Since 1984, Chhandayan has been grooming some of the most talents students of music from India and around the world. From time to time, we take pleasure in presenting them to our audience, as they are already established performers in their respective fields. This concert will feature performances by 4 experienced Chhandayan Students
Jorge Ramiro - tabla - a Mexican, now residing in Hong Kong,
Randall Jamrok - tabla - an American from Illinois
Edward Feldman - tabla - an American now living in Italy and Austria
Xander Naylor - guitar - an American from New York
Admission Free
Jorge Ramiro
Jorge Ramiro grew up in Mexico and moved to the U.S. at the age of 18. Ramiro holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the State University of New York. He has been studying tabla and classical Indian music since the age of 19, when he did a semester abroad at Pune University and began learning tabla under Pandit Ramdas Palsule. Since 1998 he has been a disciple of Pandit Samir Chatterjee, one of India's most influential tabla players from the Farukhabad Gharana. Ramiro performed in classical Indian music concerts in India, the United States, Mexico, France, Australia and Hong Kong. He has also recorded and performed with pop artist Natalie Imbruglia and in the late 90's as a member of the Mexican rock band, Botellita de Jerez, with whom he toured and did live TV performances. In late 2009 he completed the score of a documentary entitled 5000 Metros.
Randall Jamrok
Randall Jamrok is an up-and-coming tabla player in the Hindustani classical music tradition. He is from an Indiana suburb of Chicago and is dedicated to the vibrant Chicago Indian classical music scene. Randall began his studies of tabla on February 24, 1999 in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY with Pt. Samir Chatterjee of the Farrukhabad Gharana.
He has performed with Indian Classical musicians including the late Pandit Ramesh Mishra, bansuri Maestro Steve Gorn, harmonium Maestro Nalin Moolji, sitar players Maestro Aloke Dasgupta and Daisy Paradis, the International Vocal Ensemble at Indiana University Bloomington directed by Mary Goetze, and the Chhandayan student tabla ensemble performing at Lincoln Center directed by Pt. Samir Chatterjee. Randall has also performed recitals as a soloist. Randall has put much attention to the development of his tonality and clarity on the tabla, which is a hallmark of the Farrukhabad Gharana and a goal which his guru has guided him towards.
As a drum set player, Randall has performed throughout the US and internationally, including a tour in China. Randall is an active accompanist and soloist in the Chicago metro area. He is currently a music teacher in the Chicago area.
Edward Feldman
Ed Feldman is a tabla player from Philadelphia, USA. He started his musical career in New York City playing contrabass, immersing himself in both classical and jazz traditions. During this time he developed a strong interest in Arabic and Indian musical traditions, which led him to study in Morocco in 1998 and India, for the first time, in 2000. His main formation as a tabla player began upon his return to New York, where he met his musical mentor, Samir Chatterjee, who he has studied with since 2001. He has returned to India multiple times in order to deepen his knowledge of classical Indian music as well as to perform. He has performed throughout the USA, Italy, India and Austria alongside classical Indian, Middle Eastern and jazz artists. He currently lives in Vienna, Austria.
Xander Naylor
Since relocating to New York City, native son Xander Naylor has become increasingly known in experimental circles for ear-opening forays with his eponymous, free-jazz trio. On his solo debut, Notes, the son of noted Vermont secessionist Thomas Naylor applies a similarly unchained approach, fleshing out humble, cyclical instrumental sketches with both caution and whimsy. The result, while even less accessible than his previous trio work, is nonetheless fascinating, and it reveals a genuinely independent and curious mind.
Guitarist Xander Naylor is exploding onto the scene with his work as a solo artist, composer and leader of Xander Naylor Sound Machine. Spinning through a diverse set of scenes, he has found homes in free improv, indie rock, experimental jazz and, through his years of study with tabla maestro Samir Chatterjee, North Indian music. His latest solo album, Arc, creates a stimulating mash-up that is both startling and comforting in today's tumultuous world.
The Xander Naylor Sound Machine, built of guitar, sax, bass, and drum, employs modern technique in revolutionizing jazz and post-rock grooves. Naylor’s work uses myriad rhythmic influences that are threaded throughout to solidly bond the machine’s language of sound. Executed by an all-star group of musicians who perform all over the world, XNSM supplies a power surge of cohesive sound, allowing you to live fully in the moment and embrace what is possible.