By VERDEL BISHOP Tuesday, February 9 2010

DAVID RUDDER was in rare form at the Central Bank All Inclusive Carnival fete, at Central Bank Plaza, Port of Spain. With energy aplenty, Rudder created a lot of good “vibes” and had the mammoth crowd enjoying every song from his repertoire of hits.

Accompanied by Roy Cape All Stars, Rudder spent about an hour on stage, treating patrons to songs like “Dust In Dey Face”. “High Mas”, “Oil and Music” and “Haiti”, which he did in tribute to that country. He reminded the party goers that while we are feting and having a good time, there are others who are less fortunate. Patrons also enjoyed songs like “Madness” and “The Hammer”and “Calypso”.

Earlier, Dil E Nadan, featuring frontline singers Raymond Ramnarine, Derrick Seales and Candi Hoyte, kicked the party off with an entertaining assortment of soca hits.

In what many might consider unusual for a high energy fete, Fay-Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin had the crowd singing along to old gospel songs like Father Abraham”, “A Little More Oil In My Lamp”, “What You Think About Jesus” and “Down by the Riverside”. The soca couple knocked those who are of the opinion that gospel should not be featured in fetes. The crowd, agreeing with them, enjoyed the session, which lasted for about 15 minutes before Fay-Ann and Bunji delved into their wide range of hits.

The couple introduced Problem Child to do his 2009 hit “Party Animal”. SuperBlue also came on stage and sang several of his songs, at one point serenading patrons with the Bee Gees “To Love Somebody”.

Roy Cape All Stars featuring Blazx, Olatunji and Rita Jones, was the last band to perform. They raised the tempo with “Pump Me Up”, “Nah Going Home”, “Jam Meh”, “Dance Must Have”, “Gyal Farm” and “Party Animal”. Patrons also enjoyed oldies like “Meh Lover”, “Gimme De Ting”, “Judith”, “Johnny”, “Long Time”, “Total Disorder” and “I Want It”. Blaxx sent the crowd crazy with “Zombie”.

The talented Kerwin Du Bois , backed by Roy Cape, did a few songs, including this season’s popular “Pavement”. JW and Blaze virtually “mashed up” the party with “Palance”.