Nobu Stowe was born in Maebashi, Gumma, Japan. He started taking piano lessons at age 3 and composition at age 6. One of his notable early activities was with a progressive rock trio that he formed while in high school. This trio, 'Pale Ghosts,' performed around Tokyo and was offered several recording contracts, although Nobu's departure to the US resulted in its eventual dissolution. He studied Music (composition) and Psychology at the University of California, at Berkeley. During this period, after discovering the music of Keith Jarrett, he started to play/compose more improvisation-oriented music. While pursuing graduate studies at the University of Chicago, Nobu lead several units, but mainly 'Outside-In Trio" with the Lithuanian bassist Vytis Nivinskas and various drummers. In Chicago, Nobu was mentored by Jim DeJong of Jazz Institute of Chicago resulting in broader views of improvised music. After receiving Ph.D. in Psychology, he moved to Baltimore to work as a 'psychoactive drug' researcher for the NIH. Besides TRIO RICOCHET, Nobu leads and co-leads various projects exploring and blending 'total-improvisation' (a la Jarrett) and 'free-improvisation'. These include solo, duos with Alan Munshower (drums, A-UN), Vytis Nivinskas (double-bass), Lee Pembleton (sound sculpture) and Honyo Ohte (drums), and various projects with the top NY free-improvisors, Blaise Siwula (reeds), Dom Minasi (guitar), Bern Nix (guitar), Ray Sage (drums) and John McLellan (drums). Nobu has recently formed a trio with the renowned Italian percussionist/composer/ICTUS Records fonder, Andrea Centazzo, and the master clarinetist, Perry Robinson. His personal website is www.pochi-neko.com. Tyler Goodwin was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He started to play electric bass at the age of 14 and double-bass at the age of 16. He has studied jazz and classical music for 6 years under Tom Pietrycha, Roy Wiseman, Steve Lehman, and Paul Johnson (Baltimore Opera). After graduating from the Wesleyan University in Connecticut with a degree in Music, he moved to Baltimore to attend the Peabody Institute masters program to study classical double-bass. Tyler has performed with numerous jazz and rock groups (including Piece, Amphora, the David Hanlon Trio) as well as various symphony and chamber orchestras on the East Coasts. This full schedule included an appearance at the Lincoln Center in NYC. Tyler has recorded with the Noah Baerman Trio, Sangita and Nicky Glasses and has performed in both Singapore and France. Since receiving his M.A., he has performed with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (VA) and the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra (VA). Alan Munshower was born, like Tyler, in Hartford, Connecticut. He started pursuing drums at the age of 10. He continued his drumset studies at Goucher College in Baltimore with John Locke (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/Peabody Institute). While at the college he performed most notably in Soft Shoe Shuffle, a fusion band that recorded a CD and toured in France during the summer of 2000. During this period, he also performed with the Goucher College Jazz Ensemble and several local jazz combos. After his graduation, Alan formed the world-fusion group Sangita (with Tyler) that toured France in the summer of 2003. In addition to trio ricochet, Alan currently performs with A-UN, the Philtones, and Nicky Glasses. The 'Alan Munshower Trio' leads a jazz jam every Wednesday at the Red House in Baltimore.(www.alanmunshower.com)