By By Chaos, Freelance WriterIT WAS all fun and games when Supreme Ventures Jamaica Carnival 2004 rolled into the Jamalco Sports Club, Hayes, Clarendon last Saturday night.
Promoter Byron Lee, after thanking Supreme Ventures for getting on board in terms of sponsorship, called the event a 'biprecipitation' a mixture of calypso and dancehall - which was as good a way as any to describe the event. In addition to high energy sets from Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, the event also saw some good old fashioned dancehall juggling courtesy of the sound system Nite Traxxx.
'WHEEL OF FORTUNE'
Throughout the night, music aside, patrons would also engage in various games of chance, vying to win mini-radios, flashlights, T-shirts and the like on the 'Wheel of Fortune'. One young man left Jamalco $35,000 richer after correctly guessing the combination for the lock 825 under which it was kept.
Aside from the Supreme Ventures booth, other sponsors such as Cable & Wireless and Juici Beef patties also had a presence and seemed to do moderate to brisk business.
Back to the music.
Lee also used the phrase 'raving explosion of emotions' and that is exactly what happened when his Dragonaires took the stage. Lead singers Keisha, Oscar B, Roger George and Jumo all took the time to get the raw-waving massive worked up. "Are you sure you from May Pen?" Keisha asked at one point. "Or are you from Buff Bay? anybody from Portland?" she continued to roars of approval. Backed by Rupert Bent Sr. (guitar), Hopeton Williams (trumpet), Errol Gayle (guitar), Neville Hinds, Carol Brady (percussion) and Country Robb on bass, the group went through their hits and their takes on those of others in a performance which was not allowed to flag for even a second.
"If you've lost your cat come back stage" was met with screams of anticipation and soon people were 'attacking' from any number of interesting angles.
The ladies were then in for a treat, as Jumo decided to go shirtless and engaged in some exaggerated 'wining', much to their delight. After their first stint on-stage Nite Traxx took over the musical duties and you could be forgiven for thinking that you had suddenly stepped into the latest staging of 'Passa Passa'. The soca music was but a mere afterthought to the selectors, who laid down a barrage of dancehall hits old and new - not that anyone was complaining.
The Dragonaires' second stint on-stage, which began at around 3 a.m. was more of the same. Their unflagging energy matched that of the dancing, jumping, rag-waving crowd and did not let up for even a second. The singers exchanged microphone duties before Jumo again titillated shirtless, with even a few women at the front of the stage doing their level best to get their hands on him as he 'wined', 'jooked' and was overall entertaining, as was the entire event.
People eventually left, soaking wet, tired, but happy. There was one moment of hilarity during the proceeding. Securtiy guards were seen escorting a man who did not have a pass back through the gates.
