Equipment Profile
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The Pans:
The steel drums, also known as Steel Pans, are a fascinating instrument
hand-crafted from 55 gallon oil barrels, and are the heart
and soul of my set-up. They
originate from Trinidad in
the Caribbean and are one of the newest instruments to have evolved, appearing around the late 1930's.
The steel drums that I personally play are called collectively, Double
Alto or, "Double
Seconds." They have a two and a half chromatic octave range starting with a low E
below middle C and ending with a high B, spanning across two oil barrels
to make one instrument.
The
notes placements are arranged in the Ellie
Mannette
- Invader style, named for one
of earliest steel bands he helped
found,
the Invaders. My first instrument was born from the hands of Patrick Arnold
in
1988 through a connection with Tom Miller,
of Pan Ramajay.
They were built especially for me and is my favorite
instrument.
I was not present during their construction, but I have been told by Tom that he built them in 8 months, outdoors,
on a hill, in a park in San Francisco, California during a stay in
the states. I've often wished I
could meet
him. Patrick Arnold is the President of Pan Trinibago Inc., a global
steel drum organization, and I am most honored to play on an instrument created by
him. No two steel drums have quite the same voice. I am very happy with mine.
Thank you Patrick Arnold and Tom Miller for the
connection!
My pans have been tuned several times by master
tuner Ellie
and apprentice Darren Dyke. Pioneer Dr. Ellie Mannette is arguably
considered the
"father of the modern steel drum" having created many
of the
very first steel drums. His
Master craftsmanship can be seen in the Smithsonian where his steel drums
are on
display.
I reverently consider him as do many others, to be the "Stradivarius"
of
Steel Drums. Ellie is currently an artist in residence at West Virginia
State University
where he is passing on his incredible skills to apprentices - ensuring the
future of his
method of creating steel drums.
Find Dr. Ellie Mannette at Mannette Steel Drums, Ltd.
Pantheon Steel Drum Company
I now endorse Steel Pans by Pantheon
Steel Drum Company crafted by Kyle Cox. Great pans! I am
excited to be playing several of Kyle's pans. He has built me two
sets of Double Seconds in Ellie's Low Invader style. The first set
is a regular 55 gallon barrel size and the second is an oversized 26"
set.
Stay tuned for more news about these great pans soon. Visit the
Pantheon Steel Drum Company web site for more information
today.
Want to see a modern steel drum being built?
You can now watch a 16 minute video of the actual construction of my Extended Rim 26" Double
Seconds pans as built by master steel craftsman Kyle Cox. Enjoy!
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 Patrick Arnold |
 Dr. Ellie Mannette |
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