Sweet Dreaming Greg & Junko MacDonald This is the world’s first collection of classical and semi-classical favorites performed by a steel drum duo. The few steel drum classical albums that exist are large orchestras from the Caribbean. Sweet Dreaming is more soft, chamber music-like. Usually this instrument is pounding out a melody along with pulsating rhythms, but here, the exquisite sweetness of the “pan” is the core around which the album was built. 1. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach“The Caribbean is the home of steel drumming, but Greg and Junko MacDonald have brought its distinctive style to Hawaii, releasing four albums and playing hundreds of live dates. While the couple hammers out the perennial steel drum favorites – think Harry Belafonte – they also explore American pop favorites, island traditionals, and classical works. While a single steel drummer can create a range of sounds from this magnificent instrument, a duo can increase those dimensions greatly. One drummer will play a rhythm line while the other plays the melody or the two will harmonize with each other. And since it's free, there’s no good reason to miss the MacDonald's display of steel drum magic.” - Spike Bradford, AOL Entertainment Calendar, June 2002 Greg and Junko MacDonald are Hawaii’s premier steel drum group. After three albums of predominately tropical music, they applying the Caribbean instrument to an assortment of American pop songs and classical melodies by Bach, Schubert and Verdi. The steel drums’ bright, bell-like sound creates a festive ambience and presents familiar tunes in a fresh perspective. The couple embellish their bright percussive arrangements with other instruments. Junko also plays the grand piano, Shawn Ishimoto, guitar and ukulele, and Pierre Grill, mandolin and keyboards – John Berger’s review 11/30/01 Star Bulletin Compact Disc - GMM2001
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