When you combine a cold winter night, the day before the biggest holiday in the USA (Thanksgiving), and the biggest chutney soca band in T&T, you get a night of major enjoyment. On November 24, Club Tobago on 147-02 Liberty Avenue in Queens, New York, was a buzz of activity for all the soca chutney lovers. Ravi B and some members of his band, Karma, celebrated their birthday at the popular club. Ravi's birthday was actually on October 27, but, as a result of the Divali celebrations and fasting that was being observed at that time, he was unable to celebrate as he would have liked then.
His sister, Neisha B, celebrated her birthday one week before on October 18, while the newest member Gregory Ayuen tore up another calendar on November 28.Although the band held a birthday bash at the Sting nightclub on November 13, a birthday celebration has become a calendar event at the New York club.
Despite the cold many came out to hear the band. Ravi B performed solo for 15 minutes, before he was joined by Gregory Ayuen. And although the band was capable of performing a wide range of both soca chutney and soca songs, patrons seemed more interested in traditional chutney renditions. And Karma did not disappoint.
The band recently racked up a total of 18 awards at three different ceremonies. "Before winning the Soca Chutney title this year, I never knew I was competition material," Ravi B admitted. Last month the band released two soca chutney songs, Player, and Wey Yuh Dey. On December 8 Come Home was released, a single Ravi believes could be the song to defend the Soca Chutney title in 2011. "My confidence is high about winning the title again. Winning once is only the beginning and I have to defend it," said the singer.