The future of steelpan is well underway.
Have you ever made a list of your favorite albums of all time? Tough, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s easier to break it down by category and start there. You work your way through genres and subgenres until you’ve narrowed down a top 10 list for every style of music you can think of.
There are probably albums on your list that define a generation, help propel culture and even introduce an instrument to a global audience. Artists that set these standards include Bela Fleck (banjo), Jaco Pastorius (bass guitar), Miles Davis (trumpet), Jean Luc Ponty (violin) and Grover Washington, Jr. (sax).
In the world of steelpan, the trail of musical influence can be traced back to the beginning with pannists like Winston “Spree” Simon, Ellie Mannette and Anthony Williams. The next generation included renowned figures like Ray Holman, Beverly Griffith, Othello Molineaux, Jit Samaroo and Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
Today, we have a new generation of innovative pannists (along with some veterans) who have crafted albums that defy genre and seek to push the artform forward yet again, just as their predecessors did. In no particular order, here are 10 modern steelpan albums you need to hear right now.
1. The Serpent’s Mouth by Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band
Modeled after 1970s funk recordings, German pannist and musician Bjorn Wagner crafts a compelling tropical retro vibe on this popular album.
Achieving well over one million streams on Spotify, this 45-minute long LP is great from start to finish, incorporating multiple genres and instruments, adding a fresh feel to the steelpan musical landscape with rustic pans and Caribbean percussion infused with a funk rhythm section. Tracks worth noting include the Miami Vice soundtrack cover of Crockett’s Theme, reggae groove Real Hot, and the Trinidadian-inspired original, Maracas Bay Boogie.
2. Bright Eyes by Victor Provost
One of the freshest and most unique voices of the steelpan in recent years is Victor Provost, a bebop jazz pannist who adds his own soulful style to classic jazz sensibilities. His debut album, Her Favorite Shade of Yellow, took the pan and jazz worlds by storm with a nuanced approach to Caribbean jazz, but his follow-up album, Bright Eyes is where he really came into his own as an artist.
The opening track, Eastern Standard Time, sets the tone with a hectic and exciting feel. Another aspect worth highlighting is his use of guest artists that roam the halls of jazz greatness with players like Paquito D’Rivera (alto saxophone), Ron Blake (soprano sax), Etienne Charles (trumpet), Joe Locke (vibraphone) and John Lee (guitar), filling out the album with stellar contributions. Whether you like this style of jazz or not, Provost’s provocative mix of masterful musicianship, hypnotic speed and heart-felt melodies will have you hooked from the start.
Read our album review for Bright Eyes here.
3. Metamorphosis by Leon Foster Thomas
Spearheaded by a bombastic, powerhouse steelpan performance that reminds you of the legendary Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Thomas explores a full range of emotions and musical genres with an album that explores every facet of his personal and professional maturity. Kai-Fusion opens the album like a punch to the face, with a bombardment of sound that includes a fast-paced, but super-catchy melody, booty-shaking groove, and entrancing pan and sax solos. Thomas’ hands are so fast, you wonder how your ears are able to catch up, then he slows things down with head-bobbing grooves like Midnight Refrain, Gulf of Paria and In the Corner, all beautifully written and executed pieces in their own right, exploring different facets of Thomas’ feelings and personality.
The album is so rich in melody, soloing prowess and nuanced musicianship that you wish it would never end, but does so in style with Cry of Hope, bringing to mind the complex middle-eastern inspired jazz exploration in A Night in Tunisia, but with more angst and animosity.
4. Pan Rocks Project L.A. and Pan Rocks Rush! By Tracy Thornton
This entry gives you two-for-one as both EPs really should be heard in one sitting, given their similarities in execution and concept. Recorded at the world-famous Ocean Studios, Pan Rocks L.A., founded by pan rocker Tracy Thornton, was the first to break the barrier of incorporating famous rock musicians into a large steelband ensemble.
Using 30 international pan players to create an epic Panorama-esque rock band, the album features the group performing some of the genre’s most famous pieces, played by some of the original musicians. Been Caught Stealing by Jane’s Addiction, is one tune worth noting thanks to Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins doing the honors on the kit. Perkins would go on to play on every song, along with fellow rock legends, bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth) and guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Guns N’ Roses). They were also joined on tracks like Detroit Rock City by Bruce Kulik (Kiss) and Kasimir and Carol of the Bells by “America’s Got Talent” cello duo sensation Emil & Dariel.
The follow-up album, Pan Rocks Rush!, would feature an equally epic lineup, led by renowned drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), included guitarist Pete Thorn (Chris Cornell, Don Henley, Melissa Ethridge) and bassist Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai, Kevin Eubanks, Slash). The group was joined by nearly 40 pannists (many of the same from Pan Rocks L.A.), jammed into performing three classics from the Rush songbook, Spirit of Radio, YYZ and Tom Sawyer. If you’ve never heard those songs, give the originals a listen and compare these newer versions. It’ll blow your mind.
Learn more about Pan Rocks Rush! here.
5. Liberation Music by Andre White
Now firmly established as one of steelpan’s most popular artists, Andre White’s star was still on the rise when he released his debut album, Liberation Music, an exciting multi-genre exploration filled with heart and soul throughout.
The genres are meant to represent his Brooklyn, NY roots with a mix of soul, R&B, calypso, reggae and Latin music. The opening track poses the question, “Why can’t we be free?” Beautifully performed using a vocalist and full steel orchestra, the opening track sets the tone for the rest of the album with a beautiful melody, added horns for emphasis and complex chord structures to create a rich soundscape. Standout tracks include Liberation, the Latin jam-esque Algo Diferente, reggae groove Hideaway (featuring a low pan solo) and calypso rock dance track Pressure, to close out the album.
Read our album review of Liberation Music here.
6. Just Ahead by Patrick Fitzgibbon
Known as much for his prowess in world percussion and education as he is as an artist, make no mistake, Fitzgibbon holds a special place among steelpan recording artists. With this follow-up to his debut album, The Travelers, Fitzgibbon explores his own melodic style. His music has elements of zaniness, sarcasm and whimsy, but also retains its dignity with a seriousness for the artform.
The opening track on Just Ahead is misleading as a mellow jazz groove with guitar, xylophone and even a triangle, but is followed up with an eclectic mix of songs that fill you with enchantment, joy and wonder. A true sleeper, this album has some unexpected turns with tracks like the Latin jazz-inspired Every Way But Forward, motown-esque Look Up and introspective masterpiece, Blanchisseuse.
7. Pan Roots Culture by Kareem Thompson
Brooklyn pan virtuoso, Kareem Thompson has made a name for himself performing with artists like Ludacris, The Mighty Sparrow and Etienne Charles, to name a few. In his debut album, these diverse musical styles come to the forefront with an ensemble that includes guitar, upright bass, piano and drums, creating a textured soundscape of jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Calypso and soul, with some other world genres mixed in for flavor. The title track is particularly memorable with haunting vocals, a piercing melody and stellar musicianship.
Rounding out the urban island vibe are Spot’s Groove, Caribbean Connection (featuring beautiful vocals from Keet Styla) and The Sun Will Shine Today, a swung soul groove with rich chords and a tasty piano solo for good measure.
8. Pillar by Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
Having firmly established himself as a composer of note, world-renowned pannist and recording artist Jonathan Scales takes his group, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, to new heights with this epic mediation on what it takes to make it when your music is as unconventional and complex as they come. From the start, the album sets a different tone with Fake Buddha’s Inner Child, harnesses the power of introspection and a sort of, lost in the woods confusion as if the melody is searching for something. We Came Through the Storm is just as it sounds, putting the listener in the middle of a storm that swirls and builds to a powerful, sinister crescendo, reminiscent of film score music (i.e. Hans Zimmer). The star-studded album features artists like Jeff Coffin, Oteil Burbridge and banjo master Bela Fleck, who lays it down with fierce accuracy on the masterful, Focus Poem. This album is a must hear in more ways than one.
Read our album review of Pillar here.
9. New Life by Shawn Thwaites Rebel Quartet
Stylish, emotional and filled with detail, New Life takes you on a wild ride, from the hard-hitting Caribbean soul piece, Black Fist. Westcoastin’ is a swanky, swung groove that offers the feeling of driving with the top down on the palm-tree filled streets of Los Angeles, as if to say, “I’ve arrived in paradise”. Hood Suite is like a nostalgic peak back into Calypso history while keeping a foot firmly planted in the jazzy soul vibe he’s established earlier on the album. Then comes Rt. 50, a four-chord riff-based tone poem that lifts you from bottom to top, then dropping you off the building with a forceful thrust, as if to pull you back into reality from an all-too-real dream. Thwaites’ playing is soulful and nuanced, easily carrying you through each song with effortless abandon.
Read the album review on New Life here.
10. Sirocco by Jeff Narell
Few albums so clearly convey an artist’s vision than this extraordinary work. From the start, the album is effective at mixing African and Caribbean rhythms, melodies and instrumentation with a balance that makes you wonder how much the two genres influenced each other during their development.
Babam features an inviting vocal melody to kick things off. Sirocco takes over next with a thumpy, explorative groove, with the right amount of reverb and hip guitar breaks to hook you throughout. Rise Up does just what it promises and lifts your spirit, regardless of the need, making you feel like you’re being told an inspiring and hopeful story, despite it having no lyrics. The storytelling and melodic prowess of the track are on point. This one will likely stand the test of time as a powerful album, worthy of an award if one existed for what it accomplished.
Read our album review of Sirocco here.
Honorable Mentions:
Cari Jazz by Mike Schwebke
Morning Sunrise by Joy Lapps
The Travelers by Patrick Fitzgibbon
Pathways by Zane Rudolfo
MONOMYTH by Teddy G and the Groove
Mindstate Music by Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
Tales from Amazonia by Lord Shambleton
We Kinda Music, Dis.1.4.Raf and Oui Ma Cherie by Andy Narell
Listen to this music and more with our Spotify playlist, Modern Steelpan Albums You Need to Hear Right Now:
