Lightning Strikes The Heartland

Description

Lightning Strikes The Heartland by Clyde “Lightning” George and The Steelin’ Jazz Trio

Clyde “Lightning” George was born in the same place, at the same time, as the steelpan. Both shared humble beginnings in the hills of Laventille overlooking Port Of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad. By the age of 9, Lightning was a regular at the neighborhood panyard. It was here that Bertie Marshall, the inventor of the double tenor pan and leader of the legendary Highlanders Steel Orchestra, gave Clyde his sobriquet “Lightning” because he saw that he was so quick to learn the music. These 2 pan pioneers continued to bring this joyful instrument from its unlikely, island origins to the Carnegie Halls of the World.

As this CD demonstrates, Lightning has spent his life between the jazz clubs of Chicago and the panyards of Trinidad. As Dave Hoekstra, music critic of the Chicago Sun Times, wrote “Lightning effortlessly weaves a gentle calypso beat between the hard-bitten notes of the jazzmen. Calypso and jazz are an unusual blend, but then Lightning is a free bird and one of a handful of panmen who uses 3 or 4 sticks while playing, which adds to his quickness.”

The Steelin’ Jazz Trio came together in the Chicago jazz scene. They have traveled with Lightning to his homeland of Trinidad. Together, this trio creates an original style and brings a fresh sound to the wonderful classics in both musical worlds of Calypso and jazz. The Steelin’ Jazz Trio consists of Clyde “Lightning” George, Aras Biskis and Brian O’Hern.

To hear samples, check out their CDBaby page here