The Ministry of Culture says Trinidad and Tobago music arranger Rishi Gayadeen recently participated in a workshop with local musicians to help boost their sound, in time for the Mash Chutney contest.
- Trinidadian musical director Rishi Gayadeen working along with Chutney competitor Bunty (right). (GINA photo)
A Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) press release said Gayadeen’s participation is the fulfilment of a commitment the ministry made to boost standards in the competition. The services of local Duck Curry promoter Looknauth Persaud were also enlisted, GINA said as plans are in train to host a joint chutney and curry festival.
Head of the National Chutney Committee Neaz Subhan said that in the light of the interventions last year, a much higher level of competition can be expected this year and patrons can look forward to a good show. Eighteen finalists, three of whom are overseas-based Guyanese will be contesting for this year’s crown. The competition is billed for the Rose Hall Canje Estate ground on February 19.
At the chutney camp in Bel Air Park, Gayadeen told GINA he was impressed with the local talent. “The majority of songs that I heard so far, are very good… the lyrics are lovely and in my opinion the lyrics are much better than in Trinidad. I find that Trinidad is concentrating more on rum, and as a musical director/ arranger they should chose another topic,” he said.
Critical to a good chutney show, Gayadeen said is the skill of the artiste to “work the stage” and win the attention of the audience by capturing their active participation. He was confident that the local performers can achieve these skills with the right training.
Gayadeen who has 23 years of experience in the music business took on the mantle from his father who owned the Band T&Tech Gayatones. For the past 16 years he has been arranging for some of top artistes in Trinidad and Tobago, namely Ricky Jai, Drupatee, Adesh Samaroo and Machel Montano. Gayadeen’s first visit to Guyana dates back some five years ago when Guyana hosted the first duck curry competition. “They (Guyanese musicians) are on the right track and bringing us across to assist them, I think definitely they will do good,” he said.
GINA said the chutney competition is one of several events on the calendar of activities for Mashramani 2010 which is being held under the theme ‘Embracing our Diversity, Celebrating our Heritage.’ The Chutney contest was put back on the Mash calendar in 2007; it had stopped being hosted some time ago.