Larger Bands
Although we perform as a solo or duo, we often play in a
larger band - Nesta - which is as big as a 7-piece band.
Nesta's repertoire encompasses a large mixture of reggae, soca, and calypso from Trinidad and the
Caribbean; Latin, Brazilian, and jazz styles are featured as
well. Improvisation is used heavily in the music,
which naturally leads to deeper interaction
between the musicians and greater spontaneity
in performance. In general, live bands offer great
versatility, as they create the atmosphere for the
duration of the event, along with the appropriate
responses to even just the moments within.

In addition to steel pans, the
instrumentation can include guitar, bass,
keyboard, percussion, drumset, and vocals.
Another unique feature of the band is the option
for "steelband instrumentation"; that is, all of
the parts can be played by steel pans, as the range
of these instruments exists from the high melody
pans all the way down to the full, 55-gallon basses.
This is also a good option when the venue permits only acoustic music. In addition, Nesta enjoys
incorporating West African and/or Brazilian drumming traditions into the band's regular repertoire.

This group is comprised of full time, professional musicians who perform together on a regular basis,
and who have played at countless of private engagements,  corporate functions, weddings, and public
events.

                                Soundclips

Quartet (Is this Love), with steel pan/vocals, guitar, bass, and drumset

Quintet (Black Orpheus), with steel pan, acoustic guitar, bass, drumset, and percussion

Sextet (Pan is Mih Jumbie), with melody pan, harmony pan, guitar, bass, drumset, and percussion

Large Acoustic Steelband (Pan in A Minor) - steelpans come in many ranges, from soprano to bass. This
band uses these instruments and nearly everything in between, arranged as a miniature version (octet) of the 100+
person steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago.
Our Caribbean band, Nesta, as a quintet, after our
performance at a company party in Santa Barbara,  
August 2006.R-L: Rick Mussalam (guitar), Jon "Butch"
Norton (drums), Mark Sims (bass).
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Band videos from live performances...
Trio (Misbehave), with melody pan/ vocals, harmony pan, drumset, and bass backing tracks

Quintet (Jamming), with melody pan/vocals, harmony pan, guitar, bass, and drumset

Quintet (Sugar Bum Bum), same instrumentation as "Jamming" above

Quicktime is required for video play, clips may take a few minutes to download.
Nesta as a trio. From L-R: Abby (tenor steel pan & vocals),
Sean Daniel (drumset), and Dan (double seconds steel pan),
July 2007.
Dan and friends on "Deal or No Deal"
00:55
The contestant on their episode hailed from Trinidad, so steel
pan was perfect for the overall theming and title song. Dan is 3rd
in line coming out onstage.
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