When I first heard a compas beat with steel drums, I was impressed. But compas by an antillean steel drum band is very rarely recorded. They seem to perform mostly at hotels and cover caribbean hits with a wide range of different rhythms - biguine, cadence, slow, bolero, merengues, calypso and others.
Regular steel pan music has more of a carnival marching band sound, but here the kreyol musicians are able to add some compas band elements we are familiar with.
Steel Band de Port-Louis
Steel Band de Port-Louis (Guadeloupe) – International Cole Cole* (Coupé Cloué)
Steel Band Lorraine (Martinique) – Bel Ballai* (Difficiles)
Shell Harmonie Steel Band (Martinique) – Compas Merengue*
The history of steelpan* begins in 1783 by a “Mass exodus from Haiti, Martinique & Guadeloupe to Trinidad”. The use of African drums were outlawed by the british government over some years.
The Steelband Movement - The Forging of a National Art in Trinidad and Tobago, Stephen Stuempfle
Steel Band Brasserie Lorraine
* Chef d’Orchestre - Valleray Constant
Hight Ténor - Murat Roland
Double Ténor - Jupiter Lucien
Double second - Verdeau Michel
Double second - Desroc Gabriel
Guitare - Nazaire André
Basse - Asselin Pierre-Emile
Timbale - Vangot Jean-Claude
Batterie - Rascar Roland
Cellon (alto) - Tuernal Louis
Ténor Basse-Tumba - Coco Jean-Pierre
Chant - Parafait Mathurin
Chant - Deslance Serge
Shell Harmonie Steel Band
* Directeur et Imprésario - Valleray Constant, Chef d’Orchestre - Desroc Gabriel
Hight Ténor - Murat Roland
Double Ténor - Jupiter Lucien
Double second - Verdeau Michel
Double second - Desroc Gabriel
Guitare - Nazaire André
Basse - Fene Louis
Batterie - Vangot Jean-Claude
Cellon (alto) - Tuernal Louis
Ténor Basse-Tumba - Asselin Pierre-Emile
Chant (Cloche) - Parafait Mathurin
Chant (Tumba) - Deslance Serge
Chant (Timbale) - Ravin Serge
thanks alot Jean-Luc, this is very interesting.
by the way do u have the line-up for Steel Band de Port Louis?
Sorry, they didn't include any names on the sleeves. “Arrangements et direction Pierre Luce”, that's all I found.
Now that's what I call good steel pan compas, I liked Bel Bale the most.
Yes! Les Difficles were a good mini jazz band. And the Steel Band reflects a lot of its spirit.
thanks for the post.very informative topic