Gasa Gasa continues a run of presenting innovative artists who are not on the radar of the bigger clubs in town. Tonight, the British hang player graces the stage of the uptown club and intends to appear with some special guests.
Since many readers may not be familiar with this instrument (I wasn’t until I heard about Waples), it functions musically like the more recognized steel drum or pan. However, its distinctive UFO shape creates a different form of resonance.
The drum is usually played with the hands and fingers while the player is seated and the instrument is settled on his or her lap. The sound is also different from that of a steel drum because the mallets used on a steel pan ring out more than the softer sound of the hang.
It’s a newly invented instrument, which has only been around for fourteen years. Waples is one of the premier players who taught himself to play because, as he claims at the start of the above video, there are no teachers yet.
Waples was a street performer before he graduated to stages. He has a fascinating album out, Hang in Balance, which combines African, Celtic, and South American influences into a dynamic blend of atmospherics.
This is a must-see show for fans of world music and percussion aficionados.
