Mr Bongo reissues, in full for the first time, a pioneering Trinidadian steelband album from 1979. Masterminded by the keyand highly influential calypso / soca steelpan player, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Phase2 showcases Boogsie’s innovative fusion of jazz, funk and Caribbean rhythms in stunning style. Dubbed ‘the Mozart of Pan’ by Wynton Marsalis, Boogsie began playing pan at the age of five and composed his own music by the age of nine years old.
Phase2 is built up predominantly of original compositions by Boogsie, alongside a track penned by fellow Trinidadian musician Raf Robertson and an outstanding Trinidadian-disco cover version of Roy Ayers' classic ‘Can't You See Me’. Phase II is the name of the band Boogsie started with six of his friends who sought to compose their own music.
Drenched in feel-good island-life energy, the eight tracks showcase Boogsie’s creative approach to the pan and its ability to elevate the flavour of a host of genres not usually associated with the instrument. ‘Can't You See Me’ is an underground disco banger that has become highly sought-after. It’s no surprise why, with pan injecting Caribbean heat to Ayers’ original. When rare groove DJs picked up on it and began playing it in their sets, it introduced Boogsie’s talents to a wider audience.
Whether you’re already familiar with the iconic sound of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe or are discovering his magic for the first time, we hope you get inspired by this masterpiece from one of the best in their craft.