Bamboushay! It's a West Indian dance step and a call to celebration, and it gives this Michigan State student ensemble its name. The steel drum is made by carefully hammering the bottom of a metal oil barrel until it is capable of producing a variety of melodic tones and a strong percussive beat. Under the guidance of musical director Gene Bluestein, Bamboushay demonstrates the versatility of the steel drum, playing lively dance tunes from the West Indies and throughout the Americas. Bluestein's liner notes describe the history of the steel drum and discuss the arrangements used on the recording.