Expert musical director/arranger from Trinidad and Tobago, Rishi Gayadeen, spent two days in Guyana ahead of the Mash Chutney competition working with musicians and competitors to raise the standards of their performances. His support to the locals is the fulfillment of a commitment made by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport after reviewing the competition over the years and highlighting need for interventions in 2010.
In this regard, Gayadeen’s service was enlisted as well as the expertise of local Duck Curry promoter Looknath Persaud. This year’s chutney competition will see a blend of chutney and a curry festival.
Head of the National Chutney Committee, Neaz Subhan said that given the interventions this year, a much higher level of competition can be expected and patrons can look forward to a good show.
Eighteen finalists will be participating in the competition, three of whom are overseas based Guyanese. The competition will be held at the Rose Hall Canje Estate ground on February 19.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday visited the chutney camp in Bel Air Park and caught up with Gayadeen who said he was quite impressed with the local talent.
“The majority of songs that I heard so far are very good… the lyrics are lovely and in my opinion the lyrics are much better than in Trinidad. I find that Trinidad is concentrating more on rum, and they should choose another topic,” Gayadeen said.
Critical to a good chutney show, Gayadeen said, is the skill of the artiste to “work the stage” and win the attention of the audience by capturing their participation. He was confident that the local performers can achieve these skills with the right training.
Gayadeen ,who has 23 years of experience in the music business, took on the mantle from his father who owned the band T&Tech Gayatones. For the past 16 years he has been arranging for some of top artistes in Trinidad and Tobago, including Ricky Jai, Drupatee, Adesh Samaroo and Machel Montano.
The musical director’s first visit to Guyana dates back some five years ago when Guyana hosted the first duck curry competition.
“They (Guyanese musicians) are on the right track and bringing us across to assist them, I  think definitely they will do good,” Gayadeen said.
The chutney competition is one of several events on the calendar of activities for Mashramani 2010 held under the theme “Embracing our Diversity, Celebrating our Heritage.”
Chutney resurfaced on the Mash calendar in 2007 after being absent for some time.