From Trinidad to Chicago
Clyde "Lightning" George

World's Greatest
Jazz Steel Pan Player

Story by Brad Walseth
photos by Cathy George/file
poster of Lightning by Barry Denler

With a wind chill reaching bitterly cold levels here in the Windy City, it is only natural that frostbitten residents turn their eyes and ears southward to the island regions where they daydream of sipping rum under palm trees on a beach while listening to reggae and the beautiful chimes of the steel pan. But it isn't perhaps as widely known that the world's greatest jazz steel pan player lives right here in Chicago.- Clyde "Lightning" George was born and raised in the East Dry River area of Port of Spain, Trinidad - where the steel drum/pan had its origins. The only acoustic musical instrument invented in the 20th Century to gain any public acceptance - steel pans were originally made from the 55 gallon oil drums in approximately 1939.

There is considerable dispute about the exact genesis of the steel pan, but it is believed it grew out of the bands of the era that used to hold competitions amongst themselves. One aspect of these bands is that they used to bang on bamboo for rhythm. Legend has it that one day someone picked up a discarded paint can on the side of the road and began hitting it. Others, intrigued by the sound began using other cans and even began tuning them. Soon bands began using steel oil drums cut in half and the competitions were fierce as to who could pull off the best surprise for the crowd. Most years, except during WWII, competitions like “Carnival,” “The Bomb” and “Panorama” were held, and bands competed ferociously to win the crowd’s approval and bring home the grand prize.Bands had to pull out all the stops – sometimes even arranging European classical music (for example Handel’s “Let Every Valley be Exalted”) for steel pan and playing it at calypso tempo – much to the delight of the audience. Unfortunately, bands competed so hard that this often led to neighborhood violence led by the “Bad Johns.”

Beneath the sound of the steel pan lies the lilting beat and feel of Calypso. Musically, it has been determined calypso is West African in its roots and developed in the late 1700’s in Trinidad and Tobago among the plantation slaves of the era. Like its musical cousin, and despite its sunny nature and deliciously witty sexual entendre, calypso is underneath it all a music of social commentary and a cry against injustice. Some of the greatest of the Calypso artists were “Bomber,” “Lord Melody,” “Caressa” and the legendary Lord Kitchener (Aldwin Roberts or “Kitch”) who composed up to 1500 songs before his death in 2000. Some of the modern greats are Winsford “Joker” Devine “Poser” “Baron,” Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung and Machel Mantano.

By age 9, Clyde George was spending most his time at the neighborhood panyard. He was so fast at learning music that his teacher and mentor, Bertie Marshall - the "Stradivarius of the Steelpan" - gave him the nickname "Lightning." George played in Bertie's famous band - "The Highlanders," became the featured soloist at popular Port of Spain nightclub "The Penthouse," and played on cruise ships in the 70's. Marshall designed the double tenor steel pan George plays, while his use of 3 or 4 sticks while playing only added to his reputation for speed and dexterity. In 1979, "Lightning" moved to Chicago and immersed himself in the jazz scene. Throughout the 80's and 90's, "Lightning" performed around the world, and with artists like Willie Pickens and Clark Terry, along with appearing on television commercials and in the movies.

These days, "Lightning" splits his time between Chicago - where he fronts his band, "Steelin’Jazz," and Trinidad, where he is involved with the Diego Martin Pan Institute -. an institute dedicated to the teaching and preservation of steel pan tradition. The DMPI offers a wide range of classes, seminars and concerts for people interested in steel pan history and technique. George also plays with his own Trinidad-based group "Steelinversion" during the half of the year he spends on the islands. Meanwhile, in Chicago "Steelin’Jazz" consists of drummer Berklee-trained drummer Aras Biskis, Barbados-born bassist Belfield "Bel" Smith, and keyboard/guitar wizard Rob Block. They play various locations around the Chicago area – where their magical brand of calypso-imbued jazz never fails to delight their audience.

Besides appearing on other artists' recordings, “Lightning” has also released four albums of his own. “A Tribute to the Masters – Sir Bertie” is a tribute to Bertie Marshall with “Crazy” in which several Lord Kitchener’s songs and one by “Joker” are presented in a loving manner. “Lightning Strikes the Heartland” is a “Steelin’Jazz” trio album (with Biskas and pianist Brian O’Hern) that covers the gamut from jazz (“Perdido,” “Round Midnight,” “Scrapple From the Apple”) to calypso (“Mosquito,” “Mystery Band”) to standards (“Softly as In a Morning Sunrise”) to pop (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” “Who Let the Dogs Out”) - and does it in a manner that is never less than entertaining. George also recorded a Christmas album with this group called "A Tropical Christmas" featuring traditional Christmas tunes and one Trinidadian Christmas tune by Kitchener. Finally, “Steelin’ the Night" is a live jam session at Chambers led by bassist John Bany and featuring George Bean on trumpet, Don Stille on piano and accordion, John Young on piano, and Jeff Stitley on drums. Wonderfully played versions of classics like “Jordu,” “Song for My Father” and yes, the “Girl from Ipanema” are enhanced by “Lightning’s” masterful pan work and incredible sense of melody.

Chicago's own adopted son - Clyde "Lightning" George is a true original. Combining breezy calypso sound with the sophistication of jazz, he has discovered his own voice and has taken the steel pan instrument into another dimension. You owe it to yourself to check Lightning out - especially during these depressing Chicago blizzards when we could all use a nice trip to the islands for our mental health.