Timeline

This is an innovative recording from a Canadian husband-and-wife duo who quirkily insist on writing their name in lower case. This instrumental album features the Caribbean steel pan, flute or kalimba (thumb piano) as the lead melodic instrument backed by a large selection of percussion instruments. The repertoire is intriguing and highly varied with splendid versions of a Baroque classical violin composition transformed for tenor steel pan and pandeiro (frame drum), a delightful Brazilian tune played on vibraphone, an Astor Piazzolla tango, and a steel pan stab at George Harrison’s ‘Here Comes the Sun’.

On most tracks Jodi Groenheide plays the main melody on steel pan or flute while husband Matt creates the percussion accompaniment. On the charming ‘First Look Inside’ Matt takes the lead on kalimba with Jodi’s flute and djembé adding sympathetic contrast. Equally beautiful is the Brazilian standard composed by Waldir Azevedo ‘Pedacinhos do Céu’ (Little Pieces of Heaven). Originally composed for cavaquinho, it is transformed into a dreamy vibraphone and flute duet with typical jamani duo panache. A melodic, gently hypnotic, and very different approach to global percussion.