BY STEPHEN WEIR
World travelling, Trinidadian born jazzman Etienne Charles is going to put the dingolay into this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Earlier this week, we were notified that Charles was going to lead a guest Mas Band in the Carnival’s grand parade, and hopes that revelers will jump up and join his band.
“It is no big surprise that I am calling the band Etienne Charles Brass Band!” he told the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper. “The band is about reviving the tradition of live brass bands on the road, a tradition we have revived in Trinidad with our past three bands: We The People, Street Party and D’Longtime Band”
Etienne Charles has an uncle and aunt living in the GTA, and last fall played to a nearly sold-out concert at the North Toronto Sony Centre. He has a strong fan base in the province and is looking forward to those fans jumping up with him at the parade.
He will be coming to Toronto with a talented group of musicians to join him on the road. There will be a full brass band including vocalists: Lima Calbio, Keith “Keet Styla” Prescott, Roger George, Bruce Skerritt, Rodney Alexander, KJ Marcelle, Larnell Lewis, Kareem Thompson, and Larry Marsden!
“Dingolay is about celebrating the magic of music, how it connects people from: different places, generations, walks of life, religious beliefs and it appeals to all cultures that you find in the Caribbean, “Charles said. “I remember the days of live brass on the road and how it felt to be moving to the live pulsating rhythm, crisp brass and harmonious
vocals. We are bringing it all back to the Toronto Carnival.”
Want to be part of Dingolay? Registration is online (dingolay2019.eventbrite.com) and by phone (647-212-2334). You can also visit https://wethepeoplemas.com.
