Vizion on Grenada mission

If you are a genuine Caribbean citizen, you will want to be in Grenada May 1 this year. That’s when Caribbean Vizion’s escapade hits the stage again.

Caribbean Vizion is a fifteen member group led by 1999 Trinidad and Tobago Soca monarch Kurt ‘Fire Foxx’ Allen. {{more}}

Allen has directed his energies towards educating the Caribbean region through cultural means since taking the Soca title.

The group has a production, which highlights aspects of Caribbean life of relevance to our existence.

But they spearheaded a presentation accompanied by their musical group called Windiez Band. And the effort last Sunday at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex provided a source of comfort to the culture starved Vincentians. But the package was a truly Caribbean affair if not extending beyond the shores of the region.

That event will be repeated with some additions in Grenada. For Caribbean Vizion is intent on taking their mission to all Caricom states. And they have enlisted the support of regional governments.

How did Caribbean Vizion accomplish that feat is a wonder. The show embraced the best of Caribbean musical ability. For example, Ronald Boo Hinkson, St. Lucian guitarist of worldwide fame was on stage. Leroy ‘Black’ Stalin’ Calliste, Timothy ‘Baron’ Watkins, and Anthony ‘Gabby’ Carter unleashed vintage calypsos, accompanied by the band with musicians like Roy Cape on saxophone, and Boston based bassist Garrett Sawyer.

Cornell Phillips from Dominica is a keyboardist who has made his mark internationally, and Barbara Cadette blended her skills on saxophone admirably to the crowd’s delight. The musicians included Timothy Mondesir, trumpet and Hilary Lewis trombone, both from St. Lucia; Trevor Queeley is an energetic saxophonist from St. Kitts, and his compatriot Ron Clarke a keyboardist underlined the regional nature of the event.

Anastas ‘Nas T’ Hackett a producer/drummer from New York underlined the international outlook to which the Caribbean Vizion mission has caught on.

Grenadian Wilt ‘Tallpree’ Cambridge slotted into the package in ideal representation of his homeland to which the benefit concert had been designed.

Almost the entire Caricom nation was represented with Vincentian Jomo on pan. And they followed on a setting highlighting local artistes like Alston ‘Becket’ Cyrus, Delroy ‘Firemen’ Hooper and Alla G.

The local Police Band, displaying a seven-piece brass line up accompanied them.

Last Sunday’s event was the forerunner to the exercise carded for Grenada May 1. And there was a heavy vocal cast, which kept the audience thrilled. That included Fire Foxx himself, supported by Vincentian Raeon ‘Madzart’ Primus, Dominican Sherian Parilion, and Barbadian Andy Armstrong.

Allen acknowledged support from regional governments to the Caribbean Vizion perception.

And the climax came with the entire cast on stage paying tribute to the Caribbean’s most renowned artiste Bob Marley in his composition One love.

Vocals were led by Jamaican Patrick ‘Tony Rebel’ Barrett, along with a supporting cast of Queen Ifrica, Michael record, Richard Smith, Donval ‘Shane steel’ Lindsay, Richard Smith and Brian ‘Honeycomb’ Mullings.

And for good measure there was modeling by Ebika Kagbala of Authentic Africana fashion, as well as cultural performances showcasing local talent.