By Loud Atlas
There are few major instruments in the world where pinpointing their origin is relatively easy. The steelpan, with its sweet glistening timbre, is one of them. Not just the national instrument of Trinidad & Tobago, the steelpan has become the sound of the Caribbean over the last 90 years or so.
The 20th century is renowned for its electronic instrument inventions, but it's the humble steelpan that is perhaps one of the most influential acoustic inventions from that period.
Never has there been such a splendid ambassador of the steelpan and his home country than Lord Kitchener, the "grandmaster of calypso" no less. He gives an enthusiastic introduction to the steelpan and calypso in Steel Band Music. Prominent notes have never sounded sweeter in this traditional brass/steelpan tune. Kitch's charm lies in his ability to unpick and explain a song.
Steelpan also made its way into the 80s ska scene – a genre which embraced the Caribbean rhythms with its highly energetic style of music. Madness was one such band which utilised the cool rhythms of steelpan in their UK #2 hit Wings Of A Dove.
Another UK band, Super Furry Animals, used the steelpan to great effect in their 1999 tune Northern Lites. Known for their imaginative compositions, the steelpan was only added in after the band saw some lying around the recording studio. It fell to the band's keyboardist to play them despite not having a clue.
An unusual pairing up next: a duet of piano and steelpan in mellow jazz mood, presented by Ahmad Jamal. In If I Find You Again, the percussion instruments share the rhythms and melody to astonishing effect. The colours of the steelpan still shine through but not in its usual vibrant style.
Name a genre and the Grateful Dead have probably covered it in their own unique eclectic style. In France, a song derided by their guitarist and never performed live, the band employ steelpan in swaggering, shimmering style. It goes to show that unlikely instruments can pop up anywhere.
... Even in a galaxy far, far away, it seems! In an homage to Benny Goodman, Figran D'an and the Modal Nodes (under the tutelage of John Williams) blast out their jizz (space jazz) to the patrons of the Mos Eisley cantina with Cantina Band. The jury's still out about where they got that steelpan from.
Another unlikely pairing comes in the shape of 80s rockers Jane's Addiction. Jane Says is distinctly alternative - the juxtaposition of bright steelpan used in a song about drug addiction is a master stroke.
Renowned for their innovative musicianship and harmonies of the 1960s, The Beach Boys, in the last hurrah of their glittering career, unleashed Kokomo to the world in the late 1980s. The fictional utopic song mentions real-life Caribbean place names and steelpan to conjure up imagery of the perfect destination. Suitably, it was also their last major hit.
A big brass jazz band sound is probably one of the last places you'd find steelpan. But combined with the funky basslines of the late Jaco Pastorius and featuring Herbie Hancock, Liberty City is a gem of a tune for fusing styles. Multiple instruments - even a harmonica – get the solo treatment, but it's the underpinning steelpan which is the charmer here.
Another love letter to his home nation and fellow Trinibagonians, Lord Kitchener pays a musical Tribute To Spree Simon. Winston "Spree" Simon is widely known as the inventor and innovator of the steelpan, a man who was born in the Laventille region of the country, moving to a factory area in his adolescence where he started playing with discarded drums. Kitch gives us a history of Spree and the steelpan.
The steelpan, as a sound of joy and freedom, is something that is celebrated annually at The Trinidad Panorama - the largest steelpan competition in the world. During carnival season 60-80 bands take part, with 75-200 pannists per band! To end this list, the 2019 runners up, The Invaders Steel Orchestra, get the party jumpin' with Hookin' Meh. It's hard to imagine a happier place than when the bands strike up a tune. The more pan, the better!
All Around Echo A-List Playlist:
Lord Kitchener - Steel Band Music (Nicko)
Madness - Wings Of A Dove (vastariner)
Super Furry Animals - Northern Lites (happyclapper)
Ahmad Jamal - If I Find You Again (Nilpferd)
Grateful Dead - France (Chris7575)
John Williams - Cantina Band (pejepeine)
Jane's Addiction - Jane Says (happyclapper)
The Beach Boys - Kokomo (severin)
Jaco Pastorius ft. Herbie Hancock - Liberty City (nosuchzone)
Lord Kitchener - Tribute To Spree Simon (Nicko)
The Invaders Steel Orchestra - Hookin' Meh (magicman)
Beautiful Bangin’ B-List Playlist:
John Gibbs & U.S. Steel Orchestra - Trinidad (Uncleben)
Robert Palmer - Every Kind Of People (swawilg)
Kikuo - あなぐらぐらし (Hole Dwelling) (ajostu)
Esso Trinidad Steel Band - Aquarium (SongBarLandlord)
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - Jungle Fever (nosuchzone)
The Sweet - Poppa Joe (severin)
Othello Molineaux - No Way Out (BanazirGalbasi)
Steel Rhythm Band - Jump In The Line (Shake Señora) (Marconius7)
David Rudder - The Hammer (nosuchzone)
Lennox "Boogsie" Sharpe - Yoga Styling (Fred Erickson)
Frankie Dante & Orquestra Flamboyan - La Coquetóna Part II (pejepeine)
Guru's Wildcard Picks:
M.I.A. - Bingo
Repetitive high and low notes from the steelpan underpin the layers of this track. Interesting use of cricket terminology here too!
Phase II Pan Groove - Birthday Party
Boogsie's steelpan band is in celebratory mood (listen out for references to that song from about 7'40" on).
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Pan’s people: songs and pieces featuring steel pan. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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