Jason 'Stumps' Lewis of All Stars Speaks
All Stars 'Soca by the River'
Trinidad All Stars supporters at party |
Staff Article
Interview Recorded: February 05, 2006
Posted: February 07, 2006
After covering the four Pan Yards where the Steelband Pan Yard judging for the Panorama Prelims took place, our final destination led us down to the Trinidad All Stars Pan Yard on Duke Street in Port of Spain to cover their 10th Annual 'Soca by the River' Carnival Fete. Featured entertainers were Woodbrook Playboyz, Roy Cape, Atlantik, Maximus Dan, Trinidad All Stars and DJ Switch. The crowd is getting thick and the sweet Soca music is echoing through the streets of Port of Spain. With me here is Mr. Jason 'Stumps' Lewis, manager of Operations for All Stars.
TRINBAGOPAN: Mr. Lewis, how did you come by your nickname, 'Stumps'?
JASON: The name 'Stumps' came about since I was three years. A guy gave me that name because I was short and stumpy. The name stuck with me from that time to now.
TRINBAGOPAN: Could you give us a brief history of the band?
JASON: Trinidad All Stars is seventy-one years old. We celebrated seventy years last year. We (the band) have been through many ups and downs. Our band had names in the past like 'Cross of Lorraine', 'Second Fiddle' and then we had 'Trinidad All Stars'. The name 'Trinidad All Stars' came about just being from Trinidad with the thought that we are "all stars". We have toured extensively to countries such as China, India, Africa, Nigeria, Ghana to be exact, Australia, France, Canada, Scotland, throughout the Caribbean, United States, United Kingdom and that is just to name a few. We won five Panorama Championships, six Music Festivals, and numerous Bomb Competitions, so much so that we have stopped checking. Then there were other competitions such as Pan in the Twenty First Century which we won on more occasions than any other band. We basically have a busy schedule during the year. We have an average of about fifty engagements. The Stage Side goes right through the year. We are sponsored by Neal & Massy and this is the eighteenth year Neal & Massy has been our sponsor. For Panorama 2006 we have an average of about one hundred and fifty players rehearsing. For the Stage Side we have roughly between thirty to forty players.
TRINBAGOPAN: Besides Panorama 2006, what do you all have planned for this year?
JASON: Let me first inform you that our tune of choice for Panorama 2006 will be 'Soca Warriors' by 'De Fosto'. This event tonight "Soca by the River" is our annual fete and 10th anniversary. I am sure you are already aware of who will be performing here tonight, but all the same, we have Atlantik, Roy Cape, Maximus Dan, Woodbrook Playboyz, Trinidad All Stars and DJ Switch. We will be having a boat ride on the 4th of March, 2006. Every year we have two Thanksgiving Services. One most likely will be around April.
This year we want to revive the Classical Jewels. In the past we have always had a series of classical concerts, strictly classical music. We had nine series, the last one was in 1991. We have other plans, tentative tours. The band right now is doing very well and we will continue to fly the flag in Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world in the pan.
TRINBAGOPAN: Who is currently arranging for the band?
JASON: The arranger of the band is Leon 'Smooth' Edwards. He grew up with the band and he is still with us. He is doing a wonderful job right now.
TRINBAGOPAN: Do you have any words of advice you would like to leave for the younger people and the people who have been listening to All Stars Steelband Music?
JASON: Yes, I would like the youths who are aspiring to be good pannists to stay off the drugs, do not get involved in crime, and put education first. Use pan, sports and other cultural activities as extra curriculum. Pan can take you very far.
TRINBAGOPAN: Thank you.
Pictures of All Stars 'Soca by the River':
www.trinbagopan.com/gallery/All-Stars050206
Panyard Interviews | Trinbago Pan Homepage
|
|
