Queens Angels Caribbean Band brings island rhythms to Hempstead summer concert
The Richmond Hill band, marking 32 years since its 1994 launch, played soca, reggae, calypso, chutney and Bollywood to a large crowd at Denton Green Park.
NEW YORK, United States. A sunset concert on July 17 headlined by the Angels Caribbean Band (ACB) of Richmond Hill, Queens, brought soca, reggae, calypso, chutney fusion, Bollywood flavours and Afrobeats to Denton Green Park in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, Long Island.
Mayor Waylyn Hubbs Jr. welcomed residents to the event, which has been a community staple for five years, with Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Daniels and trustee Noah Borroughs also helping to stage it.
A Caribbean lineup
The band, launched in Richmond Hill in 1994, features Guyanese-born keyboardists Vinod Bisram and Vikash Misir, Guyanese-born lead female vocalist Geeta Bisram, Trinidad-born lead male vocalist Dexter M and Guyanese-born sound engineer VJ Bisram, along with Jamaican-born drummer Trevor.
Dexter M sang more than 15 songs, including Pluto Shervington's "Ram Goat Liver", Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Stir It Up", Buju Banton's "Love You in Every Way" and Boris Gardiner's "My Commanding Wife", before a soca set of Kes the Band hits. The two-hour performance closed with Marley's "One Love".
Chutney Queen Geeta Bisram performed chutney and Bollywood selections, including a Kanchan tribute set featuring the calypso and Hindi fusion "Kuch Garbar Hai".
'Thirty-two years of consistency'
"This is 32 years of consistency, enthusiasm, zeal, sacrifice, dedication, humility, simplicity, and total respect for the gift of music," Vinod Bisram told Caribbean Life.
He said moments such as two young children of Haitian and Jamaican parentage and a 96-year-old from Guyana dancing to the band's music were what gave the group joy after more than three decades.
Storied history
The band has performed at Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center and Central Park, and has accompanied Caribbean legends including Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Dave Martins, Lord Laro, Lovindeer, Sundar Popo, Edwin Yearwood, Terry Gajraj and Rikki Jai.
It has also worked with musicians including Dylan Thomas of Saint Lucia, Marc Brooks of Trinidad and Shailesh of Suriname.
The ACB will play the Queens International Food and Music Festival on August 16 and Schenectady Caribbean Day near Albany on September 12.
