FOR the last Mash celebrations I took to my drawing table, then to a shy-lime with some brethren who had returned home, it seemed with intent to remind me of our tramping days with our traditional steel band posse, obeying the crowd chant of “inside–outside”, a chant controlling the disciplined movement of the tramp that enabled and contained the void of any conflict necessary, admired in a round-the-town tramp controlled by a strict programme, that were at times breached by hostile intruders.

This year caught me, on the eve of Mash, enjoying the pop music of that time, courtesy of my youngest, mainly the late James Brown, Donny Hathaway and the era of “TALK OF THE TOWN”, that truly played a part in our transmission.

But here is the era of our Masquerade [much different from our Caribbean cousins]. And the steel bands and tramping of now, in reference, do differ from back then, when the steel bands and their music were the hype, tramping through the town to the top calypsos of the day. I must, however, concede that the Youth Masquerades and the steel bands I have witnessed from the “posts” that came my way, though youth bands, I’m impressed and do recognise that these cultural expressions rest heavily in our cultural memory as much as the pop music of my youthful ‘coming of age’ into early adulthood. They capture both mastery of the art and the awakening of the rhythm, much as the haunting memories that still keep us reminiscing while we embrace the current top calypsos, whether local or from our Caribbean kin.

There’s serious consideration, but for now let’s explore the possibility of a small but vibrant nest of local talent that may nurture an exploration of the visual arts with more practical nurturing into functional production, “of this or that”. Music and scenery become a functional part of the production, whether, however small a space, either of the two becomes relevant cost-wise; thus, it has to be considered by any mind probe, now and not then.

Back in those days, this article is not a lecture, but rather an observation and mind-check of what may be, and with a clear cut of inspiration of what may be, against the inner silent exploration and the comforting gratification of “Is a good thing ah check out this thing that de cross meh mind, ‘cause now ‘I wouldn’t ah know how fuh start.’”

Hope y’all had a happy MASH, stay strong…