Ensemble Profile

Caribbean Sound performing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Chelsea Tipton ll Conducting

Since 1986 Caribbean Sound has been making it's way around the U.S. bringing their fantastic talents to artist series at colleges and universities, major performing arts venues, symphony programs including pops and family shows, outdoor summer concerts, and educational programs in schools systems. They have enthralled their audiences with traditional Calypso, Contemporary Classics, original compositions for the steel pan and World Music striking new territory with an incredible sound leaving audiences thirsting for more. The music of Caribbean Sound is grounded in classical and Jazz traditions combined with years of cultural research of Caribbean Rhythms to create a marvelous performance for all. This one-of-a-kind ensemble provides students and adults the opportunity to cross cultural barriers to discover the amazing influences from around the world that came together to create the steel pan. Some of their outstanding past performances include the Florida International Festival in Daytona Beach, the University of Florida Center for the Performing Arts, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Mahaffey Theater for the Performing Arts, Georgia Southern University, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Caribbean Sound has been on the Florida State Touring Program through the Division of Cultural Affairs since 1998 and is currently serving on the 2010-2012 tour roster. They were chosen for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Artist in the Schools Directory in Fayetteville, North Carolina for the 04-05, 05-06 and 09-10 school years. Caribbean Sound was an artist/clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Orlando, Florida in 1998 and PASIC 01 in Nashville, Tennessee in November 2001.

Barry Olsavsky Invader Lead, Double Seconds, Single Lead, Basses, Percussion.

Barry Olsavsky -tour manager, arranger, composer, and lead panist, performs on Invader Lead, Double Seconds, Single Lead, Basses and Percussion.  Barry began his musical training at the age of 9 studying with Frank G. Forgione, founder of the US Navy Show Band known as the Goodwill Ambassadors and a former student of Frank Holt, percussionist with the John Philips Sousa Band. In 1985 Barry obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Percussion from the University of North Florida where he studied with Charlotte Mabrey, former Principal Percussionist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Barry worked with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for 20 years as a section percussionist which included performances in Carnegie Hall, as well as touring performances around the US.  Barry worked with many of the top names in the Classical and Pop world including Luciano Pavarotti, Doc Severinsen, Chuck Mangione, Bernadette Peters, The 4 Tops, Kansas, The Temptations, Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, and James Taylor to name a few.  After a long career with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Barry retired in 2004. He has done extensive study with the builder and tuner Ellie Mannette and Alan Coyle of Coyle Drums, and has spent many years traveling to Trinidad and Tobago researching the background, music, and culture of Pan and Trinidad. In 1998 Barry was an artist/clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC 98) in Orlando, Florida in November of 1998 and again at PASIC 01 in Nashville, Tennessee in November 2001.  Barry also served as production coordinator and producer of Caribbean Sounds’ 6 recording projects.  1993 release of “Panic Attack” 2000 release of “J’Ouvert Comin” 2004 release of “Evolution” 2007 release of “The Covers and “Caribbean Sound Christmas” 2008 release of “Beyond the Islands” Barry currently spends much of his time with this national touring group. When he is not touring with Caribbean Sound Barry performs throughout the Southeast with Tropico Steel Drums as a solo or ensemble providing steel drum music for corporate events, private parties, weddings and restaurants.  In addition, Barry is Executive Director of CST Entertainment Productions LLC, the parent company of Caribbean Sound, Tropico Steel Drums and CST School of Percussion.  During the school year Barry is a Percussion Clinician at Swiss Point Middle School in St Johns County, Florida working with the percussion students in the band programs. Barry is also a member of Jimmy Parrish and the Ocean Waves Band, a Jacksonville based Trop Rock band that performs in and around Jacksonville and throughout the southeast playing the music of Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Kenny Chesney and original songs.  Barry plays steel drums and percussion and in 2008 had the opportunity to open for Kenny Chesney at the Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum with the Ocean Waves Band. Barry and his wife Barbara are also owners of Coral Coast Concoctions , a Live365.com Internet radio station featuring music of the Caribbean, steel drums and many other artists.  In addition, Barry is director of the adult hand bell choir and director of "The Calypso Christians" a middle school steel band program at Mandarin Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, FL.

Mike Wilson Triple Guitars, Single Second, Percussion

Mike Wilson is a founding member and partner in Caribbean Sound Steel Pan & World Music Ensemble. He performs on Triple Guitars, Single Second, and Percussion.  Imbued with a lifelong belief that teamwork is the lynchpin of success, Mike develops educational programs and corporate seminars teaching teamwork skills through the use of steel drums and music. A graduate of the University of North Florida, Mike studied percussion and performance with Charlotte Mabrey, the former principal percussionist of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (JSO).  As a result, Mike performed as a percussionist of the JSO from 1981 to 1990 working with Bernadette Peters, Mike also served as an artist/clinician with Caribbean Sound at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC 98) in Orlando, Florida and again at PASIC 01 in Nashville, Tennessee in November 2001 and has participated in the development and execution of a variety of quality educational programs with the band.  With perpetual sand in his shoes, four beautiful children and happily married to Sandy, Mike has devoted his life to the study of music, steel drums, and performance techniques.

Lawrence App Guitar, Bass, Bass Boom, Percussion.

Lawrence App grew up in a musical family in the Washington DC area. He studied piano and voice throughout high school, but was self-taught on guitar. He began touring and performing with several jazz, latin, and show groups in 1974. He relocated to Florida in 1980 and that same year co-founded the pop-Caribbean group Windjammer, a band he still performs with today. During the ‘80s, Lawrence made several regionally successful recordings with Windjammer and appeared on MTV Spring Break in Daytona productions. His three albums, Going Down to the Beach (1986), Jammin’ and Groovin’(1987), and Reggae in the U.S.A.(1989),sold over 10,000 copies. Beside being a featured concert act in their own right, Lawrence and Windjammer shared the bill with many top acts including The Average White Band, The Wailers, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. While most of the 90s were spent on higher education, Lawrence continued to perform regularly, although his focus began to shift away from Windjammer and toward work as a jazz sideman or performing his own eclectic songs. By now he was an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, and bass player and through formal study, expanded his ability to read and apprehend advanced theoretical structures. He also began to develop other musical directions, particularly in percussion. He worked for several years as an accompanist on hand drums for modern dance and also started performing on the steel drums in earnest. Since 1997, Lawrence’s main commercial outlet has been solo work in the Orlando market and other high-end resorts in the Southeast. Freedom from his responsibilities as a full-time bandleader has allowed him to concentrate on writing, recording and performing his own material. He has produced five CDs in the last six years covering styles from jazz and world music to death-metal. Although Lawrence is proficient on ten different instruments, guitar is still his first love. His main inspiration comes from people like John Scofield, Charlie Hunter, and Bill Frissell. He also listens to Papa Wemba, Gilberto Gil, and Kurt Elling for vocal inspiration. With the completion of his new CD Dark Into Light, Lawrence is working on a video and live dates with his quartet for 2005: Awards/Music Credits 2004: Songwriter Showcase of America “Male Vocalist of the Year” 2003: ranked highest entertainer at Bahama Breeze (voted #1 entertainment venue in Orlando magazine 5-03. 2001: WCEU supplement to “ Ken Burns Jazz Series”, played guitar with R.Guiser quartet 1994-7: accompanist FSU School of Dance 1993: “Music Scholar of the Year” University of North Florida. 1989: central Florida’s JAM Magazine “Best Island Vocalist” 1988: appeared on MTV’s “Beach House” Spring Break program. 1982: recorded “Jump Right In”

Danny Stimpson Drums, Percussion.

Danny Stimpson began his musical studies while attending junior high school playing saxophone and played into his high school career. In 11 th grade Danny switched from sax to drums, made the drum line and performed in numerous competitions and All-County Band on both drums and saxophone. In his senior year he served as the drum major of the Sandalwood High School Marching Band in Jacksonville, FL. Prior to college Danny toured 14 states playing drums with the Jon Mykal Band, a high-energy dance-pop group performing in clubs and hotels. Danny received his bachelor’s degree in 1993 from the University of North Florida where he studied percussion and performance with Charlotte Mabrey, Principal Percussionist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the UNF Percussion Ensemble. While attending UNF Danny also studied Jazz drum set with Rick Kirkland, former drummer for Ray Charles. For many years Danny has performed around the NE Florida area with groups such as Tropico, The Floribbeans, Dan Reading and Friends, Windjammer, Three, El Toro Loco, Jason Anderson, Paul Lundgren, Mike Lyons, and The Committee. His performance background was heavily influenced by the progressive rock units Nudge and Pigeonhole, Latin and Caribbean genres. Danny’s primary work environment is with Caribbean Sound playing drum set and percussion which serves as the “engine room”, the driving force of the band. He has done extensive study in drum set, Caribbean/Latin rhythms, and world music. In addition to Caribbean Sound Danny performs as a freelance drummer/percussionist in the North Florida area, as a private instructor, and as session drummer for Hole of the Pigeon Studio in Jacksonville recording diverse styles for new age, folk, rock and country artists. Danny also helped produce 5 of the 6 CD’s currently available from Caribbean Sound. He was an artist/clinician with Caribbean Sound at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC 98) in Orlando Florida in November of 1998 and again at PASIC 01 in Nashville, Tennessee in November 2001. Danny also performed with the Soul Committee at the 1999 Florida Sports Awards. Danny actively serves in the music Ministry at Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida and is a devoted father, husband and avid runner.

Matthew Olsavsky Double seconds, Percussion.

Matthew Olsavsky, the son of member Barry Olsavsky becomes the youngest addition to Caribbean Sound. Growing up in a home with steel drums, Matthew began playing percussion and steel drums at age 11 studying both with his dad. In his young career Matthew has performed in and around the Jacksonville area on steel drums as a soloist and various performances with Barry Olsavsky. In the summer of 2006 and 2007 Matthew attended Canon Music Camp on the campus of Appalachian State University where he studied percussion with Dr. Steve Barnhart from the University of Wyoming. He was the drum captain at Mandarin High School in his Junior and Senior years and was a percussionist with the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra for 3 1/2 years. After graduating high school in 2010, Matthew is now attending Seminole State College and the University of Central Florida in Orlando where he continues his studies in percussion and steel drums.