#364 Andy Narell- Master of Steel Pans, Educator, Composer and More!
Andy Narell recorded his first album as a leader in 1979 and has never looked back. He’s spent the past 39 years exploring the possibilities of the steel pan in contemporary music, and is equally known as a jazz improviser and steel band composer. His work is the subject of two documentary films – ‘Andy and the Jumbies’ and ‘Calypso Fever.’ In 2017 Narell was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
His most recent album release is ‘We Kinda Music,’ a collection of new and experimental music for steel band.
In 2013 Andy collaborated with Kwame Ryan and the Bordeaux Symphony for a concert featuring the same quintet with orchestra. Orchestral arrangements were by Isaac Narell.
The 2011 DVD release ‘ALIVE,’ which includes two full length documentaries about his work, as well as live concert footage and short videos. ‘Andy and the Jumbies’ takes us from the panyards of Trinidad to the streets of New York, and follows his projects with Trinidad All Stars and the great calypsonian Relator, also featuring interviews with David Rudder, Ray Holman, Peter Minshall, and Kim Johnson. ‘Calypso Fever’ documents Andy’s collaboration with Michael Abene and the WDR Big Band, with special guest Relator, for a sold out concert at the Koln Philharmonic in Germany. -Read More
R.I.P.
Rest in peace to Funmi Ononaiye. He had seemingly endless layers and knowledge, and was omnipresent in the many corners of New York’s vast music scene. A master DJ, percussionist, former A&R executive, chief programmer for Jazz at Lincoln Center, a fixture on the national jazz scene, and forever dedicated to seeking and spreading positive vibrations, Funmi left his mark on so many.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Keita Ogawa! Keita has worked with some of the biggest names in modern music including Yo-yo-ma, Assad Brothers, Charlie Hunter, Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Le Nubians, Romero Lubambo, Clarice Assad, Jaques Morelenbaum, Osvaldo Golijov, Eric Harland, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and more. He also played and composed music called “Starting Five” with “J-Squad” (New York based 5 Japanese Jazz Musicians) for one of big National Japanese News TV Program called “Hōdō Station” since April 2016. Currently he works several projects like, Snarky puppy, J-Squad, Banda Magda, Bokantè, Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra, Clarice Assad and more.
As mentioned, we took some photos in Keita's studio. He mentions in the interview that he always leaves room in his suitcase to come home with new instruments and sounds to add to his arsenal.
Gig Alerts
In the episode, Andy mentions the Laborie Steel Workshop he is hosting with (friend of the show), Jason Koontz. The next one is in January, but there will be another in March.
Damon will be participating in the Montreal Day of Percussion, which is part of “The Space Between”. This will be at McGill University (QC) on January 25-27, 2024. Similar to the previous gathering, this event will feature lectures, demonstrations, performances, and research posters. Organized in collaboration with the Quebec Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society/Day of Percussion 2024 (shout-out to the chapter president/friend of the show, Shawn Mativetsky), this event is open to all percussionists from Canada and abroad. Thanks to a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant (PDG), this event will be free of charge to all participants. The Space Between 2024 will bring together perspectives from both research-creation (i.e., new works for percussion, different approaches to performance) and percussion-focused research (i.e., examining percussionists’ gestures, analyzing percussion acoustics). We aim to explore the “space between” these typically siloed efforts, to build new connections and benefit from a wider range of perspectives and expertise related to the ever-growing world of percussion.
This event will be held through a partnership with the Québec chapter of the Percussive Arts Society Jan 25-26. The Québec Day of Percussion will take place January 27th (info for that event can be found at: DAY OF PERCUSSION. Tickets are AVAILABLE HERE.
Educational Spotlight
Drumeo has their annual awards. Vote for your top drummers of 2023!
Virtual PASIC sessions are up until December 31st.
Iconic Recording
Damon chose the song, “Outcasts” by the Invaders Steel Orchestra from the ‘Harmony in Steel’ album as it is one of Andy’s favorite tunes. Cobo Jack takes the solo in the middle.
Music News
Friend of the show, Ivan Llanes has a new album coming out March 22, 2024. He has released the first video and single from that album called “Respira Y Siente”
Friend of the show, Kevin Ricard, got to be part of the house band with Teddy Campbell on drums, under the direction of Rickey Minor for this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.
Andy Narell Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “Ifrikya” by Andy from his ‘Like a Child’ album.
Damon starts the interview by talking about Andy at PASIC, and the Caribbean Jazz Project.
Dr. J.C. Combs was responsible for the instigation of the Caribbean Jazz Project.
Andy lives in St. Lucia and Paris France.
Andy talks about his steel pan workshop.
Andy grew up in NYC. He was introduced to pans from his dad and Rupert Sterling.
Andy talks about his dad’s influence in the NYC steel pan community.
Andy talks about the history of the pan and how the culture evolved. He mentions TASPO.
Andy talks about the pan tuning and Ellie Mannette.
Andy talks about Bomb Tunes.
Shout-out to Emmanuel “Cobo Jack” Reilly.
Damon and Andy talk about the Knicks and Bill Bradley.
Andy talks about nicknames. Shout-out to Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts.
Andy attended UC Berkley for pre-med before switching to music.
The radio station WLIB inspired Andy in NYC. Shout-out to Dr. Billy Taylor.
This is the commercial that Andy references.
Andy talks about his first recording sessions and recording jingles.
Shout-out to Bernie Krause. This is his Ted Talk. This is one of his books that Andy mentions.
Andy talks about his parents.
Andy talks about his forthcoming project with David Rudder.
Andy touches on history and politics.
Damon brings up the pan sample library Andy did with Ellie Mannette.
Andy talks about the album “Like a Child” that he recorded to demonstrate the sample library.
Andy talks about the name Major Holley called him.
Andy uses Ellie Mannette’s pans.
Alan Coyle is regarded as one of Ellie’s best students and pan tuners.
You can follow Andy on his Website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is “Paco and Dave” by the Caribbean Jazz Project.
