P A N V I B E

Alan Bates has played drums and vibraphone professionally in New York City for over 40 years. In 1989/90 Alan spent a year in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands and added STEEL DRUMS to his musical palette. 

Bates' studio work includes; Live It Up (with Brother Jack McDuff,) The City Never Sleeps, (with the Bill Warfield Big Band,) The Answer is Inside, (with Steve Adelson,)  Music of West Africe, a double album of  Highlife Music with Oscar Sulley, master drummer from Ghana.  Bates recorded  jingles for Revlon, Blimpies, Mastercard, Chase Manhattan and Morgan's Rum. He arranged and produced his debut CD, 'Pan Fried' which was released in 2001. 

Bates has performed with many jazz artists including Brother Jack McDuff, Groove Homes, Ron Carter, Marion McPartland, Warren Vache Jr., Doc Cheatam, Atilla Zoller and Ellington alumni Harold Ashby and Norris Turney. He also backed up show biz giants Sammy Davis Jr. and Bob Hope.

In 1984 Alan toured Japan with the Glenn Miller Band and returned in 1986 to play for a year with Japan's #1 Big Band, Nobuo Hara & the Sharps and Flats. Based in Tokyo, they played for TV shows, live radio, and made numerous recordings. They toured all over Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. 

New York City gigs have included; a year at the St. Regis Hotel (Cabaret show featuring Broadway Stars), two years at the Pierre Hotel (jazz trio,) and a year and a half at the Stanhope Hotel (jazz trio). He led the 6 piece original Brazilian-jazz fusion group, 'Rhythmotion' and his quartet recorded his compositions for the soundtrack of the Vidsynth II art video. Other engagements include, Holland America Cruise Lines, Catskills and Hamptons resorts, and a National Tour with the Broadway Show 'Grease'.

Bates attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied drums with Alan Dawson and Joe Hunt and vibraphone with Dave Samuels. Drumming from age 12, by age 15 Alan was playing gigs in college bars and Fraternity & Sorority Parties on the Univ. of Illinois Campus in his hometown of Urbana. His High School rock band, 'Unclemeat' played in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Oklahoma, opened for 'Three Dog Night' on a 5 day tour and performed for an audience of 35,000 at the Kickapoo Rock Festival. Early experiences also include stints with the University of Illinois Jazz Band, the Medicare Dixieland Band, several R & B groups including a six week tour of British Columbia with funk group, “Sun.”

Currently Alan is playing steel drums and leading Panvibe, a Caribbean Music Ensemble that performs for private parties, corporate events, and community & school concerts. He continues to play vibraphone and drums with the Alan Bates Trio and Quartet and free-lances in the New York City area. 

Educational endeavors include:

 - 2009 - 2023, Full-time Director of Steelband Program at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY (Middle & High School)

-  2006 - 2009 Artist-In-Residence at International Arts Business High School in Brooklyn, NY (30 piece Steelband)

 - 20 years Musical Director of Island Breeze. school concert series for Project Impact 

- 2006 - present: Musical Director for Steel Passion, the Steelband of Christ Episcopal Church in Tarrytown. -

CAN'T GET TO THE CARIBBEAN? LET PANVIBE TRANSPORT YOU. THEY'LL BLOW YOUR TROUBLES AWAY! 

PANVIBE features the beautiful sounds of Steelpans, (Steel drums) along with bass, drums, percussion, guitar, keyboard and vocals. If you would like to create the relaxing atmosphere of your favorite island, then this is the band for you! 

VERSATILITY is one of the keys to our success.  PANVIBE  options:

- perform in various sizes: Solo Steelpan, Duo, Trio up to 8 piece band. 

 - lively background music at a low volume.

 -  or charge up a party with high-energy dance music. 

- play instrumentally or with vocals. 

PROFESSIONALISM is the goal of PANVIBE.

 We arrive at least 1 hour before the event to set-up. We bring our own P.A. System and all necessary equipment. The usual attire is matching pants and tropical shirts (unless there is another preference.) 

EXPERIENCE : PANVIBE has been very active in the New York City area since 1995, playing for Corporate Events, Private Parties, Weddings, Country Clubs, Yacht Clubs and School & Community Concerts. The band's leader, Alan Bates, is a full-time professional musician who has been living and working in New York City since 1977. In 1989/90 he spent a year in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands playing in the house band at the Hyatt Regency/Virgin Grande Hotel. Alan has played the Steelpans on TV and Radio jingles for Chase Manhattan ,Morgan's Rum and Mastercard. His first solo CD, 'Pan Fried,' (panvibe CD2047) was released in 2001.

The REPETOIRE: PANVIBE plays many of the well-known Calypso and Reggae "hits" from the islands, by artists such as Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff. They can also play other styles such as; latin jazz, mambo, meringue, rhumba, cha cha, bossa nova, and samba. Other styles may be possible if requested in advance.