Point Fortin Engine Room at full steam
During the recent carnival season, Point Fortin Engine Room, a veteran Trinidadian band, created a stir at popular events with their blend of traditional and contemporary calypso/soca.
They performed at Frenchmen, Rise Up, Blockto, Bazodee and a Caribbean Airlines’ welcome reception for revellers at the Norman Manley International Airport.
It was the sixth visit to Jamaica for Point Fortin Engine Room, the premier rhythm section in Trinidad and Tobago. The 14-piece band, whose members ages range from 22 to 84, started in August 1991.
“The crowd response (at carnival in Jamaica) was good. Cameras were out, patrons were just jamming, and enjoying themselves,” said bandleader Vernon Sylvester in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.
He shared what kind of show they bring to the table.
“Playing along with the recorded music in a party, we amplify the listening experience so that ‘feters’ feel like they are in the middle of a live performance. It’s about adding a new dimension and I don’t think there is anything else like it.”
The band has performed at Crop Over in Barbados for the last 21 years, and even jammed with Usain Bolt at the Punchy Punch cooler event in Port of Spain, two years ago.
Point Fortin Engine Room have built a solid reputation regionally with their extensive repertoire of soca songs delivered on tassa drums (from India), African drums, cowbells, scratchers (metal guiros), conga drums, drum kit and toc-tocs.
Sylvester said Point Fortin Engine Room has evolved since it launched 28 years ago. They maintain ties to traditional calypso and steel pan but also embrace contemporary soca.
To keep current, they record songs specifically for their homeland’s ‘happening’ market.
“We have a couple of new singles like We Go See, Don’t Blame The Youths, and Juanita. It’s always carnival time in Trinidad and there is always something happening. We are always rehearsing and always working, even outside of the carnival season,” said Sylvester.
Many of Point Fortin Engine Room’s music can be found on compilation albums distributed by the Rituals Music company, a leading source for soca in Trinidad and Tobago.
