Victor Provost makes hometown appearance
St. John native Victor Provost spends most of his time these days touring spots like the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center, but last week he returned to the St. John School of the Arts, where he got his start playing steel drums.
Victor’s appearance, with his 21st Century Band, was part of the Virgin Islands History Month, sponsored by the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute, which is staging concerts throughout all three islands.
“I often play when I’m at home, but this was an opportunity to showcase the world-class Caribbean jazz sound of the 21st Century Band,” Victor told us. “And that the steel pan can be a unique jazz instrument.”
(The St. John School for the Arts is a pretty cool place, by the way.)
Here is a couple of minutes of Victor Provost’s performance.
March 19th, 2010 05:41
That was great! Thanks!
March 19th, 2010 08:07
Dam that man can slam that pan! Never thouight of it as a jazz instrument, but I will from now on!
Thanks for the culture, guys!
-Bert
March 19th, 2010 08:09
Thanks for posting that. He obviously is very talented. When I think of steel drums, I think of the guy who plays up at Banana Deck…slow and touristy with a cheesy drum machine in the background. (I’m not knocking it…it’s fun.)
Amazing that the same instrument can sound so different.
March 19th, 2010 10:18
As a jazzer I think it’s great to hear the pans getting some attention. Victor does a super job as does one of our favorite young sax players (you’ll spot him occasionally at the BB). Did I see Sis Frank in the audience?
Let’s hear/see more island music.
NH Bob
March 19th, 2010 16:02
Good show Victor, very few Jazz pan players around, here’s another great one. Othello Molineaux.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgntkGc5iBo
March 19th, 2010 21:09
Victor is all grown up. I remember watching and listening when he was just a kid. He was equally impressive then too.
March 20th, 2010 07:15
Wow! When I worked at Ellington’s he used to play there one night a week. I think he may have still been in his teens and I thought that he was amazing then. Now I see that he has taken his music to a whole new level. Thank you for that video.
March 20th, 2010 22:21
Bravo! That was wonderful. Where is the St. John school of Music? Is it an accredited school or just for the local students? I think my son would enjoy attending if it was a “college” course. It is a nice touch to the jazz we hear here at home. It would be very impressive to master the pan. Please let me know. Is there a website?
Happy Saturday!
March 22nd, 2010 14:05
this guy is pretty serious, the only person I know who could give him a good fight is Freddy Harris III
You be the judge
http://www.youtube.com/freddyharris3