Sameer Ramchandran TrioRoundabout

Roundabout represents the initial recordingof the Sameer Ramchandran Trio. Here,pianist Sameer Ramchandran is joined bybassist Dominic Duval and drummerNewman Taylor Baker. The recording is amixture of Ramchandran's refreshingoriginals and the group's expressiveinterpretations of jazz standards. Duval ismain ly known for h i s creat iveimprovisational endeavors for the CIMPlabel (although here he is showing a muchdifferent facet of his playing altogether),while Baker is an educator and member ofnumerous ensembles in the New York Cityarea. Ramchandran's fluid melodies andharmonies are given solid support by Duval'ssometimes adventurous and alwaysinventive grounding in the bass. Baker'spristine percussive backdrop provides acolorful atmosphere and a solid framethrough which the music falls. All three are infine form and each is given ample room toimprovise and interpret the materialthoroughly.

Ramchandran and Duval had been playingtogether at a jam session in the New Yorkarea in earnest for about two years,although they had known each other for alonger period than that. Baker has been afixture on the New York scene for sometimenow, filling out the trio after Ramchandranhad heard and met him at a venue in NewYork's East Village. Baker was a natural fit ashe and Duval had worked together prior toRoundabout on a few occasions. The threerecorded together on Roverbird Recordingsnot long afterwards.

Roverbird RecordingsRBR 001-2006

Musician Biographies

Sameer Ramchandran, piano

Dominc Duval, bass

Composer and pianist Sameer Ramchandran is anative of New York and has performed in the NewYork, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas inensembles and in solo performances. He holds aBachelor of Arts degree in Music and English fromColgate University, and a Master of Arts in musiccomposition from the University of California, SantaBarbara. Ramchandran’s Dialogue for violin and pianowas premiered by UCSB’s Ensemble for ContemporaryMusic, and his Circus for big band was premiered byUCSB’s jazz ensemble. As a pianist, he has performedin contemporary music ensembles and chamberensembles for both universities. He has also performedin numerous jazz ensembles, both large and small, andin the spring of 2006 released the CD Roundabout onRoverbird Recordings with bassist Dominic Duval anddrummer Newman Taylor Baker. In 2006, he formedRoverbird, Inc. to not only serve as an outlet for variousmusical ventures, but to also support the futureexpression of jazz and new music.

New Yorker Dominic Duval is one of the finest and most prolific bassistson the contemporary scene, having played and recorded with some of thegreatest names in jazz and new music. Duval's ten-year tenure with pianistCecil Taylor's trio has cemented his reputation as one of contemporarymusic's more important figures. Duval is comfortable and can be seenperforming in any number of genres, including modern classical, jazz ormusic which defies classification. The bassist has performed and recordedwith such notables as saxophonists Joe McPhee, Ivo Perelman, GlenSpearman, and Mark Whitecage, composer Pauline Oliveros, trombonistSteve Swell, pianists Joseph Scianni and Michael Stevens, trumpeter HerbRobertson, and drummer Paul Lytton, David S. Ware among many others.Duval leads and co-leads a number of ensembles himself, including thecritically-acclaimed C.T. String Quartet, Trio X, "The Wedding Band", andthe Dominic Duval String Ensemble. Duval's solo bass CD, Night BirdInventions, was a Top 10 pick in the Coda Magazine critics poll, and hisString Ensemble CD, State of the Art, was chosen one of the year's best inthe Jazziz Magazine poll. Mr. Duval can be seen on tour through out theUnited States, Europe, Canada and Asia.

Musician Biographies, continuedNewman Taylor Baker, drums

Newman Taylor Baker is a master musician, composer and interpreter, athome as a soloist in performance of his own projects, as a peer in numerousoutstanding musical ensembles, as a key player in new opera and musicaltheater, as a longtime collaborator with choreographers, as an educator inuniversities, public schools, prisons and community centers and as amusical ambassador crossing borders of understanding in this country andabroad for years.

Baker is a longtime collaborator with JoAnne Tucker, FoundingDirector of the Avodah Dance Ensemble. In Spring 2005, the companypremiered, Mayim, A Ritual of Transformation a work featuring hiscomposition and choreography by Julie K. Gayer. Other programhighlights included Newman’s Blanket, Balancing Act, and The ForgivenessProject with music and live performance by Baker.

Newman Taylor Baker is NYFA Fellow in Music Composition forhis project, Singin’ Drums, which was presented at The Stone New York,NY September 30, 2005. He has performed this project solo, in concertwith other percussionists and as part of numerous musical ensembles. Hisproject, Celebration of the Drum Set: Give the Drummer Some (WarwickSummer Arts Festival, Warwick, NY), featured three esteemedpercussionists in solo and group setting. Andrew and He was featured inthe New York premiere of Three Willies, with music by Leroy Jenkins andlibretto by Homer Jackson. In Dialogue for 2000: A Duet for Drum Set, atthe Whitney Museum of American Art, Baker set his Singin’ Drums projectin a duo setting. He performed in the New York run of the Obie award-winning Running Man, with music by Diedre Murray and text by CorneliusEady, and the European tour of Walcott Songs, with music by HenryThreadgill and text by Derek Walcott.

Baker has toured over 40 countries of the world performing withthe Billy Harper Quintet, the Henry Threadgill Sextett, Henry Grimes, SamRivers, Billy Bang, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Baron, KevinEubanks, the Delaware Symphony, the Richmond Symphony, ReggieWorkman, Leroy Jenkins, Jeanne Lee, Lou Donaldson, James Moody,Abdullah Ibrahim, and others.

Baker earned an MM in Education from East Carolina Universityand a BS in Music Education from Virginia State University.

P.O. Box 265Woodbury, NY 11797631.922.6310 phonemail@roverbird.com

www.roverbird.com

RoverbirdRecordings

Distribution:

North Country DistributorsCadence BuildingRedwood, NY 13679315.287.2852 phone315.287.2860 faxnorthcountry@cadencebuilding.com

Session photographs by David Heinlein Available at:cdbaby.com

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International Praise for Roundabout:

“Thank you for sending on this C.D. This is a superb recording for a debut C.D. Mr. Ramchandran and his twocolleagues are terrific from first to last. The interpretations of standards works well and the arrangements arefresh and lively, the Musicians interweave extremely well and complement each other with fluidity andunderstanding. The playing on Mr. Ramchandran's originals is also top class and these tracks are ‘no mere standalone's’, but remain melodic and fresh. There is no doubt that I will feature several tracks from this C.D. onforthcoming Programmes. Top quality, I look forward to the follow up. Best Wishes.”

-John Reid, Keith Community Radio 102.8 F.M. Keith Banffshire Scotland

“The debut CD from pianist Sameer Ramchandran and his fellow travellers - Dominic Duval on bass and NewmanTaylor Baker on drums - is a sprightly and confident mix of covers and originals. It's also resolutely old fashioned inits approach to the material which actually works in its favour, as when the trio jump away from the melody, there'sstill a hook to hang your hat on, unlike a lot of other interpretative performers who seem to regard the tune as a bit ofa nuisance.There are two outstanding pieces on a solidly enjoyable outing - "Till There Was You" and a remarkable nineminute foray into Cole Porters "All Of You.”

-Stuart Hamilton, Zeitgeist, United Kingdom

‘This is a superb recording from a very talented pianist in the Bill Evans style. Sameer Ramchandran guides hislisteners through a compilation of beautiful choices, ably assisted by Dominic Duval on bass and Newman TaylorBaker on drums, with all the style and panache of first class musicians. His treatment of Very Early is bothsensitive and skillful and what a pleasure it is to hear The Summer Knows again played so well. I thoroughlyenjoyed this album and have added it to my playlist having already played it several times on my national jazzprogram "A Jazz Hour" which goes out weekly across Australia to over 181 stations, I will continue to play itforever. It is magic!‘

- Barry O'Sullivan Producer/Presenter of "A Jazz Hour" across Australia via theCBAA network each week on Saturday 5-6pm

“Complex, yet accessible piano trio music – I have been listening to this amazing debut CD again and again.Best regards.”

- Hans-Bernd Kittlaus, JazzPodium Magazine, Germany

“What a great sound you have, I have played several of your tracks to date and plan to schedule more in futureprograms.”

-Michael Criddle, Triple H-FM, Australia

“A fine jazz record, Roundabout by Sameer Ramchandran. I understand it is his debut album. I hope therefollows many albums more. Sameer Ramchandran has a fine touch.”

-Jan Nederveen, Radio Heerde, Netherlands

“Excellent stuff here with a nice choice of tunes. Will definitely play one of them in one of my next broadcasts.”

-Pascal Dorban, Radio ARA, Luxembourg

“I like the way you play and the modern ideas shared withDominic and Newman.”

-Claude Colpaert, Radio Campus France

Jazz Improv MagazineVol. 6 Number 4, Summer 2006Jazzimprov.com

Sameer Ramchandran TrioRoundaboutReview by Jim Santella

New York native Sameer Ramchandran leads a strait-ahead session of standards andoriginals with shared creative sensibilities. They say it takes two to tango, and it takesthree to make a crowd, but when everything falls into place, as it does on this stellarsession, three is a magic number. When three artists contribute equally in this manner,we get three times the pleasure from their performance, and nothing can upset thatapple cart. Ramchandran's piano features a lyrical embrace that holds onto each toneas if it were made of wax. One note glides into the next while he delivers the musiceffortlessly. The pedals account for much of what is being said; while Ramchandran'sseamless grand piano keyboard attack translates into a heart-rending experience. Thepianist communicates on a level with his audience that synchronizes tradition withprogress. His three original pieces contribute an intangible essence to the program thatkeeps the listener on the edge of his seat.

Bassist Dominic Duval pumps some serious adventure into each track. Known for hiscreative improvised music affinity, he could easily become stereotyped for what he cando with the contrabass when desired. This time out, however, he's the master ofstraight-ahead, as he delivers for the trio all the necessary ingredients. Similarly,drummer Newman Taylor Baker supplies various textures in support of the trio'sadventures. He trades fours and stretches out a length with plenty to say each time.

Standards such as 'All of You' and 'The Summer Knows' ring quite familiar with anyaudience. How does one remain true to the song without seeming tot read a path as justone more interpreter like the rest? With this session, it's the shared interaction that doesit. Ramchandran assures his audience an interesting journey through the trio's uniqueinterpretation.

Cadence MagazineNovember 2006

Review by Jason Bivins

Sameer Ramchandran TrioRoundabout

I just love it when I have the chance to hear Duval and Baker

(who seem to be working together more frequently, and cheers to

that) play in a roughly mainstream context. Sameer Ramchandran

is a young player bubbling with energy, whose largely lyrical

ideas seem perfectly suited to his colleagues’ freedoms. He’s a

vertical player, who follows lines wherever they lead him and

tends to use his left hand as much for counter lines as for

comping (though he does the latter quite well). His composition

“Roundabout” is joyous, with bluesy inflections that recall

early Jarrett (Indeed, much of this session recalls the old

Jarrett trio with Haden and Motian). And the leader shows that

as a writer he’s got range, with the memorable melancholy of

“The Whispering-Wood” (Duval never sounds as good to m e as

when he has a theme like this to work with). I’m not always

persuaded by their readings of standard (or near standard)

materials: “Summer Night,” for example, is a tad anonymous, and

Meredith Willson’s “Till There Was You” and Michel Legrand’s

“The Summer Knows” sound a bit too similar, perhaps emotionally

overwrought. But things are altogether better in tunes that are

more thoroughly transformed, as on the dark, rumbling “Very

Early” or the elongated “Trinkle, Tinkle.” A good disk by a new

name worth watching.

© Cadence Magazine, November 2006. www.cadencebuilding.com, ph. 315-287-2852