TGAT Experience a huge success

By Coretta Joe 

It was a potpourri of music and culture and lots of pomp and pageantry. If you missed it, you missed an epic experience. And the performers, though eclectic on paper, meshed exceptionally well on stage. The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) Band, Gabby, Betty B, and JSlo, gave unforgettable performances and delivered collective goosebumps to those viewing at home. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, John King, gave the show glowing accolades, referring to it as “an excellent production” and “very classy”. 

In the new normal where live entertainment has become non-existent, The Gospel According To (TGAT) Series brought the charming and historic ruins of Farley Hill National Park to life on the night of August 28 with their debut production, Orchestra. The event, partially funded by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) as part of their Cultural Industries Development Fund, was streamed on Barbados TODAY and BT Life platforms as well as Digicel PlayGo. 

Group Creative Director of Orange Mango Group Inc (OMG) Tashida Callendar and her husband Kevyn Callendar, Director, spoke with Barbados TODAY about the rationale behind the series and their role in providing cultural experiences in these challenging times. 

According to Tashida, the vision for the production was to explore different genres of music and various historical locations across Barbados and other islands. 

“The Gospel speaks to the truth of or the main idea of something. The Gospel According To simply means the best of orchestra, the best of jazz, and so on,” she said of the series’ name. 

She added that the team intentionally chose a physical location instead of the traditional dark studio with lights and screens and opted for more profound imagination and consumer appeal. 

“… But instead, take you on the journey with us to real spaces with meaning and interest —and while we are doing it, let’s educate ourselves, our fellow Barbadians and the wider world. At OMG, we are all about experiences, so we want to work with other creatives to bring experiences to consumers (viewers) who haven’t been ‘outside’ in over a year. So in essence, it gives artistes, service providers, and creatives content to produce and gives our consumers quality content to enjoy whenever they feel to,” she shared. 

After months of strategic planning and rehearsals, OMG is ecstatic that the debut production came off well. According to Kevyn, having worked with the band of the RBPF before and enjoying their music, he knew that he wanted them to be a part of an orchestra production. 

“They had all the elements for me. I made the call; they jumped on board immediately. Where Gabby is concerned, I have always loved his music, his presence on stage, the passion in his performance,” he explained. 

He continued: “Betty was most fitting for her part in TGAT Orchestra. She brought that angelic element we need in these times to the production when she started with Jesus Take the Wheel. JSlo brought the voice which was needed for the songs he did, he brought the energy and attitude to the stage and he had the right vibe for the song mix.” 

So, what is next for TGAT? Jazz is coming up, along with other exciting genres slated for later in the year, according to Tashida and Kevyn. 

“Though COVID will prevent the in-person events for a while, we actually enjoyed the visual product as it has now allowed us to create and develop short reality show type spin-offs which take you behind the scenes of planning and production, musical compositions, rehearsals and so on,” Tashida revealed.