'Music in the Rainforest'
'Professor' Philmore lets the pan lecture
Stabroek News
March 31, 2007
Drawing every molten note out of the steel, Ken 'Professor' Philmore had the kettle boiling with a high pitched whistle that ruffled the pores and entered the blood stream sending cells infected with the wailing notes rushing to the brain pounding the emotions and leaving no heart in the house untouched.
It was the opening night of the Guyana Music Festival at the Sidewalk Café and Jazz Club on Middle Street. The festival called 'Music in the Rainforest' showcases a number of artistes among them First Born, Seretse & the True Democrats, Ken 'Professor' Philmore, Len 'Boogsie' Sharp, Arturo Tappin & the Caribbean All Stars, Cuban group Sabor Café, Ricky Braithwaite, Rhea, Nicholas Brancher and Guyana All Stars.
The seven-night event runs from March 28 to Saturday 7 with a final show at the Sidewalk Café. The festival shifts to the Prairie International Hotel on March 31 for a show, which starts at 12.30 pm, featuring First Born, Seretse & the True Democrats, Ken 'Professor' Philmore, Sabor Café, Len 'Boogsie' Sharp and Arturo Tappin & the Caribbean All Stars.
Philmore, an accomplished pannist, entertained on opening night with a mixed dish of Caribbean, funk and soul morsels heightened by improvised jazz-influenced sprinkles served in such a way that the pan came alive singing familiar notes but rung out by the connection of wood and steel. The music flowed through the venue like an easy-on-a-Sunday-morning breeze off the north Atlantic coast of Guyana flavoured by complimentary, pink drink in a glass, El Dorado Swizzler.
Returning to the Sidewalk Café after 12 years, Philmore's performance, backed by the Sidewalk House Band that features on keyboards Trevor 'TJ' John, on drums Michael Smith and bassist George Reed was widely appreciated by the patrons in attendance.
Ken 'Professor' Philmore and saxophonist Keith Campbell jamming on the Guyana Music Festival opening night at Sidewalk Cafe on Wednesday.
The house band, led by vocalist Sharon Pires, also entertained patrons early before the curtains went up for the night's headlining artiste.
Playing popular tracks while interacting with the packed house, among whom were British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler, a host of West Indian fans and Australians, Philmore further cemented the fact that the steel pan is the most versatile instrument ever invented.
If 'Music in the Rainforest' continues along the energetic, musically enlightening, and melodious introduction established by Philmore on opening night it would indeed be a prophetic beginning to what can turn out to be an explosive annual event which is the aim of the promoters.
It is worth noting that a slew of sponsors came on board to charter the wild experience.
Some of these are Noble House Seafoods, GT&T, Ansa McAl, Kei-Shar's, Caribbean Airlines, DDL, Ariantze, Sidewalk Café & Jazz Club and Calabash Gift Shop.