J'Ouvert 2007 marked the birth of the MAS Jumbies in Trinidad & Tobago. The presentation was called Diable and was both different and unique; it introduced a unique way of seeing of how the modern J'Ouvert mas could be played. We stressed on costume, an attention to aesthetics and tradition; the band was a modern abstract impression of the Devil Masque. The band influence was via the infamous Jab Molassie, but also drew additional inspiration from other forms of the Devil Masque like the Bookmen. In 2008 we presented our 2nd presentation for J'Ouvert, called JAB, this time going further into the avant-garde, to present our interpretation of Trinidad Carnival's beloved Devil Masque. JAB was a band that represented all the traditional Devils of Trinidad Carnival from the Red Devil bands of 1910 to the Blue Jumbalassie that preceded them.
The year 2008 also marked our first foray into the official J'Ouvert competitions held by the NCC and NCBATT at South Quay, in which we placed 1st in the Small Bands Category and 3rd for J'Ouvert Band of the Year. Our 2009 presentation Diabolus Imperium it would be our most ambitious and creative offering to date. Diabolus Imperium was based both on the traditional Devil Masque of Trinidad Carnival (specifically 1906-1911) and the paintings from the Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch (1453-1516). Seven sections would weave their way on J'Ouvert morning on the streets of downtown Port-of-Spain; the band would place 3rd at the South Quay J'Ouvert competitions.
Our 2010 presentation L'echo marked our 4th year of producing mas in Trinidad. This band took a change in direction as we now married the traditional with the fashionably modern aesthetics in producing our designs. The period of L'echo which stood for Echoes was the late 1800's, just before the infamous Canboulay Riots of 1881. Our band of Marchandes, Stickfighters and Pai-Banans, came 2nd in the NCBATT Downtown J'Ouvert competitions and 3rd in the NCC J'Ouvert competitions on Piccadilly Greens.
