RE: Ole Mas In Atlanta

2010-MAY-31-2156Hrs

Hello Errol,

On Thursday 27th May, I played ole mas in Atlanta. It was great.

You may share the story and photos with my fellow Mausicans.

As usual,

Rodney.

“WHO BEAT MEH UP?”

Rodney Foster, formerly of Barataria, Trinidad, may be the first ole mas player to satirize the recent political conditions and results of the historic elections in Trinidad and Tobago. On Thursday, May 27th, just four days after Kamla Persad-Bissessar, leader of the People’s Partnership, a coalition of opposing political parties, defeated the ruling People’s National Movement, Foster pounced on the idea to play classical ole mas.

Foster’s presentation was reminiscent of the productions of Peter Faustin and Dick Butts, icons in TNT ole mas. For years they competed against each other in the Arima Velodrome and other venues. In fact, Foster played ole mas with Peter Faustin of Mt Lambert on two occasions. He recalls playing in “A Day at the Races.” He played Carl Furlong, one of the Furlong brothers, in “Hand De Cap over Six Furlongs”. Peter wanted him to play “Collapse of the Grand Stand”. Foster refused when Peter described quite graphically how he wanted that incident portrayed. Nuff said. “Tom drunk. But he eh stupid.”

On Thursday night Foster limped on stage to the sound of a Sam Cooke’s classic, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. Just picture a casualty from a steelband clash on Charlotte Street on Carnival Tuesday. Right outside the Port of Spain General Hospital. San Juan All Stars and Desperadoes. Cuts and bruises all over his body, a crutch under his right arm, bus’ head and bus’ eye, broken arm and broken foot, heavily bandaged head and jaw, oxygen mask, urine bag and still holding a baliser and wearing a tie and a bottle of rum in his back pocket. On reaching center stage, the masquerader takes a drink and sobers himself. He appeals to the audience, several times, “Who beat meh up?”

They shout out, “Kamla! Kamla!”

The DJ starts to play the slow version of Trinidad All Stars “Woman On De Bass” composed by Scrunter and beautifully arranged by Leon “Smooth” Edwards. Foster forgets the pains and aches of his sound beating and starts to gyrate and do the king sailor dance like if he was playing fancy sailor with City Syncopators. The audience goes wild. The result is a forgone conclusion.

Let the records show that Rodney Foster won the first ever ole mas competition held at C&J Hideaway, in Lithonia, Georgia. The Georgia Caribbean Carnival Development Committee produced the memorable and enjoyable event.

Rodney Foster.                                 Photos by Marjorie Foster

Stone Mountain, GA.                        May 30th. 2010

Rodney Foster