On October 2 1996, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe presented a steel pan clinic for students at the University of Arizona. He taught us an unnamed tune by rote, then played solos for us. This video shows his improvisation over the tune he taught us and his solos on double seconds and lead pan.
I remember the profound influence this performance had on me in the moment - I had never seen someone TRANSCEND an instrument like this. For many years I thought I had lost this video, but I recently found it and wanted to share it here. Apologies for the original video quality (VHS copy) and for the crudeness of the digitizing method. Thanks to the UASteel (Darin Wadley, director at the time) for sponsoring and setting up this workshop. Thanks also Shad Blair for filming and sharing this. And thanks to Boogsie!
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That's Boogsie for you one way for me to describe this Brother.He is to Pan What Muhammad Ali is to Boxing and what Michael Jordan is to Basketball and what Pele is to football(soccer).The greatest player of pan of all time.
Wow, this was just tremendous watching the amount of talent that he demonstrated in this video. I was born in Trinidad and have now lived in the US for over 40 years, but I have always loved the steelband. I wish there was more of an appreciation and awareness of the type of skills it requires to play this type of instrument. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Comments
The King of the Pan World.
That's Boogsie for you one way for me to describe this Brother.He is to Pan What Muhammad Ali is to Boxing and what Michael Jordan is to Basketball and what Pele is to football(soccer).The greatest player of pan of all time.
After 20 years he is still as fast and fluent but his repertoire has improved tremendously.