Meet the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band

Since its beginning in 1974, the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band has performed and toured and delighted hundreds of audiences thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of more than 50 players! Today we are lucky to have these in the band:

• CARL CHASE (Manager)

Carl grew up playing flute, guitar and double bass, and majored in music at Harvard. He started making steel drums and founded the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band in 1974. He has made most of their instruments, and arranged much of the music the band plays. Since 1988 he has developed and taught high school pan programs in New England, and founded Flash in the Pans Community Steelband in Blue Hill, ME.

• JAIMIE ALLEN

Tenor and Double Second Pans
A flute player, Jaimie first encountered steel drums in a high school pan program taught by Carl Chase in Blue Hill, ME, and it was clear she had found her instrument! In 1999 she was ready to fill an opening with ACSB. She teaches pan classes and workshops and assists with the community band, Flash.

• ERICA BUTLER

Cello Pans
As a student in the Stratton, ME school, Erica learned to play pan under Mary Alice in the early 90's. By 1994 she was filling in as various openings came up in ACSB. She has played guitars, double seconds and cellos with the band, and has directed the Stratton pan program, and taught many workshops.

• NIGEL CHASE (Captain)

6-Bass Pans
Nigel was 5 years old when ACSB began practicing in his back yard. By the early 80's he was playing 6-bass for the band. In 1995 he started St. Mary's Heavenly Fire Steelband at the Episcopal Church in Dorchester, MA. He now directs the Pan Institut in Blue Hill, ME which provides steelband instruction for all age levels in the community. He also plays double tenors, builds pans, and arranges for and directs Flash in the Pans and Pan Coalition Steelbands.

• ANDREW DILLON

Drum Set
Andrew began his study of the drums in 1972 with local drum teacher Ray Farrell in Westfield, NJ, with whom he studied for 6 years. In 1979-1980 he studied with Andrew Cyrille in New York City. At Bennington College he studied with Milford Graves and received a BA in Music in 1984. After moving to Blue Hill in 1998 he began playing with steelbands, first with the local combo Callaloo, then joining Flash in the Pans, the community steel band in 1999. He joined ACSB in 2003.

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