Lemonade Day 25 - Upstream with Brother Xavier and the Steel Drum School

We're making Community Lemonade in Long Beach.  Come and make lemonade with us!

!  I'm on a 100-day odyssey for community and creativity in Long Beach.  We've got such an amazing city, and I'm a huge fan.  I'm seeking out the creatives and the facilitators of creativity, the art and the locations that inspire art.

I call it .

Today was Day 25 of Making Lemonade.  I'm writing about the Long Beach Steel Drum School.  Hello, what's this?  Volunteer musicians Einstein Brown and Derek Brewster play in Reggae/Soca band Upstream which has strong ties to Trinidad musical greats.

This week has been all about Trinidad, steel drums, initiated by an email that there would be a steel drum concert at Heartwell Park, initiated by 5th District City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's office.  I've been exploring steel drum resources in Long Beach and got a pleasant surprise.

The Long Beach Steel Drum School is the public outreach of the Mt. Ephraim Spritual Baptist Church run by Brother Xavier.  The school is only a couple of years old, but Brother Xavier has amassed a nice collection of 'pans', as steel drums are commonly known. Brother Xavier is especially interested in sharing Trinidad culture as he hails from Trinidad.  Others in the program?  Einstein Brown and Derek Brewster who both hail from Trinidad and who play the steel drums with Reggae/Soca band Upstream.

A little from Upstream's website bio.

"The band UPSTREAM, whose members include two sons of the venerable inventor of Soca music, the late Ras Shorty I, was formed in the republic of Trinidad & Tobago in 1989. They relocated to Southern California in the early nineties and made a name for themselves performing in numerous venues, events and festivals, throughout California and Western States. Their energetic eclectic style of Reggae and Soca has earned them a formidable appellation in the music industry world

The line up is as follows: ... Einstein Brown (Steel Drums, Vocals) is extremely talented and proficient. He has performed with the Trinidad Steel Band, L.A. Desperados, and his own bands Caribe and Sapadilla. He has also appeared in numerous television shows, movies and commercials. ...  (and on)...rotation with Upstream: Derek Brewster (Steel Drum, Bass & Vocals)."

Upstream is playing at 8:00 PM this Friday at Kobe Steakhouse in Seal Beach, just outside of the range of .

During my visit, the high-school and college aged youth, all U.S. born offspring of Trinidad-born parents, wandered in.  As Brother Xavier noted, this is not by intent.  He would love to include others, both with Trinidadian roots and otherwise.

As each person arrived, Derek set to work showing them musical sequences for the type of steel drum that they were using.  It's summer, and the usual attendance was low, but still, lots of fun was being had.

Participants Wilson HS's Keeshan Beckles, Long Beach City College's Avery Beckles, Long Beach City College's Brad Yarde and Santa Monica City College's Quinten Brent practiced their pan under Derek's guidance.

Tidbits, Things, Trails

• Brother Xavier would like to invite you to observe and participate in the school during their regular meetings, Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 and Saturdays from 11:00 until the group tires. 
• Long Beach Steel Drum School is at 2236 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA, 90806
• I suspect if you wanted to try your hand at playing pan, Brother Xavier and the instructor would gladly comply.  The group performs publicly with planning and upon request.
• I took some photos of the playing surface of some of the pans.  Here is a description of the parts of the pan.

Next up? 

The International Quilt Festival runs from Friday July 27 through Sunday July 29th. 

There are some great classes that started yesterday, and will continue on through Sunday.  Thursday classes,  Friday classes,  Saturday classes, Sunday classes, Monday tour.

There over 250 vendors presenting on the showroom floor, but YES, you can get an early start tonight, July 26th!

July 26: 5-9 p.m. (Preview Night)
July 27 & 28: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
July 29: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ticket prices:
$10 daily adult
$8 seniors & students
Children 10 and under free.
$10 Preview Night (includes one free additional day)
$25 Full Show Pass (includes Preview Night)

Want more lemonade? 

Need to contact me?  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes as herself about creative and maker topics for the Belmont Shore Patch and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.