Rare recording of Dennis Kaufman

[Tahoe Blue]

Dennis Kaufman, founder and leader of Pan Fever, the original, home-grown steel pan band from East Bay San Francisco ( Richmond ), passed away suddenly many decades ago. Dennis was a gifted musician in addition to being a zealous advocate and champion of the music of steel pans. Each year he traveled to the steel band festivals in Trinidad & Tobago, bringing back songs and renewed inspiration with which he grew both Pan Fever and its audience.Dennis was a skilled and creative pianist as well as pan player, and in the early 80s he was a regular performer with my group Culebra. I was fortunate to have recorded Dennis on pan on a number of tunes. You can hear his energetic playing on "Cinnamon Bay", a track posted on MySpace at www.myspace.com/tropicalouterspace .Those who remember Dennis will appreciate this rare recording. Those who did not have the pleasure of knowing him will wish that they had the opportunity to do so after hearing his extended solo on this track.

[Reid Whatley]

I played in Pan Fever in '79 as drum set drummer & have Pan Fever studio recordings and a couple live recordings I made at gigs. Let me know if you'd like to hear them.