CDs
Priestess of Pan
The new cd from Europe's Top Pan Woman.
Rachel Hayward's new CD contains a selection of songs and pieces in many styles, a format common in the recordings of such great Trinidadian bands as North Stars, Desperadoes and All Stars. Visionary musicians such as Anthony Williams and Neville Jules saw the potential of pan to be able to play all types of music, and this CD clearly follows in this tradition of eclectic music-making. Women have been involved with pan from its very inception - as players, lovers, flag-bearers, arrangers, promoters and adjudicators, and you will find on this recording pieces inspired by women - all performed by Europe's top pan woman.
From the vibrant exuberance of the calypsos Carnival Is Fuh Woman and Margie, to the delicacy of Tchaikovsky's Sugar Plum Fairy, Mika's confident and quirky Grace Kelly and the unusual haunting lilt of Miranda (a calypso waltz) pan is able to express the widest possible gamut of genres and emotions, truly a far cry from Yellow Bird and Island In The Sun.
Pans are tuned to concert pitch and are fully chromatic, so can play in any key, and are equally at home played as a purely acoustic solo instrument (as in the live bonus tracks) multi-tracked together with other pans (You're So Cool, Only You) or carefully mixed with ukulele, live percussion and the best possible midi programming and production courtesy of David Hyde (Grace Kelly and calypsos).
Track List.
- Carnival Is Fuh Woman - Ray Holman 4'05
- Grace Kelly - Mika 2'50
- Margie - Lord Kitchener 2'47
- You're So Cool - Hans Zimmer 2'30
- Pan Woman Medley - Ray Holman 5'55
- California Dreaming - Phillips/Phillips 2'22
- Only You - Vince Clarke 2'55
- Miranda - Lionel Belasco 3'08
- Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy -Tchaikovsky 2'10
- Largo - G. F. Handel 4'40
Bonus Tracks:
- Prelude - J. S. Bach 1'48
- Carillon - Herbie Flowers 3'23
- Over The Rainbow - Arlen/Harburg 3'58
- All At Once - Michael Masser 4'19
- Heroes Of The Nation (remix) - Ray Holman 5'12
Total playing time: 48'23
To hear clips, click here
UK: £10 + £2 p&p (Payable via cheque or PAYPAL)
USA $20 + $5 p&p (payment via PAYPAL only)
authorised email address:
rachelhayward@steelpan.co.uk
Please email for details of how to order.
Praise for Rachel's previous EP "LadyRaygun":
"Rachel Hayward...covers a variety of genres and styles that work brilliantly on pan....the whole CD is amazing; [she] is a fantastic pan player...I'm looking forward to hearing more from her and I'd definitely recommend her to anyone, especially other panners for inspiration."
(HC, Steelbands North Newsletter June 2008)
