Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on May 8, 2026
Summary:
Have you recently heard one of Jacob Coleâs melodies? Are you wondering who this percussion-focused artist is? How did he discover the handpan, the instrument thatâs become his signature sound?
I first discovered Jacob Cole about five years ago when his album HOPE came out, and it genuinely moved me on the first listen. After that, I dug deeper into his work, checking in now and then on what he was doing as a professional musician. Thatâs what led me to write this portrait of the American percussionist.
Once you have read this article in its entirety, you will learn:
- How Jacob Cole discovered the handpan or hang drum
- The musical style developed by this artist
- His discography
- And the musical projects and collaborations he has undertaken
By the end, youâll have a clear picture of the many sides of this musicianâan artist who stands out through his talent and his undeniable love for the handpan. And of course, youâll know a lot more about Jacob Cole.
Now, letâs dive into his story.
How did Jacob Cole discover the handpan?
Jacob Cole is a percussionist from Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he discovered his passion for percussion at a very young age. He has been playing the drums since childhood, having started at the age of 7, and he sharpened his skills through years of dedicated practice. In his early twenties, he began passing on what heâd learned, teaching drums and percussion for over ten years in his hometown area. This dual path as both performer and educator reflects his desire to share and help new talent grow.
To deepen his training, Jacob enrolled at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. While studying in Boston, he specialized in world percussion and studied alongside some of the fieldâs leading artists. This academic immersion broadened his musical palette and opened the door to a wide range of styles. After graduating from Berklee, he returned to Pennsylvania with a strong technical and cultural foundation. He then began performing professionally as a jazz fusion drummer and percussionist, collaborating with various groups while continuing to teach.
Jacob Coleâs career took a decisive turn in the early 2000s when he first discovered the mesmerizing sound of the Hang. In 2002â2003, while he was a Berklee student, a video of the Hang (the first instrument in the handpan family, invented in Switzerland in 2000) caught his attention on YouTube. Fascinated by the soft, meditative voice of this mysterious steel instrument, he immediately dreamed of playing one. However, at that time, handpans were extremely rare and nearly impossible to get. Jacob Cole realized it would be difficult to obtain one, so he put that dream on hold for a few years.
In 2009, he heard about Pantheon Steelâs Halo, one of the first American handpans, and hope returned. But once again, demand far outstripped supply, and Jacob ran into the same shortage of available instruments. It wasnât until 2013 that a stroke of luck changed everything: while browsing eBay, he found a used handpan at an affordable price, and he immediately connected with its sound. He didnât hesitate for a secondâhe bought it. When the instrument arrived at his home, Jacob Cole experienced a defining moment: it was the first time he had ever laid his hands on a handpan, and he instantly fell in love with it. âI was completely hooked right away!â he says of that formative experience. In fact, a video of that first session is available on his channel, which you can watch below:
What is the musical style developed by this American percussionist?
As a world percussionist, Jacob Cole has developed a highly personal handpan style shaped by his many influences. He describes his approach as âa mix of grooves and delicate compositionâ, blending the rhythmic feel he honed on drum kit with a refined melodic sensitivity. Having studied traditional instruments such as the Indian tabla and frame drum, he brings techniques and phrasing from other musical cultures into his handpan playing. This world-music perspective allows him to explore complex rhythms while preserving the emotion and musicality that make the handpan so distinctive.
Jacob also highlights the handpanâs introspective power. What he loves most about the instrument is its ability to create an immediate connection with what youâre feeling in the present moment. âI love that the handpan helps you become aware of what youâre feeling right now, a bit like meditation,â he explains. When he plays, he tries to âlet go of the mind, be in the moment, and let the music come.â This philosophy is reflected in his compositions, often marked by serenity, spirituality, and authenticity.
From a technical standpoint, Jacob Cole draws on a rich range of instruments that helps shape his unique style. He plays many handpans from different makers and origins, each with its own colour and character. Because every handpan has its own scale, Jacob can explore a wide variety of modes and moods. As a true enthusiast, he doesnât limit himself to classic handpans: in recent years, he has also taken an interest in tongue drums (or tongue pans), steel instruments with cut tongues. These close cousins of the handpan give him additional timbres and fresh rhythmic possibilities.
On stage or in the studio, Jacob Cole isnât afraid to combine the handpan with other percussion instruments to deepen his compositions. Recording after recording, you can hear him weave in tabla, doumbek (derbouka), udu, ocean drums, and shakers, building rich rhythmic textures. This instrumental versatility, combined with his love of improvisation, makes each performance a one-of-a-kind moment. Jacob explains that ideas often come from freely improvising on several handpans at once, experimenting with new combinations of notes and scales. He may even write the end of a piece before finding the beginning, letting his creations mature over many months until they finally come together. This organic process gives his music a special depthâhalf rhythmic groove, half melodic delicacyâinstantly recognizable to those in the know.
What is the discography of Jacob Cole, the handpan player?
In just over a decade of playing the handpan, Jacob Cole has channelled his creativity into albums that have made their mark in the community. To date, he has two self-produced instrumental albums, reflecting both his artistic evolution and his inspirations at the time:
- Destiny (2015): his first solo handpan album, with 11 original tracks and a total runtime of about 39 minutes. Entirely instrumental, Destiny lays the foundation for Jacob Coleâs musical aesthetic and showcases his attachment to the handpanâs soothing voice. Notably, the album was released only two years after he got his first instrumentâproof of how intensely he dove into the handpan from the start. It helped him reach an international audience of world-music lovers.
- HOPE (The Handpan Music of Jacob Cole) (2020): Jacob Coleâs second album, HOPE is an ambitious double album featuring 24 instrumental tracks, totalling nearly two hours of music. Released in January 2020, it represents the culmination of more than a year of work and sonic exploration. Jacob Cole offers an eclectic mix of handpan and tongue drum compositions, with many collaborations along the way. The album features his long-time friend, violinist Mark Woodyatt, whose electric and virtuoso playing adds a captivating melodic dimension on several tracks. It also includes his father, a talented double bassist, who performs on certain pieces and enriches the arrangements with a warm acoustic bass line. You can discover this album directly on Apple Music.
What are Jacob Coleâs collaborations and artistic projects?
In addition to his own albums, Jacob Cole has taken part in various musical projects and collaborations with other artists in the handpan community and beyond. In 2016, for example, he appeared as a guest on âOld Bones,â a track from handpan player Dan Mulqueenâs album Late Night Sound. His presence on the track reflects the respect heâs earned among his peers. The album explores late-night atmospheres, blending handpan with electronic elements, and Jacob Coleâs contribution to âOld Bonesâ adds a distinctive rhythmic touch that fans of the style appreciate. You can listen to the track and see both artists in the video below:
On the local American scene, Jacob Cole enjoys playing in smaller ensembles. He formed the Jacob Cole Trio, an original group where his handpan and percussion blend with Mark Woodyattâs violin and Jon Ventreâs double bass. Very active around the Scranton area, the trio performs sets that combine compositions and improvisation, often with a jazz/world feel. Highlights include appearances at the Scranton Jazz Festival, as well as regular gigs in local cafĂ©s and community music events. The combination of handpan, violin, and bass creates a distinctive texture the trio explores through bossa nova grooves and free improvisation alike. This trio format allows Jacob to take the handpan beyond its intimate solo setting and into more jazzy, interactive territoryâmuch to the audienceâs delight.
At the same time, Jacob Cole has never lost sight of his calling as a teacher. With the rise of social media and online platforms, he offers private handpan and percussion lessons in person or over video call. On his professional page, he notes that he offers lessonsâonline or in personâfor handpan (and tongue drum), drum set, and world percussion. He also leads workshops and appears at handpan festivals, where he shares his techniques and playing philosophy with students of all levels. His contagious enthusiasm and supportive approach make him a valued teacher, able to guide beginners while also challenging advanced players.
Follow Jacob Coleâs example and start playing the handpan today
Jacob Coleâs journey highlights the rise of a new generation of percussion artists for whom the handpan is more than an instrumentâitâs a universal language that blends ancestral rhythms with modern harmonies. His example shows that with passion, curiosity, and hard work, you can move people around the world with a simple steel disc. After reading this article, you undoubtedly have a clearer sense of who Jacob Cole is as an artist.
To share your passion for this percussion instrument in the best possible way, you should, like Jacob Cole, choose a model with impeccable acoustics. Thatâs why I especially recommend the handpans from Instruments du Monde, known for their quality. With them, youâre guaranteed to play melodies with truly exceptional richness and beauty. So why not begin your handpan adventure with, for example, this stunning 10-note model with purple highlights?
Listen to a sample of this handpan by clicking on the image below:
Moving to Europe, I invite you to discover Mar Loi, a Spanish handpan player with a different sound worldâyet one thatâs well worth exploring. That way, youâll discover the journey of another outstanding artist who plays the Hang and is recognized worldwide.
