Kaiso Lime 2023 opened on Saturday 6 May and promises to be a season like no other! This year, Kaiso Lime pays homage to artistes and academics in Caribbean culture who have recently passed away. Just a few names to mention: Black Stalin, Singing Sandra, Explainer, Singing Francine, Ray Carless, Pedro Burgess and Lenny Hadaway.
Alexander D Great was the first performer to step up to the microphone, opening his section with Somebody Got Crowned, acknowledging the coronation of King Charles III earlier that day. The second tune was I Want To Be King noting how former US President Donald Trump apparently told former Prime Minister Theresa May that he wished he had a royal title. Alexander’s version of the Mighty Shadow’s Dingolay was up next and he ended his performance with a tribute to the ‘Grandmaster’, Lord Kitchener.
Next was another Kaiso Lime regular, Tobago Crusoe, who began his performance appealing to the Tabernacle audience to support the complete Kaiso Lime 2023 season. Like Alexander D Great he also marked the coronation with a tune entitled I Was there. Perhaps inspired by his friend the calypsonian D’Alberto, his next number was For King Charles. After that he gave us Calypso Monarchs and he finished his first-half performance with Monkey and Donkey.
In the second part of the show, the audience had an unexpected treat as Pa3triot, son of renowned calypsonian Trinidad Rio, gave us a short impromptu performance.
Next to approach the Kaiso Lime stage was D’Alberto, who immediately thanked organisers Michael La Rose and Dexter Khan for keeping the culture alive with Kaiso Lime, noting that there was nothing like this in Trinidad. He also paid his respects to Ansel Wong and Haroun Shah. Black Stalin was a friend and mentor to D’Alberto and he began his musical slot with the Black Stalin’s calypso Give Thanks. He then gave an excellent rendition of Explainer’s Lorraine and informed the audience that Explainer was a good friend of his and how he treasured his memories of performing alongside him at the Spectacular Forum in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Tobago Crusoe returned to explain how he was a good friend of Singing Sandra, writing two of her biggest calypso hits. One was Die with My Dignity, which he performed.
A pan selection from Justin ‘Pan Fever’ Richardson rounded off the night.
Kaiso Lime takes place on the first Saturday of each month from now until October at The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11 2AY. Doors open from 7pm, free entry all evening. There’s a licensed bar and Caribbean food on sale.
