Album Notes

The group is called RO:TORO, a blend of the Estonian words for reed and pipe. Just as the group mixes two bagpipes, saxophone and drums.

“We perform Estonian traditional bagpipe tunes and we have composed some pieces of our own inspired by them.”

Cätlin has studied bagpipe in University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy where, she got acquainted traditional techniques and repertoire of the bagpipe from the notations and previous recordings.
Sandra has been her pupil for eight years and it is fantastic musical understanding between them. When they play together it is like they are one musical person.
Marko Mägi, jazz-saxophone player is bringing modern thinking improvisation to this group.
Silver Sepp has developed his own drumset constructed from bowls and basins, that adds interesting sounds to ancient bagpipe tunes.

“Even the way they performed it had a rock 'n roll flavor. Jaago and Silamaa stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the front of the stage, their movements almost synchronized. Each held the bag under her left arm, and their pipes pointed straight out toward the crowd.” Gregory Warner, BBC

Cätlin Jaago – Estonian bagpipe
Sandra Sillamaa – Estonian bagpipe
Marko Mägi – saxophones
Silver Sepp – water drums, tuned bicykle wheel, nail instrument