Gary Gibson is a specialist on the steel pan (steel drum). With a background in both Jazz and Classical orchestral music, his compositions are unique. Gary's CDs are both critically acclaimed and popular with the masses for their freshness and vibrance.
An award-winning composer, orchestrator, arranger, and performer/recording artist, Gary's music brings together the unique sound of the steel pan and many different musical styles and instrumental mixtures. Andy Narrell called Charles Gibson "one of the few people writing progressive music for the [steel] pan and sounding original."
This smooth jazz piece, with a new age texture, features the steel pans (steel drums) over a lush bed of piano, vibraphone, and light percussion. The melody and harmonies are soulful and somewhat gospel-inflected. This is a warm, welcoming piece of music that exudes peace and optimism. Instrumental, Jazz Music, Smooth | Pop Jazz
Contemporary jazz piece, with creative textures, numerous key changes, interesting 6/4 rhythm, featuring the steel pans and tenor sax. Instrumental, Jazz Music, Jazz Fusion
This is a typical upbeat, fast calypso tune featuring the steel drums. The harmonies are simple, but interesting, and there is a lively improvised steel pan solo near the end. Instrumental, Tropical Music, Steel Drums
A lush intro breaks into nice Brazilian-based funk groove (based on partido alto), and provides a nice bed for the steel pan and flute solos. Instrumental, Jazz Music, Jazz Fusion
Steel pan music in a jazz fusion setting. Based loosely on the Brazilian "Partido Alto" groove, with some samba. Instrumental, Tropical Music, Steel Drums
Far out melody and harmony over a blisteringly dissonant harmonic base and burning songo groove, featuring the steel pans, flute, and percussion solos, Instrumental, Jazz Music, Jazz Fusion
This is a lovely smooth jazz ballad. Starts with a small steel pan ensemble (a cappella) as an introduction. Nice smooth string patch, vibes, and flute add nice texture. Steel pan (steel drum) and flute solos. Instrumental, Jazz Music, Smooth | Pop Jazz
This composition has many unusual elements: odd time signature, a classical approach to composition (but with some improvisation), and an instrumentation containing steel pans, vibraphone, flute, finger cymbals, hand claps, and Turkish drum. Instrumental, Classical Music, Classical Miscellaneous
This introspective classical piece, in 5/4 time, features the steel pans (steel drums) along with piano, vibraphone, and orchestra bells. Instrumental, Classical Music, Classical (pending categorization)