Sobers Serves Crackers, Cheese & Calypso
STACEY SOBERS is set to tell her calypso love story. The 2018 National Women’s Action Committee (NWAC) Calypso Queen will present “We love Kaiso Since we Small” at the fifth installment of her annual concert series “Crackers and Cheese”, on October 29, at the Central Bank Auditorium, Port of Spain.
The showcase, part of the ongoing Calypso History Month celebrations, will feature calypso veteran Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillip), 2022 National Poetry Slam finalist Zakiya Gill and Krisson Joseph, son of the late calypsonian Mighty Penguin (Seadley Joseph). All acts will be backed by calypso/ jazz band Dominant Seventh.
“This is an ode to kaiso, a kaiso love story. (The show) seeks to connect the calypso era of the 70s, 80s and 90s with the calypsonians who are carrying the art form forward in the 21st century,” Sobers told the Express earlier this week.
Sobers, the daughter of pannist/ calypsonian Glenford “Joe Cool” Sobers, says the show’s entire cast all have deep-rooted connections with that era and are intent on preserving and honoring the art form.
“‘Crackers and Cheese’ is an ode to kaiso and some of the legends who defined the genre in the 80s and 90s,” said Sobers, who rose to prominence in the 90s as part of the band Black by Nature.
“‘We love Kaiso Since we Small’ will see songs of yesteryear come alive by second-generation performers including Krisson Joseph, son of the late Mighty Penguin, who will pay homage to his father,” Sobers added.
Bridging the cultural gap
More than a tool to entertain, calypso has served to educate the masses and give grassroots communities a voice on national issues, Sobers noted. Building bridges between the old and new generations is the only way to keep the oral traditions alive, she added.
“As performers, we have a duty to preserve this uniquely Trinbago-nian art form. Kaiso has historically been a rhythmic tool to educate, entertain and keep our oral traditions
alive. It also has served as a vehicle to confront our socio-economic realities and speak truth to power. Bridging the gap between the then and the now – and inviting the public to partake – is an important part of keeping this cultural expression alive,” she said.
Valentino, who notably thrived during the late 70s and 80s, will perform his classics “Life is a Stage” and “Stay Up Zimbabwe”. Patrons can also look forward to a special performance of original pieces by Gill, an award-winning writer, and spoken word poet, she said.
“Crackers and Cheese” was created in 2018 as a modern take on the calypso tent experience, blending the intimacy and convivial nature of the tent with the sophisticated vibe of a local cocktail evening lime, she explained.
In 2021, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sobers successfully staged the third edition of the concert series “Crackers + Cheese @ home”. Both shows were live-streamed and well received by a global audience. “Crackers and Cheese: We love Kaiso Since we Small” will be Sobers’ first live performance show in two years.
Visit www.staceysobers.com for ticketing information.
