Central Iowa has seen bands come and go, but in the past few years, The Jumbies, a local seven-member steel drum band, has been spicing up clubs with Latin and Caribbean sounds.

Drummer Chandler Bowerman says a key to getting the band’s unique blend across to new audiences is doing what the band does well.

“As long as you’re playing [music] well, most people will realize that and respect you for it,” he says.

Band members say The Jumbies’ musical style varies from salsa and Latin-type music to steel-drum calypso and reggae. Also instrumental to the band’s mix is soca, a style of music originating in Trinidad.

“It’s basically calypso with a faster dance-oriented beat and is an integral part of the group’s unique flavor,” says Creighton Gaynor, Jumbies conga player and singer.

The band consists of six full-time members and two rotating saxophone players.

“The name `Jumbies’ comes from Carnival in Trinidad and means `mischievous spirit,'” Gaynor says. “We chose this name because we play very upbeat, party-type music.”

Bowerman, of Des Moines, says he likes playing this music because it reminds him of his college days at Northern Illinois University and because he loves Latin music.

“[Playing in the band] is satisfying my salsa fetish,” Bowerman says.

Gaynor says the band may fill a niche in Iowa that many people aren’t used to.

“That’s the good thing about us,” Gaynor says. “We are a lot different from the typical band you hear on the radio. We are a party-oriented band that like to have a good time.”

Next on The Jumbies’ agenda is a show this Sunday in downtown Ames for the grand opening of the Marc Stephens Salon, 526 Main St. Station. Another show is planned for Oct. 2 at the Boheme Bistro, 2900 West St.

“The Boheme has been good to us,” Bowerman says. “The people there are very open-minded and willing to listen to a different type of music.”

Stan Dahl, Jumbies drummer and singer, is a music professor at Central College who has been playing steel drums since college.

“I was getting my master’s at Arizona State when I was a part of the Pan Devils, the steel drum band there,” Dahl says. “After buying my first steel drum from California, I brought the idea back to Iowa. I shared my interest and knowledge with [Gaynor], and we just started talking to people.”

The two spread the word around to their friends and created The Jumbies about three years ago, Dahl says.

Dahl and Gaynor are the only two remaining original members of the band – several other members are new to the group in just the last few months. Bowerman says his other musical interests take a back seat to The Jumbies.

“I am in another band called the Farmer Tan Funk Band, but The Jumbies takes precedence,” he says.

The band performs year-round, but is able to perform more often during the summer, Gaynor says.

Members try to get together once a week to rehearse or perform, but Gaynor says the members’ conflicting schedules sometimes get in the way of the band’s mission of playing its unique music.

“We try to rehearse as much as we can, but it is tough to find time to rehearse together,” he says.

Gaynor says the group aspires to tour the United States and possibly even Europe. He acknowledges a first step toward this goal is building a bigger fan base so the band can play larger venues and feel a greater “vibe of the crowd.”

Nick Anderson, Jumbies bassist and junior in music, agrees.

“One of my favorite aspects of playing with The Jumbies is the crowd interaction,” Anderson says. “If you’re not dancing to our music, you must be deaf.”