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When Andy Narell recorded his first album, Hidden Treasures, in 1979, it made history. Up until then, the steel drums had never been used in jazz before as a solo instrument.
The steel drums originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the early 20th century. The instruments are usually made from 55 gallon drums that are designed to store oil. Rather than be discarded afterward, some of the steel drums found their way into the hands of impoverished musicians who could not afford a regular instrument. They discovered a way for it to be tuned and played. Steel drums and all-steel bands began to be seen in the 1930s in Africa and through the years they have been a popular attraction at Carnival, usually being used to play calypsos. Because its notes are spaced out in fifths, it is a great instrument to play simple harmonies on, but it is extremely difficult to play fast bop-oriented solos.
Andy Narell ignored the steel drum's limitations and became an innovative force on the instrument. On Hidden Treasures and the albums that followed, he not only plays some Caribbean melodies but a bit of r&b, funk and even straight ahead jazz. Like Jimmy Smith on the organ or Toots Thielemans on harmonica, Narell came up with a completely new way to play his instrument, and showed that the steel drum was much more flexible than one would think.
Even three decades later, Narell has no competition on his instrument in jazz. He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Chucho Valdes, Bela Fleck, Marcus Miller, Spyro Gyra, Billy Taylor, Birelli Lagrene, Tito Puente and the Kronos String Quartet to name a few. In addition he was co-leader of the Caribbean Jazz Project with Paquito D'Rivera and Dave Samuels and has headed many of his own projects.
On Hidden Treasure, Narell is joined by guitarist Steve Erquiaga (who is showcased on “Seven Steps To Heaven”), bassist Richard Girard, percussionist Kenneth Nash, a few guest percussionists and background vocalists on two songs. Narell, who is also heardon piano, timbales and percussion, is the main show throughout.
Review
"Listening to Andy Narell jam on his own Latin pieces, ballads and funky numbers is to hear exciting music that still sounds fresh in the 21st century." -Scott Yanow
"Andy Narell made history when he recorded Hidden Treasures in 1979, becoming the first significant steel drummer in jazz history. Even during the three decades since, no other steel drummer in jazz has had the impact of Narell, who plays with the fluency of a keyboardist. On Hidden Treasures, Narell is also heard on piano, timbales and percussion in a group with guitarist Steve Erquiaga, bassist Richard Giard, percussionist Kenneth Nash and additional percussionists and background singers, but it is the steel drums that command one’s attention. Narell sounds quite at home as a leader, contributing several of the pieces and showing that the steel drums (at least when he plays them) is a jazz instrument." Scott Yanow
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