LORELAI: Let’s go to Al’s Pancake World for a change. He’s doing a salute to Jamaica again.
RORY: Okay, as long as Al doesn’t play the kettle drums all night.
Timpani, also known as kettledrums, a type of drum consisting of a membrane stretched over a large bowl, traditionally made of copper. They are an instrument which dates back to ancient times, but have been used in classical orchestras since the 16th century. In reggae music, which comes from Jamaica, the timpani can be used as a percussion instrument, although it isn’t the most common type of drum used.
The Annotated Gilmore Girls 