make.
MC Christopher Best consequently did not experience an easy ride, and stage management stresses showed.
Azucar Parang Group brought the thrill of seasonal fare and Patasar, together with the Headley pan players, provided musical excellence.
Tunapuna Tipica, under the leadership of Denzel Headley is a top band deserving of priority slots on any programme. The audience needed to hear them much earlier on a Sunday evening. By the time they came on stage, the audience had dwindled.
The Headley Show hit some high musical points but missed out on the value of a tightly wound programme that begins on time and shows off only its best.
