Legendary Echoes Linger On

I refer to him as the cultural elder of this century, the late Dr. Alwin Bully. His work is kept alive in hearts and minds by the Alwin Bully Foundation, established a few months after his death and manifested by the staging of the legendary Nite Box and short films showcased at the Arawak House of Culture. However, last weekend, it was time to bring to the fore the music of the maestro himself.

Surprisingly, Alwin was so dominant a Caribbean personality as a playwright that most people forgot he exuded similar passion and genius as a composer in a wide repertoire of folk songs, calypsoes, and ballads by artists like two-time calypso Monarch the Wizard and penned quite a few for our Lady of Song, Ophelia.

Legendary Echoes was hosted by Dominica's newest entertainment facility, simply called "The Factory. "The Factory formerly housed Josephine Gabriel and Company on Valley Road. Arden Sounds and Lights from Calypso season 2023 now operate this establishment.

Despite a rainy Saturday night, the decor created by Mrs Jennifer Fadelle was warm and inviting. Massive tents were erected; the lighting of the stage and the backdrop, which featured a portrait of Dr Bully, peering down at the audience with a knowing smile in anticipation of the quality of singing and musicianship the audience (who turned out in their hundreds) was about to witness.

Wife, now widow Anita Bully, an artist of some pedigree, directed proceedings. At the same time, music genius Cornel "Fingers" Phillip was musical director who arranged and brought the songs to life aided by Dominica's best, including Fred Nicholas- bass, Jerry Moulon- guitar, Mikael Ferrol – cougars; Caleb Rodney- keys; Vernandra Christian- drums; plus Pan in Harmony and a back- up trio of Shanice Langford, Shanice Bogeart, Chelsea Lee and even a representative group from the Christian Union Primary School Choir.

That choir aptly began with "Happy Children", the theme song from 'Pio Pio' performed in the late 70s and penned by the cultural Doctor himself. One of Dominica's present-day leading soloists, Janae Jackson, was charged with performing two numbers, one of which was a tribute ballad entitled 'Dominica Waitukubuli', which was first performed in a Guadeloupe festival and CARIFESTA in 1977 and 1981, respectively. With the initial high standard set, Bouyon Queen Carlyn XP performed an Alwin and Pearle Christian adaptation of Eric Roach's, a Trinidadian playwright, "I Love You like a Sugar Plum". At the same time, the singer playfully flirted with her engrossed audience.

Shalina Samuel executed the popular 'Gardez en Haute, made popular by Ophelia, and another written by Alwin Bully and extracted from the Pio Pio Musical well. Still, one of the better presentations of the night was when Marie Pascale evoked emotion, aka Ophelia herself, with

"Mama Pas Plewe." The lady of song herself, who was a few feet away from where I was sitting, stood up and danced in appreciation of this vocal execution.

As the night unfolded, so too the compositions penned by Alwin Bully were belted out. The evening was caressed with vocal and musical talent: the all-time-sing-a-long 'Gloria' heralding the Christmas season,' Magnificat', another sterling performance by Marie Pascale and "Christmas Morning" by one of three male soloists that night. The other was calypsonian Webb, who thrilled the crowd with his gyration on the 1991 King Wizard's Bully-penned, spicy number 'Whine Gina'.

'Dis is 56', a 'Ruler in Hiroona' piece, was entrusted to Black Diamond who, after joking "See you at the finals", made way for one of the island's most potent voices in Tasha Peltier, who performed the theme song from the same play, an adaptation by Alwin from Vincentian author GCH Thomas' book of the same title. Of course, in 1976, both publisher and author granted permission. The play received rave reviews in Dominica, Barbados, St Vincent, Jamaica, and Antigua, and the acts were even translated into four languages in France so people could identify with the substance therein. Other theme songs were performed from 'Nite Box'- the murder mystery, with the accompaniment of Pan in Harmony, which caressed the voice of Shalina Samuel once more on vocals.

It had been some time, but the compelling voice of Maxine Alleyne Esprit graced the stage, doing justice to the theme song for the short acclaimed Alwin's Film of 2019, which paid homage to the Colihaut Ban Mové in "Oseyi and the Masqueraders". Errol Hill's 'Moon on a Rainbow Shawl' was also decorated by Alwin's musical pen, and so was 'One of Our Sons Is Missing', which was initially done by the Princess of Song Michel Henderson and was the penultimate piece. Ironically, I thought, Dr Alwin Bully, 'one of our sons, an illustrious son, is indeed missing'.

The finale piece, 'One Nation,' written for the calypsonian Wizard Merlin St Hilaire and winning him 2nd runner-up position in the CBU song contest of 1990, brought not only all the singers back on stage together but was also a symbolic attempt, I thought, to bring the entire country together through the arts.

On my way home, I could not help but reflect on such great quality shows held in such an un-conducive environment where the President of State was at the mercy of an umbrella as the rain kept pouring and pouring (no fault of the organizers who did all their power to make patrons feel comfortable). I shared similar expressed sentiments with those present and noted that, ironically, Dominica was far better off with the Arawak, Parish and St Gerald Halls in the 70s. How sad in 2024. No wonder the heavens wept bitterly!

Well, alas! I took some solace in the fact that a sprinkling of youth who attended the show got a glimpse of our level of artistry and creativity long before 'Nasty Business' became accepted as clean. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic night!