Pangaea (Pan je ' a), n: The landmass that
existed when all continents present-day were joined, from about 300 to
200 million years ago.
THE PANGEANS are a group of seven musicians performing Latin Jazz,
Samba, Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Funk and Afrobeat.
The group performs original compositions based on traditional rhythms
as well as compositions by Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), Herbie
Hancock, Fela Kuti and others. If you like to dance and/or listen
to World Music, you'll love THE PANGEANS!
THE PANGEANS are:
BRIAN BENDER (trombone, trumpet, melodica, keyboards, percussion, composer) has formerly performed with O.J. Ekemode and the Nigerian All-Stars, Kotoja (African World-Beat), Ibrahima Camera, Black Rebels (African Reggae), La Perfecta (Salsa/Merengue), Big Bandemonium (Contra Dance band) and the Berkshire Bateria Escola de Samba (Brazilian). He currently performs with the World Beatniks (World Music), Little Shop of Horas (Jewish-World Fusion), The Gumbo Jumbo Dixieland Band (Traditional Jazz), the Yiddishkeit Klezmer Ensemble (Jewish), Fiddle Hill (Celtic) and Elixir (Contra Dance Band). Brian has performed in the Cape Verde Islands (West Africa), Egypt, Alaska, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Italy, the United Kingdom and throughout the United States. He has performed at Carnegie Hall as well as the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton.
JIM VOGEL (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, percussion, composer)
has performed and recorded with New Horizon (Reggae), New Roots
(Reggae), the Berkshire Bateria Escola de Samba (Brazilian). Jim was a
founding member of the acclaimed group Who's Kidding Who? (Funk), with
one release on Bullet Records. He currently leads his own Jazz group
and performs with Lucky Seven (Caribbean Ska).
DON ANDERSON (trumpet, flugelhorn) has played with numerous groups in the Northeast, including Right Time (World Beat), Dr. Burma (R&B), Hip Socket (R&B), New England Transcendental Brass Band, Smokin' Joe and the Henchmen (R&B/Soul), Moonlight Davis (soul), Vermont Jazz Center Big Band, Compaq Big Band, Four N More (jazz), O-Tones Big Band (swing), Paule Kelley (pop), A Team (rock), Casual Sextet (jazz/funk), Lip Service (jazz), Jim's Big Ego (pop), JP Tropicale (afro/caribbean). He currently performs with the Julian Gerstin Sextet, the Green Street Quintet, the Jazz Marauders and the Bok Choy Trio.
STEVE CROW (electric guitar) has been with the group since 2008. He leads his own group Crow's Rebellion. He has performed with Kevin So (original) and Ras Moon (Reggae), and other regional bands. Originally from Long Island, Steve moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music in the early 1980s, then later came to live in Western MA.
JULIAN GERSTIN (congas, djembe), PhD is a percussionist, composer and ethnomusicologist. Julian’s percussive explorations have led him to study traditional music in Ghana, Cuba, and Martinique, where he lived for two years. In the U.S. he has studied and performed with immigrants from Brazil, Puerto Rico, Nigeria, South Africa, Trinidad, Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria and others, and has toured and recorded with numerous world music acts including Baba Ken Okulolo and Zulu Spear. In the world of jazz, Julian has performed styles from New Orleans brass bands to avant garde experimentalism. Current projects include original world-influenced jazz with the Julian Gerstin Sextet, Latin jazz with Trio Mambo, and drumming with the Puerto Rican folkloric dance ensemble Bomba de Aquí. Julian has written for and accompanied numerous theater, dance and choral ensembles. Retired from college teaching, he continues teaching Latin jazz and samba ensembles at the Vermont Jazz Center.
RUDI WEEKS (electric bass) has performed with over thirty ensembles covering almost every style of music. These groups including such 60s greats as The Contours, The Crests, and Ronnie Spector, and Folk and Bluegrass legends Tom Paxton and Tony Trischka. He also toured internationally with the Dirty Dancing Concert Tour. He served as a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Performing Arts Division and as an adjunct bass faculty member for Amherst College. He currently teaches at Holyoke Community College Music Department, Downtown Sounds in Northampton MA, Guitar Center in West Springfield and at his home.
JEFF HINRICHS (drums) has been in demand as part of the Pioneer Valley music scene since 1978. One of the rare drummers equally versed on the drum set as well as hand percussion, he has performed with many area top bands over the years. He decided to be a musician when, like so many of his generation, he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show and decided that music would be his path. He has studied with an impressive list of the world's best percussionists, and has earned a BA degree in Ethnomusicology from UMASS Amherst. In addition to The Pangeans, currently he can be found working with Dicey Riley, The Kitchen Party, and the B3s.
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