As technology continues to advance around us one of our steelpan virtuosos brother Duvone Stewart takes us behind the scene in the making of his debut album called "Stroke of Genius". It is the first time a steelpan player played all the tones on an album featuring instruments that are not his natural instrument, He did this all using an Electronic version of the only musical instrument that he can play the steelpan. The tracks were all played on the E-Pan. It is capable of opening several doors in so many different ways. Listening to the CD one just would not think that it is a steelpan player who played all the tracks on this album. No steelpan player has ever done that before using tones other than steelpan to produce an entire album or to play an entire song. It covers a wide range of genres and is geared to young and mature audiences. After seeing this video do you not think that the future is very very very bright for steelpan players, as we continue to advance and move forward ?.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzkvxdtUkR0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUSZwxi2wUXHUnQxIlFONkGA
Replies
I don't like to write on this forum, but I would like to say to Mr. Cupid that he should have tried to find out some things before writing this article. I am talking about what he said ." It is the first time a steelpan player played all the tones on an album featuring instruments that are not his natural instrument " And, "No steelpan player has ever done that before using tones other than steelpan to produce an entire album or play an entire song ". I would like to say that I have done that since in the neneties and produced two albums which got some air play, and I continue to do that. That is how I also do my backup tracks for performing. And my natural instrument is the steelpan. I hope that someone who knows this will endorse it. Or any other steellpan player who have done this will let it be known. I am not looking for any fame here, and I would like to give you a copy of my albums.
Dear Mr. Phillip,
My statements above were not meant for pan players who can play other instruments other than the steelpan. If this were the case it will be obvious that such a person would be able to perform all the different tones (on the keyboard for example) and lay down the tracks separately even though they are a pannist. Hence the reason my sentence reads “It is the first time a steelpan player played all the tones on an album featuring instruments that are not his natural instrument, He did this all using an Electronic version of the only musical instrument that he can play - the steelpan.” I tried to emphasize “only musical instrument that he can play” because most steelpan players today can only play one instrument - the steelpan.
So Mr. Phillips, what you are saying is that an entire album has been created before using tones, other than the steelpan, to produce an entire album or an entire song? If you have used another electronic instrument that is not in the steelpan family (e.g. a keyboard) to do this then there are many keyboardists out there who have done that as well. The purpose of my statement is simply to point out that the steelpan player is now on the same playing field as players of all the other acoustic instruments which have an electronic/synthesized version. The steelpan player can now play an electronic steelpan instrument and use it to lay down tracks digitally. He or she can also change from instrument to instrument of choice all while playing on a familiar platform with the same note location and design of the acoustic instrument that he or she is accustomed to.
Respect to all the work you have done an continue to do with steelpan as we try to advance steelpan in so many different ways. I have done my research and I have not come up with your name. Please tell me more about your albums and your process so I can stand corrected.
Salmon
Salmon: You said the same thing TEN TIMES already but it cannot seem to sink in. This medium is a quagmire for misinterpretation and miscomprehension. Looks like everybody finally get over the bell in the NY panorama and turn their attention to sharpening cutlass to kill Edgar Jacob.
Boogsie already has an album dedicated to Sparrow on which he plays all the instruments including the 'strings' on the e-pan.
This is the main benefit of the e-pan, not as a replacement for the acoustic pan but as an instrument that a pan player can use to create the sounds of other instruments using the techniques he already knows from playing the acoustic instrument.
It essentially makes the pan player into a one man band.
Hi Wayne,
Thanks.
I am aware of what Boogsie did, but my above statement is " ... featuring instruments that are not his natural instrument, He did this all using an Electronic version of the only musical instrument that he can play the steelpan." or "entire album or to play an entire song." Boogsie's album featured mostly steelpan tones.
Salmon, Duvone is doing an excellent job promoting the E-Pan.
Cecil thanks.
Duvone is doing a fantastic job. He is a true professional, a visionary and he is fun to work with. I've worked with him on several projects outside of E-Pan stuff. What a fantastic individual! He is a humble, genuine and funny/entertaining person and I think that really show through.