Notes From Underground
Vlad Miller – piano
Les Booth – six- string electric bass
Dave Rohoman – drums
Adrian Northover – saxes
The effect that Notes From Underground want to have on their listeners is immediate, direct, and accessible in the best sense. They want their music to grab your ears and your body and not let go until you’ve been variously pulverised, pummelled, or pleasured into submission.
They perform original compositions by the pianist Vladimir Miller whose writing is largely stimulated by jazz, Eastern European and Russian music traditions. Strong melodies weave into jazz improvisation influenced by composers such as Igor Stavinsky, Steve Reich and Paul Bley. Their live performances are engaging, exciting and often unexpected.
https://vladmillernfu.wordpress.com
Albums
Kurakin’s Diary
Vlad Miller and Notes From Underground
Adrian Northover – alto and soprano saxes
Dave Rohoman – drums
Leslee Booth – six string electric bass
Vladimir Miller – piano
Guests
Sue Lynch – tenor sax, clarinet
Neil Metcalfe – flute
Hutch Demouilpied – trumpet
Available at https://www.ascrecords.com/kurakins_diary.html
“Stumbling upon a family diary is not an everyday event. ‘Kurakin’s Diary’ was written by my grandfather, born in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century, who I never met. The diary, written during the early 1950’s, reminisces about his early life, escaping the turmoil of revolution and civil war and meeting his future wife, Fatima. Whilst crossing many borders via Constantinople, they lived briefly in Paris in the late 20’s and early 30’s, eventually reaching and settling in Santiago, Chile. The diary itself is for me exceptional, in as much as it’s historical as well as personal, and contains recollection of thoughts and views written in a type of free-verse poetic form, with intermittent drawings and sketches. Its uniqueness is perhaps the story it tells of a time that was challenging, dramatic and tragic, and of his nostalgia for his homeland that never left his mind. The bulk of the compostions on this album attempt to reflect on the various stages of his and Fatima’s lives as written in Kurakin’s Diary. The Best Of Here And Now’ (composed by Les Booth) is a dedication to John Coltrane, whilst ‘Lost Wedding’ is a musical depiction of not able to find a wedding ceremony (but eventually doing so) in Southern Italy. ‘Nobody’s Waltz’ is also everybody’s waltz, and ‘Alternative Switch’ is a celebration of new technology and communication.”
Vladimir Miller
Wintertide
Vlad Miller and Notes From Underground
Vlad Miller – piano
Les Booth – electric bass
Dave Rohoman – drums
Adrian Northover – saxes
Available at https://www.ascrecords.com/wintertide.html
“We thought it was appropriate to record these new pieces as we’ve been playing them in clubs and venues in London for quite a few months now and people have been asking for CDs or downloads to listen to, which is exciting.” Vladimir Miller, pianist, and composer of most of the tracks on this CD.
Each piece on the album tells a story, such as ‘Rift’ (a misunderstanding between friends leading to cracks in the relationship and a drifting apart) or ‘Caprice’ and ‘Contradictions’, both musical comments on political leaders and politicians who attempt to inform and persuade us. ‘Wintertide’ was written to go alongside a weather forecast, whereas ‘Film Music’ was written as a theme for a imaginary drama series. ‘Russian Rodeo’ describes a driving experience on the busy Moscow highways that are rife with unusual and worrisome driving behaviour.
This is their third album to date and includes Adrian Northover on soprano and alto saxes, an addition to the trio previously heard on their first release ‘Diaghilev’s Dance’. Coming from a background of free and experimental music, Adrian’s creative edginess brings unexpected light and shade to the compositions.
Gagarin Sang a Hymn in Space
“The pieces on the recording are inspired by unusual individuals who have achieved much in a short space of time. Their lives are played out in the music almost like characters in a short story. Some have entered the public domain, others not, but they remain in someone’s memory and spirit with their magical uniqueness to be never forgotten.
One of these characters represented on this album is Yuri Gagarin, the first human to venture into outer space. He landed safely, as is well known, but how he felt and the inner sensation he experienced no-one will ever know. His personal hymn will remain a mystery. “
Vlad Miller and Notes From Underground
Vlad Miller – piano
Les Booth – electric bass
Dave Rohoman – drums
Adrian Northover – saxes
About Notes From Underground
Leslee Booth became a professional musician in 1982 after studying at The Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. The Madras-born bassist’s subtle Indian nuances have lent support to some of the best American jazz names such as the legendary singer Billy Eckstine, with whom he toured extentively in the British Isles. He has also collaborated with Gloria Gaynor, Freda Payne, George Williams and Beatrice Reading. He currently plays a six-string contra-bass. He is also a important member of the guitar based Branco Stoysin Trio, who perform regularly on the British jazz circuit scene.
David Rohoman was born in Guyana, South America. Disabled at birth, he took up drums to exercise his legs. On moving to London he began playing in various rock bands where he was spotted by Ian Dury, who persuaded him to join The Kilburns. It was the jazz played by them, in particular by sax player David Payne, which led David to explore jazz improvisation. Ever since he has remained on the jazz circuit, performing with some of Britain’s finest musicians including Jim Mullen, Dave Newton, Django Bates and Mornington Locket.
Adrian Northover has toured extensively in Europe and North America, with B Shops for the Poor, The Remote Viewers and Sonic Phonics (with Billy Bang). Recent CD releases include Crimeways, by The Remote Viewers with John Edwards and Mark Sanders, and a number of duo CDs with Adam Bohman, as The Custodians. As well as solo saxophone performances, Adrian can currently be heard playing on the London club scene with a wide range of musicians, John Edwards and Steve Noble in ‘Hard Evidence’ a trio playing the music of Thelonious Monk, The London Improvisers Orchestra, and Trip-Tik (with Catherine Pluygers and Adam Bohman). Adrian also works with Harvir Sahota (tabla) and Tasos Stamou in Jazz-Thali, playing Indo-Greek Jazz fusion.