Phil Hawkins - steelpans
Ray Obiedo - guitar
Marc van Wageningen - bass
Paul van Wageningen - drums
Rose Anne Dimalanta - keyboards
Michael Spiro - percussion
Phil Hawkins has been beating on pots and pans since he was five. Now, thirty two years later, he’s still obsessed and while the passion remains the same, the instrument, well. . . actually it’s the same too! Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Phil has developed into one of the most versatile jazz drummers in the Bay Area and his steelpan music is making a mark on one of the newest artforms (and musical instruments) in the world.
After completing a Masters Degree in Percussion from Wichita State University, under the tutorage of J.C. Combs, Phil made the move to Oakland where he quickly established himself in the diverse bay area music scene. There, he performed with Wild Mango, Celtic rock band The Resident
Aliens, mandolinist Joe Craven and Brasilian singer Celia Malheiros. He also appeared on recordings with Irish music master Ron Kavana (Proper Records, UK), Three Tenors No Opera (Sea Breaze Jazz), Greg Murai (Village Well Music) and teamed up with vibraphonist Gerry Grosz and bassist Jim Kerwin (David Grisman) to release “The Cosmic Buzz” on Uplate.org Records in 2001.
Prior to moving to California Phil had already begun to focus on creating his own sound through the medium of the steelpan. He had been inspired by musical encounters with percussionist Michael Spiro (with whom he studied hand percussion) and steelpanist Andy Narell.
www.myspace.com/philhawkinsgroup
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