The Intimate Concert Series features Brother Superior, with special guest, Ron Reid

There’s something quite remarkable about celebrating 50-plus years in any field of endeavour. However, when the field in question happens to be the business and art of calypso, the celebration seems to take on a richer and more meaningful dimension for those involved.

On Thursday May 19, the Intimate Concert Series features Brother Superior - whose calypso career spans 57 years - in an evening set to entertain fans with cleverly composed ditties, and stories from his many travels the world over.

Fondly referred to as ‘Supie’, Andrew Marcano made his debut in 1954 at age 16, singing a hit song entitled ‘Coconut’. In those days he was recognized as the youngest calypsonian to perform locally. Today, quite ironically, at 73, Brother Superior boasts of being the oldest working calypsonian based in Trinidad!

Known for his inspiring lyrics and bouncy melodies, Superior lists among his personal favourites, songs like ‘Spread Joy’, ‘San Fernando Carnival’, Saga T’ing’, ‘We Want a Day’ and ‘Standardize Pan’.

The calypso stalwart harbours absolutely no regrets about retiring from active competition in 1975, after winning the ‘South’ title on two occasions and placing fourth in the Calypso King competition in Port of Spain. With trademark fedora, suspenders and guitar in hand, he regularly traveled the globe with the masters Lord Kitchener and Melody, while remaining anchored for several years in the US Virgin Islands. Superior’s astonishingly long and fruitful career bears testimony to one of his major life goals - that of preserving the legacy of Trinbago’s indigenous music.

At Thursday’s concert Superior plans to share snippets of his life and his involvement in projects like the award-winning documentary film ‘Calypso Dreams’ as well as recent collaborations with New York-based Trinidadian jazz trumpeter, Etienne Charles.

Sharing the spotlight with Superior, in what can be termed a ‘reunion’ of sorts (it’s been 30 years since they last collaborated), will be ace bassist, pannist and music professor, Ron Reid.

Back in the 1970s, Reid played in the Regal Calypso Tent band, while Superior was a cast-member. The affable musician credits Superior as one of the very few who understood his ‘musical’ thirst for greater knowledge, thereby encouraging him to follow his passion for music on a full-time basis.

Since leaving Trinidad in the mid-‘80s to further his studies in the US, Reid has maintained an active performance schedule. He’s shared the stage with musicians like Randy Weston and Chick Corea and many still applaud the pan-jazz CD project ‘Reid, Wright and be Happy’ – an acclaimed musical foray with Orville Wright and David ‘Happy’ Williams in 2003. Currently, he teaches arranging and steelpan performance at the prestigious Berklee College of music in Boston.

Reid is no stranger to the local steel-pan, theatre and television fraternities, having conducted, directed, composed music or acted in numerous productions that cut across these spheres of artistic activity.

The Intimate Concert Series is produced collaboratively by Foreday Mornin’ Entertainment and Trinidad Theatre Workshop (TTW). The Series facilitates an alternative view of the life and work of each showcased artist, musically supported by The Theron Shaw Project. Shaw’s own music forms a backdrop to each edition of the concert series.

Showtime on Thursday May 19 is 7.30 pm, at the TTW in Belmont, while a drinks-inclusive cover charge of $100 will be collected.

For more information, check the Facebook page: Intimate Concert Series, or call TTW on 624-8502.