Album Notes

The Pan Dulce Steel Orchestra grew out of a dream...

Inspired by playing in the 120-piece steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago, band directors Kate Lang Salazar, John Salazar, and Michael Skweir dreamed of recreating the joyful spirit of the "panyard" on California's North Coast. In June of 1999, they co-founded the Pan Arts Network and began teaching beginning steelpan classes to local residents. Classes taught in the traditional "rote" style of the Caribbean allowed students with little or no previous musical training to learn to play by ear.

Six years later our vibrant 30-piece performing steel band,
Pan Dulce Steel Orchestra, has emerged as an exciting realization of the original dream. With a diverse blend of ages, and walks of life from A to Z (literally from artist to zookeeper), Pan Dulce now provides inspiration for pan students and audiences of all ages. We remain connected to the roots of pan music through the compositions of Trinidadians Ray Holman and Len "Boogsie" Sharpe. Compositions by Andy Narell, Tom Miller, and Paul G. Ross, as well as tunes arranged by John Salazar, round out our repertoire.

This CD was recorded in our Arcata panyard. We hope you'll enjoy listening to it as much as we loved playing it.