International steel drummer Othello Molineaux headlines Jazzance 2000

Toronto Othello Molineaux one of the world=s most expressive and melodic steel drummers and his band AOthello@ will headline Jazzance 2000. Jazzance 2000 will also feature Earl Rodney and side musicians who will bring their calypso jazz fusion to this annual event.

Head liner Molineaux is known for his great interaction with melodic instruments and his skill as a pianist, bassist and conga player allows him to play the steel drum with steadiness of tempo and smooth texture. A legendary steel drummer, his performances and CD recordings with Jaco Pastorius, Ahmad Jamal and Monty Alexander provided a base and experience with rhythmic territory. Molineaux has played with the biggest names in jazz including: Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielmans, Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock, Randy Brecker, Hubert Laws, McCoy Tyner and Joe Zawinul.

The second featured steel drummer Earl Rodney began playing the steel drum at age 7. At age 13 he founded the Tropical Harmony steel band and worked as an arranger and played double-bass steel drums. In 1967, he worked as an arranger with the Solo Harmonites steel orchestra for the National Panorama Competition. Rodney with Harmonites placed first on four occasions: in 1968, 1971, 1972 and 1974.

Rodney joined the Sparrow Troubadours calypso band as musical director and bassist. His work included writing musical scores and producing more than 20 albums. His most recent CD is a blend of calypso and jazz entitled, Steel band Music 2000. He now concentrates on playing his drums and spends a considerable length of time in England.

Side musicians that will accompany Rodney are Lester Boyk (guitarist) and Selwyn Pitt (drummer). Steel drummer Winston “Pappy” Frederick (Toronto) will open the performance.

For more information visit our web site www.steelpan.com

or Caroline DeWitt

Tel: 1.613.523.9533

Fax: 1.613.523.9787

Email: steelpan@istar.ca

Steel drum educational activity in schools in England & U.S.A.

Steel drum educational activity in schools in England & U.S.A.

Steel drum music will be included in the syllabuses of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music of London, [England] within the next three years. An article appeared in the daily, The Trinidad Guardian relating to a visit by the Board’s Executive officer. The report indicated that the officer was conducting research on the feasibility of setting examinations for the steel drum. The School will also publish instructional texts and manuscripts of test pieces for the steel drum.

Royal Schools of Music offer a variety of theoretical and practical exams designed to encourage good technical and musical foundations. Music students in 85 countries participate in the Association’s structured programs. The inclusion of the steel drum in the syllabus will increase the instrument’s appeal to students who may wish to specialize in the steel drum, offers steel drummers a framework against which to measure progress and development, influence the standardization of the instruments and overall marketability of the drum.

In the USA, learning the steel drum in most colleges have been undertaken in skilful, well-studied and well-tested methods. A number of schools and colleges offer music students the opportunity to specialize in the steel drum; others are undertaking research in the technology of the steel materials; or others organise a steel band as a form of social and recreational activity.

Three examples of steel drum music and technological education include: In 1968, steel drummer and instructor Othello Molineaux introduced the steel drum into the school curriculum in St. Thomas U.S. V.I. Molineaux continued researching how best to teach the tenor pan tuned/designed in 4ths and 5ths and in 1995, wrote Beginning Steel Drum (Warner Bros.) The book includes a CD with tracks for play-along lessons and also provides stick techniques exercises, major scales, chord progressions and melodies.

Trinidad born “Ellie” Manette, artist-in-residence at the University of West Virginia and recipient of a 1999 American National Endowment Award heads up the pan tuning project. Other research projects involve his work with the team at the University of El Paso’s percussion studies on the metals components program.

Also in 1995, professor of music at Northern Illinois University, Jan Bach, composed “Concerto for Steelpan and Orchestra” for steel drummer Liam Teague. This work was performed by Teague and the Chicago Sinfonietta.

Based on the following list of schools and colleges with a resident steel band, it appears that the instrument is becoming more acceptable in the school curriculum in the U.S.A. Professional music education and training will reflect positively on the instrument’s development both in the U.S.A. and internationally.

This partial list of schools and colleges with steel band activity in the U.S.A. and shows to some extent the interest in the instrument and its contributions from an educational perspective.