But its owner Veerendra Persad said the name change would not affect in anyway 3Veni’s fan base but rather it would add to it since the band plans to do a lot more crossover music.
The name was officially retired following 3Veni’s Live at The Hyatt performance on February 21 and relaunched on February 24 as KI and the band.
In an interview on February 25, when asked about the change, Persad said, “Change is inevitable. It is a new generation. JMC was the first band to venture into crossover music. I believe we have done it all in that venture.”
KI now heads the band with Neval Chatelal and Nishard M at his side.
He added that he believes that KI and The Band would help to sell the band in a wider aspect, worldwide.
Persad said 3Veni has been hung up on a wall very high and that an event was being planned to honour the band, its fans and its past band members. The band had undergone previous name changes from Triveni Brass, JMC Triveni and 3Veni.
For those who think that this is the end of 3Veni, Persad said, that it was not the end but simply with a name change.
“At the end of the day it is all about business,” he said.
An online biography of the band states, “JMC3Veni is a crossover band with over 30 years of experience that has promoted the music and culture of TT internationally, travelling to North America, South America and Europe annually. At home, they are a staple for fetes during the Carnival season and the band features the 2012 Chutney Soca Monarch KI Persad. KI placed second in this year’s competition.
JMC 3Veni has played music for and collaborated with renowned Caribbean and diaspora singers such as Rikki Jai, Bunji Garlin, SuperBlue, David Rudder, Denyse Plummer, the Mighty Sparrow, the late Sundar Popo, late Kitchener, international singers Kumar Sanu, Kanchan (deceased) and Babla.
Persad, who handed over the band to his son, KI said, he took over the band in 1993 when he was 28 and in turn he passed it on to his son.
Persad said while JMC 3Veni started off with classical East Indian and chutney music, he believes that the three young men who now head the band, “can take things further.”
The decision to change the band’s name he said was made approximately one year ago but it was decided to officially announce the name change after this year’s Carnival.
“A lot of promoters have been jumping on board,” Persad said since the band’s name change.
The band would not be sticking to anyone genre, he said.
“There will be no boundaries,” Persad said. Along with the name change, he said, the band would be outfitted with new equipment and also in the last three months of the year a concert would be held under the band’s new name, the concert is currently in its planning stages, sponsors and booking agents are in talks with the band so the concert can come before October.