from the Pan Cafe website: about to become a major player in
the pan world and beyond. pan cafe people deliver a
masterpiece..
pan cafe people are the in house steel band that belongs to
the pan cafe.. they have just finished recording their first cd
"introducing" and already they are calling some major shots..
pan cafe people come from all over the world and are going to
cause a major storm in the pan world.. they have just finished a
record with folk singer tracy chapman. so things are looking
rather tasty...
Pan Café Quartet Biography
The pan café quartet was put together for the sake of an
album called Jazz@thepancafe Vol 1. The album started to get a
lot of great reviews and comments for this amazing line up to
record and perform more. The new sound of the millennium sees
the use of drum machines as well as conventional and
unconventional instruments melded together to make this
wonderful original sound. These four superb musicians all
masters in their own right give a very strong performance on
this album, so much so that Jazz UK magazine nov/dec issue gave
the opinion that this is most original jazz album of the year.
Obviously the pan café quartet centres on the steel pan, and its
founder Vine. But make no mistake every member of this quartet
plays an exceptional roll.
Let’s meet the band
Jzules Maharaj: Pianist / Producer / Songwriter
Jzules has performed with
various London bands from the age of 16. His repertoire ranges
from reggae right through to jazz. He has supported a number of
recognized vocalists and played alongside some of London’s
renowned jazz musicians. A co-founder of Panyard and songwriter
who has produced tracks for some of the most recognized House
and Drum N Bass Labels world wide. Writing for vocalist from,
New Zealand, South Africa, Texas and Chicago, not to mention
work with some of London’s finest Mcs and rappers. Jzules has
also underscored for Chicken Shed Theatre Company where he
acquired his Diploma Performing Arts. He has pursued studies in
sound engineering at I.M.W, Music at Brunel University and is
currently studying a BA Jazz Degree at Middlesex University.
Alex Wheeler: Drum programmer / Engineer
Born in the early 80’s,
Alex spent 8 years of his childhood in Trinidad & Tobago (from,
1989-1997) his mother being Trinidadian and his father English.
Having been influenced by Calypso/Samba/Reggae and other
variants of Latin music, he began working in a CD mastering
plant in Trinidad as well as hanging around local recording
studios. It was there that he picked up his engineering skills
and he still works as an engineer at Red Door Studios,
Nottingham, a Private Project Studio and runs his own label
Loven Records launched September 2005.
Kevin Dunford: Fender Bass/ Double Bass
London born Kevin began
public performing on the London jazz fusion scene in the late
seventies. He soon became a first call session player, working
in the commercial industry. Live work took in everything from
soul, R and B, rock and jazz. Continually in demand, Kevin
worked continuously for the next decade and a half, touring
extensively with many a pop icon. Kevin continues to work in the
many varied musical fields, teaches and spreads the word ‘Bass
is Joy’.
Vine Steel Panist/ Arranger
London born Vine has been
playing pan since 1985. He started his career with conventional
steel bands in the UK and Trinidad. In 1991 he decided to cross
over as a soloist and venture into a new band format and other
forms of music. In 1993 he got the opportunity to play at
Jazzance in Trinidad where he performed as a soloist alongside
"Pan Legends" Len Boogsie Sharpe and Robert Greenidge. Since
then he has performed and recorded with some of the UK’s top
jazz musicians. Away from Jazz, Vine has worked on many other
kinds of music. Calypso, reggae R&B classical and Latin. Vine
started to Produce and Engineer Dance/Electronic Music In 1995.
When he and Jzules started Panyard Productions. They have been
signed to subliminal records (New Jersey) Bluem (San Diego) Hed
Kandi and Diaspora (UK). They run their own record label called
Soul Delicious Recordings, and write and produce for
international singers like Rashaan Houston (USA), Jessie
Matthews (nz) Soul sista (SA). And in the UK James B Coleman
(Galliano), Vincent J Alvis (Mj cole) and Be. Atwell (Alabama
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