Tone Road Ramblers
The Ragdale Years (EIN-012/CD)

The Tone Road Ramblers bridge a gap between the classical avant-garde and free improvised expression creating a fresh new sound which owes to the differences within the group. Ray Sasaki, trumpet; Morgan Powell, trombone; John Fonville, flute; and Eric Mandat, clarinet all teach music at various universities. Joining them is percussionist Steve Butters, who represents the new guard of young Chicago improvisors. Rounding out the group is trombonist Jim Staley who has been a central figure on the Downtown NYC experimental music scene for two decades. Since 1993 the group has collectively held an annual residence at The Ragdale Foundation, the midwest's most reknown artists community that has served as a laboratory for the Ramblers' composing, improvising and recording. Recorded between 1994 and 1998, with a special appearance by NYC vocalist Phoebe Legere.

"...the Ramblers show little tolerance for stuffed shirt seriousness, despite their academic stations.....their music is eclectic, incorporating elements from free improv, microtonality, American experimentalism from Ives to Cage, and a cross section of contemporary classical's many other dialects".-John Corbett