Gambit, by Ethan Setiawan

Gambit

by Ethan Setiawan

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1.	Christmas Eve 01:26	buy track
2.	Uncrossed 05:24	buy track
3.	Golden 06:12	buy track
4.	Bear Jam 07:51	buy track
5.	Reliably Distracted 04:54	buy track
6.	Quolska 05:13	buy track
7.	Upwind Downstream 02:34	buy track
8.	Nugget 07:16	buy track
9.	Lonesome Tune 08:01	buy track
10.	Carolina Avenue 04:35	buy track
11.	Sunday Afternoon Reel 04:23	buy track
12.	Redwoods 05:12	buy track
13.	Back, Dog 03:52	buy track

about

Originally from Goshen, Indiana, Ethan Setiawan tried out numerous instruments before finding his way to the mandolin. “I played the cello, and tried out banjo and ukulele as a kid”, he explains, “But I really liked the mandolin, it was small but packed a bigger punch than the ukulele. Anyway, that was the one that stuck”, he laughs. Years later, Setiawan has a command of the instrument far beyond his twenty-some-odd years, and has won both the National Mandolin Championship at Winfield, KS and the Rockygrass Mandolin Championship. On his new album, “Gambit”, Setiawan takes the calculated musical risks of a seasoned player. He moves aptly between stylistic influences, harkening back to the experimental string band music pioneered in the early 80s while presenting entirely original compositions.

Setiawan was one of three kids who were all homeschooled by folk-loving parents, so his childhood was untraditional, and full of exploration, and music gave him a social outlet outside of the home. “As a teenager, I loved the idea of going to jams and having this community of people I could hang out with”, he explains. He began driving to Chicago to take lessons with Don Stiernberg, and traveled to California to attend The Mandolin Symposium. After finishing high school, Setiawan attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. “I think I came into Berklee as a very technically oriented musician, but just being exposed to so many different styles and incredible musicians really broadened my musical horizons, and gave me a deeper understanding of artistry and musicality beyond technical proficiency”, he explains.

Since then, his path has wended its way through traditional bluegrass, to Bach partitas, to free jazz. His debut full-length album, “Flux” is made up of original tunes drawing from all these wells. In retrospect, Setiawan can see immense growth in himself since the release of “Flux”. “I can look at most of those tunes and point you back to a Matt Flinner tune or a Bela Fleck tune that I drew inspiration from, but it feels more like a school project to me, something that I set out to do with a specific goal in mind, whereas “Gambit” feels more like my own artistic statement.”

Produced by legendary fiddle player Darol Anger, the project features Anger’s signature chamber music influenced arrangement styles. “What I love about the album is that the sum of it is greater than its parts”, explains Setiawan. “It starts with an introductory meditation, and it moves through a Swedish tune, a real jammy number, some more jazz and new age influenced pieces, as well as the old time and bluegrass elements. It’s not one thing, it’s a whole record”. In working with Anger, Setiawan found that he was able to make the most musical choices for each tune, leaving academic influences aside.

“Gambit” was recorded in Maine at the Great Northern Sound Society, and features an all-star cast of musicians including Darol Anger (fiddle), Tony Trischka (banjo), Sam Leslie (guitar), Brittany Karlson (bass), Ethan Jodziewicz (bass), Louise Bichan (fiddle), Joe K. Walsh (mandolin), Mike Marshall (mandolin), Neil Pearlman (keys), and Matt Arcara (banjo).

In addition to his solo projects, Setiawan is an in-demand side man and band member, and can be seen playing with his band Corner House, Darol Anger, and Tony Trischka among others. One listen through to “Gambit” will explain why Setiawan is in high demand. Throughout the record, his technical proficiency is rivaled only by his restraint, leaving room for the music to thrive.

credits

released March 31, 2023

Ethan Setiawan: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin
Darol Anger: 5-string fiddle, octave fiddle
Sam Leslie: guitars, baritone guitar
Brittany Karlson: rhythm bass

with
Tony Trischka: banjo (tracks 2, 4, 13)
Louise Bichan: fiddle (tracks 7, 11, 13)
Neil Pearlman: keys (tracks 1, 5, 8, 9)
Ethan Jodziewicz: melody bass (tracks 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13)
Matt Arcara: banjo (tracks 7, 11)
Mike Marshall, Joe K. Walsh: mandolin (track 13)
Kathleen Parks, Emily Baker, Avery Merritt, Carolyn Kendrick, Ella Jordan: the wall o’fiddles (track 13)

Produced by Darol Anger
Recorded at the Great North Sound Society
Engineered by Darol Anger
Assisted by Sam Kassirer
Additional engineering by Ethan Jodziewicz, Ethan Setiawan, Mike Marshall, and Joe K. Walsh
Edited by Darol Anger
Mixed by Dave Sinko
Mastered by David Glasser
Arrangements by Ethan Setiawan and Darol Anger
Design, photography, and artwork by Louise Bichan
All music composed by Ethan Setiawan (Mandosepeda ASCAP)

Darol came to this music with big ears and a bigger heart, without him none of this would be possible. Brittany, Sam: thanks so much for hopping on this crazy train and following us down the rabbit holes. To everyone else who’s contributed: Tony, Louise, Ethan, Matt, Neil, Mike, Joe, Carolyn, Ella, Avery, Kathleen, and Emily; I count you all as close friends and beloved musicians and you all elevated this music to the stratosphere. A big thanks is due to Sam Kassirer and GNSS for being an amazing home for our weary selves during a big session. Maeve Gilchrist and Joe K. Walsh for the writing hangs over the years. Various instruments were provided by Matt Arcara and Nina DeVitry on the guitar front, and Darol of course with the octave mandolin. Thanks to Louise Bichan, Ben, Susan, Sam, and Avi Setiawan.
Special thanks to Ethan Jodziewicz.

In loving memory of my 2 grandfathers: Lynford Miller of Middlebury Indiana, USA and Dr. Sukri of Jepara, Indonesia.

The year was 2020, and we were in the middle of a pandemic, global and national upheaval. In the midst of a year that scrapped most plans, this one slipped through the cracks somehow. We were all sitting on 7 months of practicing and the chance to all play together was too good to pass up. A side effect of this that I was very happy about was that everyone was extremely excited to be playing pretty much any music with any people, and the fact that the music in question happened to be a bunch of music I wrote was very cool. I hope you enjoy the end result. - Ethan Setiawan, June 2022

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Ethan Setiawan Portland, Maine

Ethan Setiawan has a command of the mandolin far beyond his twenty-some-odd years. A past winner of both the National Mandolin Championship and the Rockygrass Mandolin Championship, his new record Gambit moves aptly between stylistic influences, harkening back to the experimental string band music pioneered in the early 80s while presenting entirely original compositions. ... more

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Ethan Setiawan recommends:

Borderland
by Joe K. Walsh

Joe has been a teacher of mine at Berklee College of Music and this record sums up his musical soul with great songwriting and mandolin playing. Ethan Setiawan
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Shrimp Tales
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The most perfect utilization of the duo mandolin texture to date. Ethan Setiawan
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Bent Creek
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Julian is one of my favorite fiddlers ever and I'm lucky to play music with him sometimes. Ethan Setiawan
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Everything about this wonderful recording works beautifully! The writing is fun and adventurous without being pretentious or contrived, the musicianship is awe-inspiring ... every single note is played with gravity, intention and purpose and the whole thing is a joy-filled experience for both the ears and soul. In the time since Joe released "Borderland" I'd convinced myself that I couldn't possibly love his music more. Along comes "If Not Now, Who?", and I stand corrected. Wayne Fugate
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How fabulous this is! My now favorite holiday album~ just wonderful, a gift for my ears and mind <3 outhere717
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Gambit

by Ethan Setiawan

Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

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The Everything Bagel

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Gambit

by Ethan Setiawan

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about

discography

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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

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Streaming + Download

$15 USD or more