The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a Percussion Concert on Tuesday, April 27, featuring the UA Little Rock Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band.

The concert will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. April 27 on the Department of Music YouTube Channel and will be available to view afterwards.

Justin Bunting, director of percussion studies, will lead a lively concert with a diverse group of works by the Percussion Ensemble and a mix of popular and traditional music by the Steel Band.

The Percussion Ensemble will start the concert with “Scavenger Music” by Christopher Deane, a piece for ‘found’ percussion instruments. The following piece will be John Psathas’s “Fragment,” a contemplative duet for piano and vibraphone. The program continues with the world premiere of Bunting’s piece “Dance of Water,” a duet written specifically for the ensemble.

“An open improvisation by members of the ensemble will follow based on the sounds of the rainforest,” Bunting said. “Finally, a medley of traditional frame drumming and the Arabic rhythm Baladi will feature brand new drums acquired for the program earlier this semester through a UA Little Rock Middle Eastern Studies grant.”

The Steel Band will play tunes from various popular and traditional styles. The set includes “Jump in the Line” by Harry Belafonte, “Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley, “Jamaica Farewell” by Irving Burgie, “Big Shot” by Billy Joel, and “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars.

In the upper right photo, the members of the UA Little Rock Steel Band practice in the Fine Arts Building. Photo by Benjamin Krain.