Vince Stout, a native Wilmingtonian, studied music at East Carolina University. He often plays his major instrument on Wilmington stages-the double bass-but his other love is steel pan. After finding a mentor and mastering the performance of playing and making steel pans, Vince formed the steel pan group, Sea Pans, back in 2000. Depending on the performance, the number of players can be 1 to 20, and there are different types of pans they can play. Four performers are playing at the kick-off of the 37th Annual NC Jazz Festival tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm: Jazz ala Trinidad.
This is Vince's first time performing at the NC Jazz Festival, but not his first time attending. He has memories of the Festival going back to high school. Listen above to hear Vince talk about steel pans and reflect back on a highlight from the early days.
A Sea Pans Quartet with Vince Stout, Will Chacon, Troy Pierce, and Stephen Brand performs on Thursday, 2/2 at 7:30pm in the Wilmington Hilton Riverside Ballroom. Thursday night's Festival schedule features Jazz ala Trinidad by the Sea Pans; Nnenna Freelon and her Trio; and Professor Cunningham's Traditional Jazz Jam. Friday and Saturday nights feature 14 All-Star musicians in seven sets of 6 or 7 players. Find full information about the NC Jazz Festival here; tickets can be purchased onsite or online.