Francis - Steel Pan Soloist
Born and raised in Manchester, England, I began playing the pan at the age of 11 in a primary school steelband Perhaps due to my Afro-Caribbean origins, I felt almost instantaneously at ease with the pan, and the Calypso/Soca music we began learning.
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A year or so later, I was asked to join the Manchester Youth Steel Orchestra, where we practised a more varied repertoire, and I began to understand the rhythms and rules of latin, jazz, and classical music.
I continued for 3 years playing with the Manchester Youth Steel Orchestra, then as my skills and my mindframe began to mature, at the age of 16 I was invited to play with a group run by the teachers of the youth orchestra.
My repertoire as a soloist is mostly Calypso/Soca, but I also like to play Bossa nova, Salsa, and necessary, some jazz. Obviously I can taylor songs for tastes.
