The National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) will come alive with the scintillating sound of ivory and steel when Dr Louis & The Lynx and MHTL Starlift Steel Orchestra take to the stage for ‘Renaissance’ the concert, on Saturday, October 5.
Hosted in partnership with the St Joseph RC Community, part proceeds from the musical evening will be channelled towards the much-needed repair of the parish church—one of Trinidad and Tobago’s oldest that still stands after some 200 years.
‘Renaissance’ promises to explore the power of the piano and the drum, from which T&T’s national instrument, the steelpan, evolved.
With a wide-ranging repertoire showcasing from classics to pop, R&B, Calypso and Dr Louis Nurse’s own brand of Soca-Jazz, the concert will harness both the youthful and experienced energies of its main performers and provide entertainment most suitable for the entire family.
The concert was conceptualised by Dr Nurse who hails from St Joseph. He has been entertaining audiences as a 40-year veteran of the local music fraternity—performing both as a solo pianist and with his band.
In his own unique style, he straddles both the world of music and academia, having earned his doctorate in Business Administration in 2018 from the University of Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge, England.
The well-known pianist has birthed several well-received albums over the years and recently released a compilation of originals, comprising music for healing.
For more than 60 years, Starlift has consistently made its musical presence felt on the local landscape. Founded in 1956, the orchestra was the result of joining three Woodbrook-based steelbands—Hit Paraders, Saigon and Sombrero—to form the well-organised and progressive unit that exists today on Mucurapo Road.
Some of the band’s more enduring and successful competition pieces include: ‘The Bull’ (1969) and ‘Du Du Yemi’ (1978). Few will disagree that Ray Holman’s masterful take on the Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’—well-executed by Starlift as a Carnival “bomb tune”—will forever be counted among the most memorable of steelpan arrangements.
Today, Starlift comprises a cadre of young and dedicated players whose musicianship continues to expand admirably.
Under the artistic direction of arranger Dante Pantin, the steel orchestra is currently in preparation mode for the October affair with Dr Louis & The Lynx.
The organisers welcome the public’s patronage of this joint venture as a show of support for the youth, in particular, as they present a world-class event on October 5 at NAPA.
‘Renaissance: Ivory & Steel’ featuring Dr Louis & The Lynx and MHTL Starlift Steel Orchestra takes place on Saturday, October 5 at the Aldwyn Roberts (Lord Kitchener) Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain.
Showtime is 8 p.m. General admission is $200. Specially priced VIP tickets are available also. For bookings, call 730-2344, 662-2827 or 689-3297.