THERE’s a kinda roar resonating in the much-touted Rum Jungle entertainment nightclub in Queens, New York.

And it may have a lot to do with a connecting vibe between the Indo/African melting pot in the Big Apple; the ethnic groupings all wanting a place to party hardy as they would in Guyana, Trinbago or some other sun-kissed Caribbean isle.

In TnT, businessman Johnny Soong has gone literally First Class with his very upscale Zen nightclub in the heart of Port of Spain.

In Queens, New York, businessman Mohan Jaikaran is the opposite side of the same coin, as the foreign-based media keeps trumpeting the engaging tropical ambience of the Rum Jungle, a veritable toast to the concept of “domestic tourism” on the world stage.

Several of the best local acts continue to perform in high-octane events from time to time at Rum Jungle; the honour roll includes soca luminaries Rupee, Alison Hinds, chutney star Adesh Samaroo and JMC 3Veni to name just a few.

That’s me with the utterly sexy Rum
Jungle dancers, both of whom are
capable of making any man
break his hefty fixed
deposit at the bank.

So when I popped into the Rum Jungle two weekends ago, I was completely bowled over by an explosion of pepper-hot soca and chutney with American hip-hop and rap fare thrown into the mix by rotating DJs.

What’s more, the Rum Jungle dancers had my eyes blinking like bulbs on a Christmas tree, as they pampered guests with their incontestable sexiness and charm.

Truthfully, Rum Jungle under savvy businessman Jaikaran, has hit a nerve in the sprawling Queens’ entertainment canvas; hawking top Caribbean acts, sexy, eye-popping modelling shows; raising the temperature on Friday and Saturday nights.

This is all so very apropos, using entertainment to bring New York-based West Indian together under the banner of CARICOM music and nostalgia.

There are also several other fete venues where Trinbagonians go in Brooklyn, New York to “get down” and do the dutty wine.

But if we have to go by the dizzying praise being heaped upon Jaikaran by the New York media, it is easy to conclude that Rum Jungle seems to be doing something right, bringing to the table a fresh urbanity and high-pitched excitement on the party scene.

Sorry, I’ll be missing out on this weekend’s 17th annual Mother’s Day concert -- Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14, a double-whammy event featuring the hottest Indo-Caribbean acts direct from Trinidad and Guyana.

In the loop are Rooplal Gildharie, Sarika, Adesh Samaroo, Rasika Dindial, Kesha and Kenneth Seepersad with chutney dancers just to name a few.

While all this hot action would be going down this weekend, I’ll miss the sight of jammed bodies heaving in excitement to soca/chutney rhythms at the Rum Jungle, especially at this star-studded Mother’s Day showcase event.

But at least, I’ll be happy to feel the vibes ...