Two Vincy mas bands to play in Brooklyn Eastern Parkway celebrations

by Nelson A. King in New York 31.AUG.07

The two Vincentian mas bands in New York say they are feverishly preparing to play mas on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway during the 45th celebration of the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade.{{more}}

The experienced Mas Productions Unlimited and the three-year-old Carnival Players International (CPI), both Brooklyn-based, told Searchlight that registration has been picking up significantly, and everything is in place for the largest carnival parade in North America.

“I think we’re ahead of schedule,” said Colin Liverpool, president of Mas Productions Unlimited, which was founded by veteran mas producer, Wesley Millington, 14 years ago.

“We’re at a point that anyone can come in and get a costume,” he said, applauding the entire production team, including some new and young members and volunteers for their “dedication.”

“We encourage all masqueraders to come and enjoy the Parkway with us,” he continued.

Jasmine Hinds, CPI president, said, despite limited staff, her band has been making steady progress.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in a relatively short space of time,” she said.

“People are working hard, and masqueraders are very excited,” she added. “I like the response.”

Liverpool said Mas Productions Unlimited, which participates in the small band category, with about 100 masqueraders, will portray “Bacchanal Time,” with six adult and three children’s sections.

The adult sections comprise: Mardi Gras, Pandemonium, Madd, Fantosee, Insomnia and Hornerman. Jungle Fever, Washed Up and Dingolay make up the children’s section.

In maintaining the “Garifuna connection,” a contingent of Belizean masqueraders will again participate with the band this year, Liverpool said.

Last year, Mas Productions Unlimited snatched first place in the small band category in the Children’s Carnival, and also won the Children Female Character award.

With significant help from veteran Vincy mas producers – Ricardo “Puzzle” Grant, of Vincy Mas 2007 Band of the Year Champs, SVG Players, and Junior “Melbourne” Constance, of Melbourne Artisans – Mas Productions Unlimited has, over the years, captured some of the top prizes in the Labour Day spectacle.

These included the Junior Band title in 2003 with “Maya: the myths and mysteries.”

Mas Productions Unlimited is located at 8 Riverdale Ave., between East 98th and Legion Streets in Brooklyn.

Buoyed by what it considers to be phenomenal successes since its formation, CPI is also hoping to snatch some of the coveted prizes in this year’s Labour Day Carnival, which is being promoted as a tribute to Carlos Lezama, its Trinidadian founder, who passed away earlier this year.

CPI will portray “Kaiso, Kaiso”, as a tribute to veteran Caribbean calypsonians, according to Bernard “Yank” Browne, one of the producers, who is also a former co-producer of erstwhile perennial Band of the Year Champions, Nelson Bloc, in Vincy Mas.

“We’re trying to produce something that Caribbean people can relate to,” he said, as he put the finishing touches on a costume at the mas tent, at 294 East 94th Street, in Brooklyn, between Lenox Road and Livonia Avenue.

“We’re hoping to be as successful as last year,” he added.

The nine-section portrayal is designed by Ozzie Constance, another veteran Vincentian mas man, with Adonis “Goat” Hector, also a former producer with Nelson Bloc, serving as co-producer.

The sections comprise: Teaser; Mama this is Mas; Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot; My Pussin; Vincy Mas; Ole Woman Alone; Pirates; Flag Woman; and Justice.

“Registration has picked up considerably in the last couple of days,” said Celloy Williams, CPI’s vice president, hoping to get at least 200 masqueraders on the Parkway.

“We’ve been working, more or less, round-the-clock, and we’re confident that we’ll finish everything on time for Labour Day,” she added.

Williams said the medium-sized band’s goal is to become a force to be reckoned with.

“We always want to do better,” she said, disclosing that CPI is again patronized by Vincentians, as well as other Caribbean nationals and even African Americans.

“The majority of masqueraders are back,” she added. “The idea is to go on the Parkway and have fun.”

Portraying “Festival Here and There,” CPI last year captured the Band of the Year title for medium-sized bands, and placed third in the Children Carnival.

Despite their very limited earnings, CPI executives said they are obligated to give back to the community.

Among last year’s donations were two trophies for the King and Queen of the Bands in Vincy Mas. They’re hoping to expand on such munificence in the coming years.