Caribbean Free Radio #47 - 3canal: Womex or bust!

In episode #47 I drop in on CFR’s house band, 3canal, to chat with Roger Roberts and Wendell Manwarren about last week’s ReThePublic concert; the band’s upcoming appearance at the WOMEX world music festival in Seville, Spain; and how 3canal learned to stop worrying and love Facebook.

Links

- 3canal’s web site

- 3canal on Facebook

- 3canal on iTunes

- WOMEX - the World Music expo

- Want to help 3canal get to Womex? Send an e-mail to 3canal@gmail.com or visit Roger Roberts’ Facebook page for information about donating.

Podcast: Anti-smelter activism meets the Internet

[A version of this entry with a slightly different text was cross-posted at Global Voices]

In the pages of CFR she’s known as “the Dread”, but to most other people Atillah Springer is a Trinidadian journalist, activist and blogger and a member of a protest movement which, earlier this year, succeeded in driving the aluminium industry giant Alcoa out of a community in rural Trinidad where they had proposed to establish a smelter under somewhat dubious circumstances.

In this podcast I talk with Atillah about the movement’s use of the Internet in their organising activities.

Some useful links:

No Smelters in T&T web site
Rights Action Group blog
Smelta Karavan web site
Saving Iceland - web site of anti-smelter allies in Iceland

Portrait of Atillah by caribbeanfreephoto
Other images courtesy Attillah Springer

Caribbean Free Radio #46 - A talk with Kei Miller

For episode #46 CFR joins forces with Antilles, the weblog of The Caribbean Review of Books (CRB), to bring you Jamaican poet and novelist Kei Miller in conversation with CRB editor Nicholas Laughlin. You’ll also have a chance to hear Kei read two poems from his upcoming collection, There Is an Anger That Moves, which is available for pre-order from Amazon.com.

Also available at Amazon is New Caribbean Poetry, an anthology edited by Kei. Purchase Kei’s short story collection, Fear of Stones, from Macmillan Caribbean or Amazon.co.uk, and read a review by Edward Baugh at The Caribbean Review of Books.

Listen to the podcast by using the player at the bottom of the post or access it using any of these methods:
Download MP3 | RSS | iTunes

Technorati Tags: kei miller, jamaica, caribbean, literature, poetry

Caribbean Free Radio #45 - Saved by The 3canal Show

3canal in rehearsal, March 15, 2007

Dare we say that CFR the podcast is back? Episode #45 arrives complete with cheap gimmickry and, fortunately, a bit of substance provided by the members of CFR’s house band, 3canal, whom we visit during a rehearsal of the repeat performance of this year’s edition of The 3canal Show at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Listen to the podcast by using the player at the bottom of the post or access it using any of these methods:
Download MP3 | RSS | iTunes

Purchase your 3canal CDs at CDBaby or at the iTunes Music Store.

And see some recent photos of 3canal and their show at this Flickr collection.

Technorati Tags: 3canal trinidad rapso caribbean music theatre theater podcast

Best of CFR?

Over the weekend I listened to a few old episodes of CFR (I know what you’re saying: who is she trying to kid? All CFR episodes are old) and started thinking about which ones might be my favourites. And so I figured I’d throw the question out to you: Which are your favourite episodes of CFR? And why?

For your convenience I’ve embedded a little flash player in this post so you can scroll through from the early cringeworthies to the later ones where I sound like I know a little more about what I’m doing, all without leaving the page.

The Global Voices Show #4

You people are right — I need to do more podcasts. Earlier this evening I uploaded the fourth edition of The Global Voices Show. The damn thing took me almost the entire weekend to produce. Nor would I describe it as a technical masterpiece. My podcasting muscles have turned to mush.

Here it is anyway, warts and all (and show notes here).

- MP3 (15:12 min; 10.5MB)

- Enhanced AAC (15:12 min; 7.7MB) with embedded images and links. For iTunes and owners of later model iPods

- Mono MP3 (15:12 min; 3.5MB) - smaller file suitable for low-bandwidth users

Caribbean Free Radio #44 - “Caribeana Imperia”

“It’s quite an exciting little thing,” Wendell Manwarren of 3canal told me over the phone yesterday as we discussed “Caribeana Imperia“, the show the band has been preparing over the past few weeks in Washington DC. That’s almost certainly an understatement. “Caribeana Imperia” opened on Thursday 13 July and from all reports audiences had no difficulty getting into the groove.

In CFR #44 the three members of 3canal — Wendell, Roger and Stanton — and choreographer Dave Williams fill me in on the details over the telephone from their DC headquarters.

“Caribeana Imperia” runs at the Gala Hispanic Theatre in Washington DC from Thursday-Sunday until July 30. The show is directed by Hugo Medrano and Wendell Manwarren.

Mentioned in the episode are the Caribbean writers Martin Carter, V.S. Naipaul, Derek Walcott and Earl Lovelace.

The song played in the episode is “Imperia” by 3canal. Purchase your 3canal CDs at CDBaby.

Listen to the podcast by using the player at the top of the post or access it using any of these methods:
Download MP3 | RSS | iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Global Voices Show #3

I’ve just uploaded the third episode of the Global Voices Show over at the Global Voices site.

You can listen to both versions (MP3 and Enhanced AAC) of the show by using the embedded player above, but for show notes and links please check out the post over at Global Voices. (Hint: the AAC version is smaller and prettier).

Caribbean Free Radio #43 - CSA Special - “Global Voices, Caribbean Accents”

Nikipedia and I racked our brains to figure out a catchy way to open “Global Voices, Caribbean Accents”, the roundtable we’ll be leading in a few hours’ time at the National Library. The roundtable is part of the programme of the Caribbean Studies Assocation’s annual conference, which is taking place this year here in Trinidad, and will address, as Nikipedia puts it on his blog, “the current and potential roles of blogging and other forms of participative web media in the Caribbean.”

Then yesterday evening it hit us: what better way to demonstrate the potential of the Internet than by opening with a podcast composed of the voices of some the people [we hope will be] in the audience? In other words, by putting our audience on the Internet, even before they’ve become our audience. So yesterday morning found us down at the Crowne Plaza hotel, getting as as many conference delegates as we could pin down to answer the question: “What does the term “Caribbean” mean to you?”

And here is the result: CFR #43, roundtable opener in the guise of a CFR podcast. Hope you enjoy what our audience has to say.

Play the podcast using this nifty little online player:

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Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

(more…)

Caribbean Free Radio #42 - Germany 2006 preview with Wendell Manwarren

CFR is back! And what better way to celebrate my return to podcasting than by paying a visit to cut+clear productions, headquarters of 3canal, CFR’s “house band”.

This time the topic isn’t the band but rather band member Wendell Manwarren, who was in Germany a few weeks ago appearing in a soon-to-be-released television documentary which aims to “capture the vibe” in the FIFA World Cup 2006 host country ahead of the arrival of the Soca Warriors (Trinidad & Tobago’s football team) and the legions of Trini fans in June. Wendell shares with us the highlights of his whirlwind tour (seven cities in 2 1/2 weeks!) and explains why there’s now a pink rhino covered in blue devils gracing the streets of Dortmund. We also play two tracks from 3canal Vibes, the group’s 2006 album, which you can purchase online at CDBaby.

Play the podcast using this link:
Or access it using any of these methods:
Download MP3 | RSS | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

And while you’re at it, now would also be a great time to purchase one of these Limited Edition Commemorative World Cup Warriors t-shirts from 3canal’s 3line t-shirt collection:

And get the latest Soca Warriors news and analysis at the Soca Warriors Forum and the Trinidad & Tobago World Cup Blog.

Caribbean Free Radio Special - Bush Fire

It’s not quite a podcast, but here’s an audio clip with sounds of the bush fire which is raging as I write on the mountain which sits behind my street — plus a few words from yours truly. The dry season has truly arrived.

Play this clip using this link:

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Caribbean Free Radio #41 - Bahia Calling

The Bay of All Saints, Salvador da Bahia by Patricia Carmo

Inspired by a line from David Rudder’s “Bahia Girl” about the affinities between Trinidad and Brazil, I get on Skype with my friend Gillian Marcelle during her sojourn in the enchanting Bahian capital, Salvador, and learn a bit about the land of capoeira and Carnaval (and caipirinhas!).

Play this episode using this link:

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Or access CFR using any of these methods:
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Links:
Bahia Online | Flickr Bahia cluster

Music played in this show:
“Bahia Girl” by David Rudder from the CD No Restrictions | “Ilê que fala de amor” by Margareth Menezes from the CD Gente de Festa | “Maria Caipirinha” by Carlinhos Brown from the CD Candyall Beat | “Tarde em Itapua” by Quarteto em Cy from the CD Canta Brasil

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Caribbean Free Radio #40 - Vibesing it up with 3Canal

EPISODE 40 FINDS ME sounding like I’m just coming off a bout of ‘flu (which I am) and 3canal in a feisty mood as we discuss the football-inspired “Vibes It Up”, their second release for the Carnival season, talk about their upcoming variety show and ponder the champagne-and-caviar road down which Carnival seems to be travelling. Lots of raised voices and cross talk and few punches pulled.

Play this episode using this link:

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Or access CFR using any of these methods:
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Links:
3Canal’s web site | Download “web mixes” of “Rise” and “Vibes It Up”.

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Caribbean Free Radio #39 - A Taste of Parang

When the Christmas season rolls around, English-speaking Trinidad starts singing in Spanish. Episode #39 explains - briefly - the whys and wherefores of the musical form known as parang and offers a sampling of parang tunes by Los Parranderos de UWI.

Play this episode using this link:

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Links:
“The Sound of Christmas” - 1997 Article on parang by yours truly (PDF format (1.8 MB) - first published in Caribbean Beat) | Buy Los Parranderos de UWI’s Mi Parranda at Rhyner’s Caribbean Music Online Store

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Happy Holidays!

Caribbean Free Radio #38 - A visit with Dominique Le Gendre

Dominique Le Gendre at home in London

Dominique Le Gendre with Royal Opera House accompanist Chris Willis

CFR gets classical in episode #38, as I visit with Trinidad-born composer Dominique Le Gendre at her home in London. I chat with Dominique about her early musical influences, about Caribbeanness and the classical tradition, her experiences as a Associate Artist at the Royal Opera House and her chamber opera “Bird of Night”, which is set to debut at the Royal Opera House in October 2006.

Play this episode using this link:

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Or access CFR using any of these methods:
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Links:
The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare: 38 Fully-Dramatized Plays - audio version of the Bard’s complete works, scored by Dominique | Royal Opera House

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you plan on doing any of your holiday shopping at Amazon.com, do support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Technorati Tags: caribbean, classical music, derek walcott, music, opera, dominique le gendre, royal opera house, trinidad + tobago

Caribbean Free Radio #37 - 3canal premieres “Rise”

Dropped in at 3canal headquarters this afternoon and next thing I knew a mini-podcast was in the offing! In down-and-dirty episode #37, CFR’s “house band” premieres “Rise”, their first single for the 2006 Carnival season, and talks about drawing inspiration from the Trinidad & Tobago football team’s recent qualification for the 2006 World Cup, their 2006 Carnival show, and other matters.

Play this episode using this link:

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Or access CFR using any of these methods:
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Buy 3canal’s 2005 album Jab Jab Say at CD Baby.

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you plan on doing any of your holiday shopping at Amazon.com, do support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Technorati Tags: caribbean, music, rapso, trinidad, trinidad + tobago

New Caribbean Free Radio Promo!

Here, at last, is CFR’s new promo. (In fact, it’s part PSA-part promo).

Play it using this link:

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Or subscribe to CFR using any of these methods:
RSS | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo

Let me know what you think, and by all means, heed its message.

Caribbean Free Radio #36 - Germany, here we come!

A tiny Caribbean nation momentarily forgets its woes as it celebrates its football team’s ascension to the World Cup 2006. In episode #36 Nicholas Laughlin and I go in search of the euphoria–which, as it turns out, isn’t too hard to find. If you’re a fan of blaring car horns, rhythm sections, stream of consciousness, slightly distorted audio and the sounds of a country in the throes of ecstacy, this one’s for you.

Update (7:24pm): I seem to be living a day ahead of myself. Just realised I said in the podcast that the match took place on November 17 and that today is November 18. The match in fact took place on November 16, and today is of course November 17. This means I also mislabelled the audio file, but too late to change that now. Having your national team reach the World Cup can addle your brain.

Update (8:50pm): Did not want to be responsible for any confusion down the road as to the date of the match which took T&T to the World Cup (you never know if this will be the one episode of CFR that gets chosen for inclusion in a time capsule), so I’ve re-recorded the intro with the correct dates. My apologies to early downloaders.

You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo

Links:
Soca Warriors web site | Nicholas’s eyewitness account of yesterday evening | great Flickr photoset by Sanjiva on the happenings in T&T | on the article on Caribbean particpation in the World Cup

Music played on this show:
“Good News” by 3canal from The Best of 3canal

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt or by initiating your Amazon.com purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.

Technorati Tags: caribbean, football, music, podcast, soca warriors, soccer, trinidad, trinidad tobago, world cup 2006

Caribbean Free Radio #35 - The Podcaster’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick

This may sound absurd, but I was convinced I’d lost my podcasting powers. Here, thankfully, is evidence that they’re still partially intact.

CFR #35 finds me babbling about football (the soccer kind) and other matters on the evening of the Trinidad & Tobago vs. Bahrain World Cup qualifier match. And what would make people think I could possibly behave like Simon Cowell?

You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo

Links:
Omar Sosa’s web site | Soca Warriors web site | Nicholas Laughlin’s blog | Evil Genius Chronicles | Portable Media Expo | Global Voices | Chris Yee Mon’s blog

Music played on this show:
“Angustia with Tumbao” by Omar Sosa from the album Omar Omar | “Power Music” by 3canal

Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt or by initiating your Amazon.com purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.

We always appreciate it as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, and Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast.

(Show title courtesy Wim Wenders.)

Technorati Tags: caribbean, football, music, podcast, soca warriors, soccer, trinidad, trinidad tobago, world cup 2006