About Us

K.I.T. Caribbean Connection, formerly known as “Jambalassi”, is a New York based quartet who specializes in musical blends of steel pan music, spiced with authentic jazz. Based in Baldwin, NY, the band has been fulfilling the community with prolific sounds of Jazz, Blues, Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Samba and Funk. The steel pan instrument plays an important role in this harmonic ensemble. K.I.T. offers melodies with a Caribbean touch, delivering a unique creation of sound.

FOUNDATION

K.I.T Caribbean Connection is a family structured band comprised of four members:

• Edgar Fitzgerald - Founder, Percussionist, and Vocalist

• Kareem Thompson - Lead Pan Soloist

• Iba Fitzgerald   - Band Manager / Leader, Bassist

• Toure Fitzgerald - Pianist, Background Vocalist

• Keith Marcel Jr. - Drummer

Edgar traveled abroad from his native island of Trinidad & Tobago, W.I., to broaden his musical background, thus leading to continued performances and innumerable musical accomplishments.  For the love of the Steel pan music, Edgar’s cultivated Caribbean background and talents, attributed to the talents of his offspring.  Generating from the primary steel pan procession, “Pan Round the Neck” Edgar’s consonant traits and influences has contributed to the growth of Jambalasi into K.I.T Caribbean Connection.  K.I.T artists have performed for countless organizations and notable ensembles to name:

  •  Mayor Bloomberg - Gracie Mansion 38th Annual West Indian American Day Carnival Gala


  •  Russell Simmons (Hip-Hop Entrepreneur) event

  •  World Renown - Rockefeller Center “Tishman Speyer Properties” Annual Summer Performance

  •   West Indian Labor Day Carnival in Brooklyn, New York

  •   West Indian Day Carnival in Montclair, New Jersey

  •  Triad Band

  •  Request Band

  •  Yearly requests are also available for Weddings, Cocktail Hours, Private Affairs, and Outdoor Venues…

MUSIC PRODUCTION

All compositions and recordings are studio based and produced in-house.  Each musician offers his input when coming to all final productions.  Ideas are also acquired throughout public performances based on crowd participation, and crowd requests.
All steel pan instruments are in care of Pan Tuners Berty Marshall and Reynolds Gillies “aka” Tony Slater.  K.I.T. has concluded and is currently promoting their first album called “Pan Theme”, and is transitioning to platform their second CD.

PERCUSSION

Rhythm is distributed through the hands of Keith Marcel Jr.  Keith was introduced to the membranous category of music instruments from the minor age of ten years old.  Through the development stage of musical training, Keith’s growth proceeded in partnership with the Sesame Flyers International Steel Orchestra, thus advancing to be the present music instructor of the steel ensemble.  Keith has braced the stage of BET 106 & Park, Gracie Mansion, played alongside American singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist and multi-instrumentalist Meshell Ndegeocello, and backed up some of the Caribbean’s biggest cultural contributors such as Mighty Duke, Explainer and the Mighty Swallow with the Sunshine Band. 

TUNERS

Tony Slater, a notably acknowledged steel pan tuner, known for the “Tuning & Construction” of steel has graced domestic and international countries with his instrumental talent.  Well into his thirty five years of steel pan studies, Slater has contrived in this work of art alongside the infamous leader of the “Desperadoes” steel orchestra, Rudolph Charles.  While the orchestra continues to play Slater’s instruments, Slater also administers seminars on steel pan structure, tuning and execution tactics.  Tony Slater believes that the notes of the steel pan must be definite, with all notes being harmoniously synced.

Bertie Marshall, a forty year veteran of tuning pan, also worked in conjunction with Rudolph Charles.  In unison, both steel pan artists invented the chariot pan, the quadraphonic, and the 6-Pan one man band known as the “Marshall Tone.”  Marshall is also known for the creation of the “31” note ranged steel pan instrument, the “Double Tenor.”  With the inheritance of electronic knowledge and studies of augmentation, Bertie Marshall also created the “Bertiphone,” which is used to combine tone control and amplification.  By the use of amplifiers and equalizers, Bertie adjusted the tones and volume of each note offering the steel pan world, a special technique.

HONOR & GRATITUDE

Throughout the years, K.I.T has grown in conjunction with the musical influences of many remarkable musicians.  Daily recognition and gratitude is exhibited throughout the composition of  K.I.T’s musical background.  To mention are:

1. Clive Bradley- Pianoist, Steel pan Composer & Arranger
2. Scipio Sargeant - Guitarist, Steel pan Composer & Arranger
3. Raf Robertson - Pianoist , Steel pan Composer & Arranger
4. Frankie McIntosh - Pianoist, Steel pan Composer & Arranger
5. Len Boogsie Sharpe - Master panist, Steel pan Composer & Arranger