‘IzWe’ concert at Coney Island Guyanese fashion on full display
The Boardwalk Lot, Coney
Island, Brooklyn.
With New York’s annual
West Indian American Day
Carnival Parade — which typically
brings at least two million
revelers to Brooklyn’s Eastern
Parkway on Labor Day Monday
— cancelled, for a second year,
due to COVID-19, Kes The Band
said on Tuesday that it aims “to
fill the void with a night of
performances by some of soca
music’s biggest names.”
For “IzWe NY,” the band
it has handpicked a roster of
top performers from its native
Trinidad & Tobago, including
Iwer George, Nailah Blackman,
Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson,
Farmer Nappy, Ravi B and
Etienne Charles, as well as Barbados
soca icon Alison Hinds,
St. Lucia’s Teddyson John and
Nomcebo (of “Jerusalema”
fame) from South Africa.
“This show has a lot of
meaning for us,” said Kees
Dieffenthaller, frontman for
Kes The Band. “New York has
always been like a second home,
and, throughout our career,
we’ve never missed a chance
to play the city on Labor Day
weekend.
“Coming here has extra
importance this time, especially
Caribbean L 42 ife, SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2021
because we’re getting
to bring out so many of our
favorite artists from back
home,” he added.
The concert is one of 10
dates which Kes The Band is
set to play on its “IzWe Tour”,
which launched on Friday, Aug.
28, at Norfolk, Virginia’s Town
Point Park.
Additional stops include
Orlando; Washington, D.C;
Atlanta; Houston and Miami,
where the group will headline
North Beach Bandshell on Sept.
4h and return for three straight
nights, Oct. 7-9, during Miami
Carnival, the first major-city
Caribbean carnival celebration
since February 2020.
Despite the pandemic, recent
times have brought a string of
highlights for Kes The Band.
During the traditional Trinidad
Carnival season this February,
the band said it filled the
void for live music by launching
its “IzWe” event series with
ern Parkway.
The parade is cancelled this
year, for the second year in a
row, because of the COVID-19
pandemic.
“It is exciting to celebrate
the children’s commitment to
playing and practicing steel
pan this year,” Lezama-Clark
said. “Pan is meant to be experienced
in person.”
Among local legislators
attending the event were Caribbean
American Congresswoman
Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter
of Jamaican immigrants,
who represents the 9th Congressional
District in Brooklyn;
State Sen. Kevin Parker, representative
for the 21st Senate
District in Brooklyn; and City
Council Member Dr. Mathieu
Eugene, the Haitian-born representative
for the 40th Council
District, also in Brooklyn.
“There is nothing better than
the sound of pan — to keep
our culture alive,” Parker told
the massive crowd. “Thanks to
Lezama-Clarke for this; that is
unique to our culture.”
The term-limited Eugene,
who will demit office in January,
said “the children are the
most import asset of our community,
and music is the best
tool.
“Thank you for organizing
this festival — and to the
children who do the positive
Winner Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra (PESO) in action. Photo by Nelson A. King
things,” he said. “We’re proud
of you.”
Leah Clark-Brisard, daughter
of Lezama Clark and line
producer of the event, told
Caribbean Life that the showcase
was “very heart-warming,
because it brings so much joy
to the youth.
“And we’re making a difference
in the lives of inner-city
kids, and that means a lot to
them,” she said. “This is constructive
to their lives.”
CLACC-C, a non-profit institution,
said it is “devoted to the
development, promotion and
preservation of Caribbean culture
and history through the
collection of archives and art
memorabilia.”
Established in 2005,
CLACC-C said its mission is “to
educate communities regarding
Caribbean heritage.
“It promotes and preserves
West Indian Culture and history
through the growth of
an archive center dedicated to
the legacy of Carlos Lezama,
the ‘godfather’ of Brooklyn’s
annual Caribbean Carnival on
Labor Day,” CLACC-C said.
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Continued from Page 41
years ago, will give fashionistas
a peek at the incredible
works of emerging couturiers
ready to saturate the catwalk
with inventive collections in
swimwear, classic evening
wear, wedding attire, whimsical
women’s wear, and male
ensembles.
The ‘Garden City’ themed
Labor Day weekend event
will also bring live, carnival
vibes and entertainment to
the manicured turf that will
be highlighted by top New
York couturier CZAR by Cesar
Galindo.
The New York based fashion
brand of architectural, sexy,
and powerful women’s wear,
created by the self-taught
designer, is known for his
classic kimono dress, worn by
supermodel Karen Muler, and
featured on the cover of Elle
magazine.
World-renowned fashion
expert, Michelle Cole-Wagner,
a Guyanese-born, NY-based
designer who has dressed pageant
queens in elegant outfits,
and whose ColeFacts collection
of beautiful bridal attire
has captured the attention of
audiences in the Caribbean,
will showcase her talents,
while sharing the runway with
emerging creators.
One such is Sidney L. Francois,
who is making waves in
the Guyana fashion industry,
with brilliantly crafted bridal
gowns, and women’s evening
attire. The art school trained
designer will bring a breath of
fresh air to the catwalk with
eclectic offerings.
And like his countryman,
Randy Madray, a Georgetownbased
dressmaker, who has
over the last few years been
creating beautiful ball gowns,
wedding ensemble, and exciting
women’s wear, there is no
doubt the gentlemen will light
up the runway.
Madray said he is dedicating
his collection to the people
he lost recently, adding that
it has been a tough week for
him, losing friends and a family
member unexpectedly.
However, he is excited to
show his collection, and noted
he is putting on the finishing
touches to his pieces for the
catwalk.
Additionally, up-an-coming
Jamaican Shamara Sahadeo,
whose Seoraco clothing line
is getting a lot of attention
for being the “leader in custom
outfitting,” is also set, like
many others, expected to rip
the runway.
Continued from Page 41
YOUTH PAN FEST
Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene with Yolanda Lezama-
Clark (left) and her daughter, Leah Clark-Brisard. Photo by
Nelson A. King
A creation by Georgetownbased
designer, Randy
Madray who is ready to rip
the runway at the Guyana
Fashion Showcase, NY. Randy
Madray