Move Over Tin Pan Alley: Here Comes Calypso Coyote Steel Drum Band

The steel drum, or pan, is a recently invented unique instrument
identified mostly with Trinidad and Tobago. Carefully tuned steel
(oil) drums use a full chromatic range of notes.
Panorama, the largest steelband contest in the world, occurs during
carnival celebrations in Trinidad where these instruments display
their amazing tonalities as they are proudly played by pannists.
College of Southern Nevada’s Calypso Coyote Steel Drum Band, Robert
Bonora Directing, is a top-notch collection of mostly first semester
students who played a variety of styles at their concert last
Wednesday, starting with “Pyxis,” which got toes tapping, “Proud
Pan/Pan Party Medley” showed versatility of students changing
instruments; “Everybody Loves Saturday Night,” a popular Traditional
Trinidadian tune, got the audience chiming in; a J.S. Bach “Aria” was
charmingly atmospheric — showing a different style of these pleasing
instruments with a soft blend of lead-pans, double-seconds and large
oil-drum bass. “Anne’s Lullaby” closed the set.
It was lovely to see all ages enjoying this concert.
The second set was CSN Wednesday Night Jazz Band, Richard McGee
directing, playing a rich Big Band sound mixing students and faculty
in a lively paced display from “That Old Black Magic” (Arlen, Mercer),
“Salt Peanuts” (Gillespie), “Down For the Count” (Foster) “Jungle
Gym,” “Badger Blues” and a few holiday tunes.
The CSN Art & Art History Program offers courses for majors,
non-majors and the general population. Classes range from art history
to digital imaging and everything in between. CSN Theatre Program
provides training in acting and technical disciplines and mounts
several productions each year.
The CSN Dance Program tours regularly offers tremendous opportunities
for learning. The Music Program, as well as the new Music Business and
Technology Certificate, offers every imaginable opportunity to be in
ensemble, from vocal to percussion, chamber chorale to concert band,
symphony orchestra to jazz.
Las Vegas just happens to be home to some of the finest musicians,
actors, dancers, theatre technicians, and artists and art historians
anywhere in the world. CSN offers an opportunity to work with many of
these professionals, in class and on stage. All year long you can find
concerts, dances, theatre shows, art exhibits and more, which makes
CSN campus a destination for superior entertainment at an amazingly
affordable price (usually from $5 to $20), with some discounts.
Call 702-651-4110 (csn.edu/finearts).