Il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences. A la vue des barils de pétrole de deux cents litres utilisés par les steelbands, on a l’impression que ça va frapper fort. Genre Tambours du Bronx... En fait, pas du tout ! « Le son est grave, c’est l’équivalent de la basse dans d’autres formations », précise Fred Maillard, musicien dans le groupe Free Steel. Positionné au centre de six fûts, aussi appelés « six-band pan », il tourne sur lui-même pour atteindre la note exacte. « Le plus déstabilisant, au début, c’est que les notes ne se suivent pas comme sur un instrument plus classique. Mais avec l’habitude, on acquiert une mémoire du geste », reprend Benoit Bertret, tenor pan et prof de guitare.
En général, chaque concert de Free Steel est accompagné d’une pause pédagogique, indispensable pour satisfaire la curiosité du public. Le groupe poitevin créé en 2012 est le seul du département à pratiquer ces instruments méconnus qui composent le steel drum. Et par la force des choses, ses quatre membres ne passent jamais inaperçus...
Au-delà du Calypso
Outre Benoit Bertret et Fred Maillard, Free Steel compte aussi dans ses rangs Laurence Bonnard (triple cello pan), et Yann Gilet (batterie). Ensemble, ils reprennent des standards du rock (Kashmir de Led Zeppelin), de la chanson française (La ja- vanaise ou Le Tango pour Claude, mais aussi du jazz (Reza de Jaco Pastorius) ou, plus étonnant encore, des extraits du répertoire classique (Bach, Chopin...). « Nous avons voulu sortir du style traditionnellement associé au steel drum qu’est le calypso de Trinidad dans les Antilles. Mais la musique latine est quand même bien présente », souligne Benoit Bertret. Le tout donne un effet chaleureux et festif grâce au son mélodieux si particulier du métal bien travaillé. A noter d’ailleurs que tous les instruments sortent des ateliers de Gus Martineau, à Parthenay. Pour ceux qui voudraient s’essayer au steel drum, l’Ecole de musique inter- communale des Vallées du Clain propose un atelier découverte chaque semaine à Nouaillé.
Free Steel a sorti un album de reprises et de compositions en 2017. Le groupe se produira le 25 mai (20h) à la Passerelle de Nouaille-Maupertuis. Réservation obligatoire avant le 20 mai au 05 49 46 75 85. Tarifs : 6-12€ (-10 ans gratuit). Plus d’infos sur free-steel.fr.
Free Steel is the only group in Vienna to practice steel drum, this set of more or less huge metal drums with melodious sounds. Authors of an album in 2017, the four musicians will perform on May 25 in Nouaillé.
Do not be fooled by appearances. At the sight of the barrels of oil two hundred liters used by steelbands, it seems that it will hit hard. Kind Drums of the Bronx ... In fact, not at all! "The sound is serious, it's the equivalent of bass in other formations," says Fred Maillard, musician in the group Free Steel. Positioned in the center of six barrels, also called "six-band pan", it turns on itself to reach the exact note. "The most destabilizing, at the beginning, is that the notes do not follow each other like on a more classical instrument. But with the habit, one acquires a memory of the gesture ", resumes Benoit Bertret, tenor pan and teacher of guitar.
In general, each Free Steel concert is accompanied by a pedagogical break, essential to satisfy the curiosity of the public. The Poitevin group created in 2012 is the only one in the department to practice these little-known instruments that make up the steel drum. And by necessity, his four members never go unnoticed ...
Beyond the Calypso
In addition to Benoit Bertret and Fred Maillard, Free Steel also includes Laurence Bonnard (triple cello pan) and Yann Gilet (drums). Together, they adopt standards of rock (Led Zeppelin's Kashmir), French songs (Laja- vanaise or Le Tango for Claude, but also jazz (Reza by Jaco Pastorius) or, even more surprisingly, extracts from the repertoire. classical (Bach, Chopin ...) "We wanted to get out of the style traditionally associated with the steel drum that is calypso of Trinidad in the Antilles, but Latin music is still present," said Benoit Bertret. gives a warm and festive effect thanks to the melodious sound of the well-worked metal, and all the instruments come out of the Gus Martineau workshops in Parthenay, for those who would like to try steel drum. of inter-communal music of the Clain Valleys offers a workshop discovered weekly at Nouaillé.
Free Steel has released an album of covers and compositions in 2017. The group will perform on May 25 (8pm) at the Nouaille-Maupertuis Footbridge. Reservation required before May 20 at 05 49 46 75 85. Prices: 6-12 € (-10 years free). More info on free-steel.com.Free Steel is the only group in Vienna to practice steel drum, this set of more or less huge metal drums with melodious sounds. Authors of an album in 2017, the four musicians will perform on May 25 in Nouaillé.
Do not be fooled by appearances. At the sight of the barrels of oil two hundred liters used by steelbands, it seems that it will hit hard. Kind Drums of the Bronx ... In fact, not at all! "The sound is serious, it's the equivalent of bass in other formations," says Fred Maillard, musician in the group Free Steel. Positioned in the center of six barrels, also called "six-band pan", it turns on itself to reach the exact note. "The most destabilizing, at the beginning, is that the notes do not follow each other like on a more classical instrument. But with the habit, one acquires a memory of the gesture ", resumes Benoit Bertret, tenor pan and teacher of guitar.
In general, each Free Steel concert is accompanied by a pedagogical break, essential to satisfy the curiosity of the public. The Poitevin group created in 2012 is the only one in the department to practice these little-known instruments that make up the steel drum. And by necessity, his four members never go unnoticed ...
Beyond the Calypso
In addition to Benoit Bertret and Fred Maillard, Free Steel also includes Laurence Bonnard (triple cello pan) and Yann Gilet (drums). Together, they adopt standards of rock (Led Zeppelin's Kashmir), French songs (Laja- vanaise or Le Tango for Claude, but also jazz (Reza by Jaco Pastorius) or, even more surprisingly, extracts from the repertoire. classical (Bach, Chopin ...) "We wanted to get out of the style traditionally associated with the steel drum that is calypso of Trinidad in the Antilles, but Latin music is still present," said Benoit Bertret. gives a warm and festive effect thanks to the melodious sound of the well-worked metal, and all the instruments come out of the Gus Martineau workshops in Parthenay, for those who would like to try steel drum. of inter-communal music of the Clain Valleys offers a workshop discovered weekly at Nouaillé.
Free Steel has released an album of covers and compositions in 2017. The group will perform on May 25 (8pm) at the Nouaille-Maupertuis Footbridge. Reservation required before May 20 at 05 49 46 75 8
Replies