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Photos By Kerra R.
The Big People Comedy & Parang Show
Date: Saturday 29th November 2008
Location: The Armenian Community Centre. 45 Hallcrown Place. Willowdale, Canada
Promotions: Dr. Jay & Mom alongside Soca Sweetness & Mom
Click on thumbnails to see the big picture/entire gallery
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As winter is now upon us, there’s only one thing that reminds us Caribbean people that Christmas is coming ... “Parang” (a type of music with Caribbean and Latin American cultural influences.. the word is derived from the Spanish word parranda, meaning 'merry-making' or 'a group of serenaders'. Parang is a popular folk music of Trinidad and Tobago, it is part of the island's Hispanic heritage that originated from over 400 years ago during Spanish rule via Venezuela.) Now with that said, the ONLY place to bring in the holiday’s in style was at the 4th Annual Big People Parang and Comedy Show brought to you by Dr. Jay and Mom alongside Soca Sweetness and Mom.

As the TJJ crew arrived inside the Armenian Community Centre around 6 pm, people were already dancing through the hallways to the sweet sweet sound of Parang music. Once we entered, the seats were fillin’ up quickly as everybody wanted to get the closest seat to the stage to take in all the live entertainment. This was definitely not the night to run on island time as the show commenced at 7 sharp. So if you weren’t there on time, then it was hard luck for you! Like they say, “Who vex loss!” *lol*

Once we were seated, we took out the camera’s and were ready to rock n roll! Snap by snap we captured the smiles and laughter of all the people in the building and it truly felt like ah Trini Christmas! Now this was a special show, and we all know that when Trini’s think of Christmas, they automatically think of Parang. But folks were also in for another treat tonight. We all know that Trini’s always on jokes or some kinda kicks, so what better way to bring in the holidays than vibin’ to some sweet Parang and laughing til' we belly buss??!! Comedian's JEAN PAUL (Toronto via Trinidad), JAY MARTIN (Toronto via Jamaica) and TOMMY JOSEPH (legendary Comedian from Trinidad) took over the stage one by one. They had the crowd in tears joke after joke ... what a sight! There was nothing better than them reminiscing on life in the Caribbean and the experiences they had gone through in Canada. The comedy section was ah blast ah tell yuh!

Right ... Parang time!!! Take out yuh cuatro (a four-string small guitar) and maracas (locally known as shak-shaks) because it's time to baaaaaaila!!!! Bringing that latin vibe to us for the night were LEON COLDERO - Trinidad's own performing hits such as "La Sapa", "Curry Christmas", "Ron", "Parangin' In Brooklyn" and two of Toronto's top Parang bands, LOS PAJAROS (featuring the "Toronto Scrunter") and LOS AMIGOS (featuring Connector). Of course, we had to have a lil' vibe session in between the acts so Dr. Jay, Soca Sweetness and Jay “Stretch” McNeilly played our favourite tunes while E Man had us movin’ from side to side! Oh gosh.. now ah cyah forget about de food ... how could I??!! *lol* The Christmas table had us drooling ... there was hops bread and ham, sorrel, pastelles and punch-a-crème ... lawd! We were in a frenzy! And that wasn’t all ... there was curry chicken and rice, salad, cheese sandwiches ... we didn’t have a clue what to eat first!! We eye was loooong boi! The food was excellent, no complaints. And judging by the faces of everyone else, they had none either! There was nothing left to do after stuffing our faces than dancin’ off a few calories. By this time, the dancefloor was packed with couples, single fellas and chicas, dads, moms and children alike ... everyone was dressed up and grooving. We ate, drank and made merry, yes!

The show went until about 1:30am, which left us with half hour to wrap up the night on a rel Trini note. We knocked back ah few punch-a-crème’s, grabbed ah maracas and started shakin’ about de room ... it was niceeee! For all those people who were missing out on ah Trini Christmas this year, this was the best way to make up for that. If you needed a lil' holiday spirit, this show did just that!! As everyone prepared to head out the door and fight the winter weather, de TJJ crew couldn't help but sing, Susan Macio's "I give him ham and bread together with a pastelle ... Ginger beer, punch-a-crème and sorrel .. Trini Christmas is the bess!!!" That definitely brought ah warm feeling throughout the building!

We movin’ from "House To House",
Mizz Kayz!

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Related Galleries
4th Annual Big People Parang Show & Dance (2007)
3rd Annual Big People Parang Show & Dance (2006)
2nd Annual Big People Parang Show & Dance (2005)