Lansing Caribbean Band 1

The leader of this Lansing Caribbean Band began playing steel pans in the fall of 1994 during his undergraduate work at Central Michigan University under the tutelage of the late Robert Hohner, Professor of Percussion. He received his B.M.E and M.M.E degrees from Central Michigan University in 2000 and 2010, respectively.

While studying percussion at CMU, he had the opportunity to perform and record with the world renowned Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble. He has studied pan at various workshops and clinics with Ellie Mannette, Ken “Professor” Philmore, Andy Narell, Alan Coyle, Shelly Irvine and Phil Solomon.

Lansing Caribbean Band repertoire

In the fall of 1996 he formed this Lansing Caribbean Band, a pan-jazz quintet that performed an eclectic mix of Reggae, Latin, Jazz and Pop music in addition to traditional Soca and Calypso music. The driving force behind the ensemble was to dispel the myth that, despite the obvious and important deep Caribbean heritage, the steel pan was only capable of playing traditional island music.

In the fall of 2000, with members moving across the country to pursue various graduate degrees, this Lansing Caribbean Band was re-worked as a trio with the same vision in mind. In 2005, he added solo pan performances to his booking repertoire. In April 2008, he performed the world premiere of Concerto for Steel Drum by American composer Chad Stoltenberg. As of May 2008, you can also hear him with Air Margaritaville, as they perform throughout the Midwest.

Lansing Caribbean Band credits

Some notable performances of this Lansing Caribbean Band have been: opening for Marshall Tucker at the Kingsport Tennessee Fun Fest, performing on the main stages at Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival, Notre Dame Jazz Festival, PASIC 1999, Bands of America 2001 Concert Band & Percussion Festival and the 2011 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival.