R.A Ramamani (1950-2025) – A Tribute

In 1990, after playing a solo on soprano saxophone at QEH with Bill Bruford’s Earthworks I was approached by David Jones from music production company Serious: “How would you feel about playing with a South Indian percussion group? – I think you’d fit in well.” I said yes, enthusiastically, and then started to panic when I heard the complexity of the music. 

Little did I know that this opportunity would lead to a quantum shift for me as a musician and human being alike. David and I flew to Kiel in North Germany to hear the Karnataka College of percussion (KCP) perform at the arts venue Die Pumpe. R.A.Ramamani was the magical and beguiling singer. The guest star was veteran saxophonist Charlie Mariano. We met afterwards backstage and  upon hearing I would be his deputy for a UK Arts Council tour he offered some helpful advice: “it’s just a few heads and a bit of blowing really”… Nothing could have been further from the truth! I asked why he was pulling out of the tour and he offered the best excuse I’ve ever heard “I don’t want to miss my mum’s 100th birthday!” 

I spent a month in India two weeks of which were daily rehearsals with Ramamani and her husband the mridangam master T.A.S Mani.  Arriving at their home in Bangalore at 9am by rickshaw and rehearsing this exceptionally tricky and unfamiliar music left my head spinning. By mid-day I was completely fried, and against my will they suddenly stopped playing, called time and presented beautiful food for lunch before sending me away to clear my mind. Ramamani was an amazing cook too! 

The UK tour was a game-changer leading to further collaborations with Indian dance choreographer Ranjabati Sircar and two touring dance companies Sankalpam and Sampad. I performed and recorded again with KCP and Ramamani in Bayreuth at a ground breaking world music meeting ‘Grenzüberschreitungen’ (Border Crossings) concert at the exquisite baroque opera house. Concerts in Bangalore at the Chowdiah memorial hall were unforgettable – it’s a giant concert hall shaped like a violin! 

Ramamani was a magical singer, with breathtaking vocal and rhythmic agility combined with devotional transcendence. She had smiling eyes that concealed immense gravitas. When she performed Konnakol, the Indian percussion language, I had to look away as it was so exciting it just gave me uncontrollable giggles which in turn transferred to her. We learned to avoid eye contact in those moments for fear of hysterics mid-concert. Hearing her sing was to be being transported back in time to another world. Music that was vibrant, exotic, contemporary, timeless and devotional all at once.

T.A.S Mani and Ramamani collaborated all over the world with dozens of noted jazz musicians for decades, sharing their wisdom, experience and superb rhythmic and melodic powers with everyone they encountered. At home in India they mentored many young people, maintaining their classical tradition and skilfully merging it with their global view of music and improvisation. It was largely through them that I made the transition in my mind from the jazz saxophonist I already was, to forming an aspiration to become a ‘macro’ musician operating on multifarious levels of openness with an altered perception of music making.

I will be forever grateful for their unique musical gift. 

R A Ramanani, Born Bangalore, March 1950, Died 18 October 2025.

Recommended Listening 

‘Jyothi’ (ECM 1256)
‘Malaya Marutha – Grenzüberschreitungen’ (Bellaphon – 290.25.009, Filou Records – 290.25.009)