Reminiscence

Dante is a fixture in the Philly indie music scene and one of the most-recognized Handpan (a.k.a. 'Hang Drum') players in the world, thanks to a constantly-expanding fanbase and over 9 million views on his YouTube channel (youtube.dantebucci.com). A relatively new invention, the Handpan is a melodic, inverted steel percussion instrument born in Bern, Switzerland, circa 2000. Resembling a steel drum crossed with a UFO, it has a distinctive voice that draws comparisons to steel pans, harps, and even synthesizers. Each is tuned to a single scale, with a root in the center and tone fields arrayed around the circumference. The resulting sound makes it perfect as background music for a gallery opening or as an indelible lead singer at a rock concert. The unique features of the Handpan are a perfect match for Dante's eclectic musical history. In college he picked up every instrument in sight - from guitars to bass flutes to conga drums. He quickly emerged as an in-demand percussionist, which lead to nearly a decade of fruitful collaboration with dozens of artists including Mutlu, Amos Lee, Kuf Knots, Laura Mann, and Shpongle. Now Dante is the center of his own songs. His classical and percussionist experience aids him in pulling sounds out of the Handpan that no one else has made - or can figure out how to replicate. From delicate harmonic overtones to deep djembe-like thumps, he pushes the boundaries of the instrument farther than any other player on the planet.