Upcoming Events
Rova will present its first ever concert at the San Francisco Public Library. The Main Branch will be a good venue and a resonant space for the band to present new works. The concert will conclude with a Q&A with the audience.
Nebraska Monday’s at the Luna Cafe in Sacramento has been presenting adventurous for over 30 years and this ensemble of Clifford Childers (low brass, harmonics), Jen Schaaf (drums) and Jon Raskin (saxophones) will be continuing this tradition with a combination of free improvisations and some of my compositions for improvisers.
The group after us is THAT DOOR with Alan Ernest -keyboards, Jim Frink - drum kit and Tony Passarell - electric bass
Jon Bafus & Jon Ruskin Duo
Rova + 3 & 4: The quartet is presenting a series of two 2-set concerts this spring that will feature the four horn players PLUS one guest per set. Larry Ochs is partnering with Dohee Lee, and Steve Adams with Wobbly, for the second concert of the series
FIGURE 8: The Rova Saxophone Octet
Rova + Vinny Golia, Aram Shelton, Phillip Greenlief, and Cory Wright
Rova + 1 & 2: The quartet is presenting a series of two 2-set concerts this spring that will feature the four horn players PLUS one guest per set. Jon Raskin is partnering with Aram Shelton, and Bruce Ackley with Gino Robair, for the first concert on April 22.
Carla Harryman, Jon Raskinand Gino Robair will present poetry and music in various inventive ways that which will include:
"Gardener of Stars, an Opera" as improvised score and radical reimaginingof Harryman’s 2001 novel, a work “more fantasmagoric poem than fictional narrative” tracking the paradise and wastelands of utopian desire.
The evening will also include Gino Robair on prepared piano with Carla Harryman performing excerpts of Harryman’s Occupying Theodore W. Adorno’s “Music and New Music” commissioned by dOCUMENTA 13. “The music/I/Have been listening/To has been/Pretty Dark/Theez Daze”
As well new works under development.
Jon Raskin - mini synthesizers, concertina, homemade electronics …. and speaking voiced
Carla Harryman - poetry, speaking voice
Gino Robair - prepared piano and electronics
ROVA Saxophone Quartet presented by Pioneer Valley Jazzshares at Eastworks in Easthampton MA.
http://jazzshares.org/?p=645
8 pm
Art of the Improviser: Rova Quartet plus Ava Mendoza + Andrea Parkins + Ken Filiano + Mike Lockwood
Ava Mendoza (guitar) Ken Filiano (bass, effects) Andrea Parkins (electronics) Mike Lockwood (drums) Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes)
For its entire 38 year existence, Rova has practiced and performed free improvisations, created a visual cueing system, and designed structured improvisations. Join us for this special set of spontaneous compositions.
10 pm
Rova Quartet: The Works
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes)
Music composed by Raskin, Ackley, Ochs, Adams; chosen from the 20th century book (1978 – 1999) just for this concert.
8 and 10 pm
Figure 8 aka ROVA Saxophone Octet
Ellery Eskelin (tenor sax) Marty Ehrlich, Vinny Golia, Jon Irabagon, Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes)
The 1993 Smash-Up commissioned by JazzFestival Saalfelden. All original works by Larry Ochs and Steve Adams for 8 saxophones. TWENTY DOLLARS
8pm & 10pm
SAX & DRUMS!! ROVA plus Tom Rainey and Michael Sarin
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes) Tom Rainey, Michael Sarin (drums)
Originally performed at Leipzig Jazz Festival in 20033 with Paul Lytton and Raimond Strid. This is only the 3rd show in USA, the first two being in San Francisco Bay Area in 2005 and 2015. Music by Rova members, plus John Coltrane’s “Living Space.”
8pm
European Windows 1 — Steve Lacy’s Saxophone Special
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs (saxes) Jon Raskin, Eyal Maoz (guitar) Chuck Bettis (electronics)
Rova’s reworking of Lacy’s classic sextet recording from 1974.
10 pm
European Windows 2 — Rova Quartet plays John Butcher, Lindsay Cooper, Fred Frith, Barry Guy
Bruce Ackley Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes)
Pieces by four great British-born composer-improvisers, specially commissioned by Rova.
ROVA plus Nels Cline + Trevor Dunn + Allison Miller
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes) Nels Cline (guitar) Trevor Dunn (bass) Allison Miller (drums)
Rova plus Nels Cline, Trevor Dunn and Allison Miller: performing pieces by Cline, Adams, Ochs and Rova, some recorded in 2011 for the New World Records label. TWENTY DOLLARS
10 pm
Rova Quartet NOW
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes)
New Original Works for sax quartet by Raskin, Ackley, Ochs, Adams.
4 Decade Retrospective of Rova Works
8pm Rova + John Zorn Quintet
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin, John Zorn (saxes)
Collaborating in one way or the other over the entire 38 year span of Rova including shows in Bay Area and in NY. This quintet always seems to sound like it’s been playing together forever.
10pm Rova Quartet
Rova Plays the Music of Berne, Carter, Curran, Smith, Zorn
Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin (saxes)
Rova Quartet plays 4 pieces commissioned by Rova in the late 20th century from Wadada Leo Smith, Tim Berne, Alvin Curran, and the late, great John Carter; plus a classic Rova arrangement of a piece from Zorn’s Masada song book.
The Stone
Corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street
New York City
http://thestonenyc.com/
Rova Channeling Coltrane: ELECTRIC ASCENSION NEW YORK
Description:
tickets: https://www.ticketprophet.com/events/10150/orders/new
Sunday, January 17 @ Le Poisson Rouge: Rova plus an all-star cast of New York improvisers celebrate the DVD/BluRay release of Channeling Coltrane – with a NY premiere performance of Electric Ascension: Rova’s 21st century reimagining of John Coltrane’s late master work Ascension.
Famed for its monumental scale and raw emotional power, John Coltrane’s milestone recording, Ascension, was released on LP 50 years ago in 1966. It now gets a 21st century reimagining and arrangement by Rova, and its first NY show at 7 PM on 1/21/15, during the New York WinterFest, featuring special guests Nels Cline (who has appeared in all but one of Rova’s 11 performances of this show since 2003), Zeena Parkins, Nate Wooley, Ikue Mori, Trevor Dunn, Gerald Cleaver, Charles Burnham and Jason Kao Hwang, plus the four Rova stalwarts on saxophones.
True to Coltrane’s intentions, the sonic landscape of Electric Ascension changes with every performance, depending on the cast of musicians, and the tenor of the moment. Expect this band to take the music to places it has never been before.
(Concert attendees please note: Rova plays The Stone in Manhattan from January 19-24 at 8 pm and 10 pm each night. Rova is offering one 10 PM Stone ticket to anyone with a ticket stub or proof of ticket purchase from this Electric Ascension concert. The 10 PM shows include some amazing Rova repertoire. Come on out!)
The quartet continues to unearth works from its repertoire to be performed in our New York retrospective in January. In December, Rova will join forces with 4 additional saxophonists Casey Knudsen, Cory Wright, Aram Shelton and Sheldon Brown to play Tracers from the Figure 8 book for sax octet. Plus pieces by Wadada Leo Smith, John Carter, and Rova. Another one-of-a-kind Rova+ show.
Center for New Music
55 Taylor Street near Market
San Francisco
http://centerfornewmusic.com/calendar
Super excited to be a part of the broad overview of Lindsay's music with a fantastic all-star ensemble featuring Steve Adams (soprano sax), Rachel Austin (voice), Beth Custer (clarinet), Evelyn Davis (piano), Fred Frith (guitar), Emily Packard (violin), Zeena Parkins (harp), Kasey Knudsen (alto sax), Kate McLoughlin (bassoon), Jason Hoopes (bass), Jordan Glenn (drums), Andy Strain (trombone), and surprise guests. With Music from Henry Cow, New from Babel, Music for Other Occasions and other records. Don't miss this unique, one only concert of music by an important pioneer! Rova will perform Face in a Crowd
Museo Novecento | Florence, Italy
Project: Rova's Sound-in-Space
Website & Tickets: http://bit.ly/1GJs97b
Performs Sound-in-Space at the Teatro San Leonardo | Bologna, Italy
Website & Tickets: http://bit.ly/1Rshajd
Jazzkeller Hofheim | Hofheim, Germany
Project: Rova Saxophone Quartet
Website & Tickets: http://bit.ly/1OiI1hN
➡ MUGMunich, Germany
subsonicspace
MUG - Münchner Untergrund im Einstein
Rova's Sound-in-Space
Website & Tickets: http://bit.ly/1Lfr8zd
OrkestRova 2015:
Rova Sax Quartet (Larry Ochs, Steve Adams, Jon raskin, Bruce Ackley) PLUS:
Christina Stanley (violin), Tara Flandreau (viola), Alex Kelly (cello), Scott Walton (bass)
John Shiurba (el gtr), Jason Hoopes (el. bass), Jordan Glenn (drums)
The pieces to be performed (and later recorded): a Rova designed 25-minute structured-improvisation in 9 seamless movements entitled Contours of the Glass Head; Larry Ochs’ 20-minute For Buckminster Fuller, combining occasional notation, "time-line charts" that indicate entry and exit points, and process cues indicating how to interact and whom to interact with in each small "moment" of the time-lines; three graphically notated pieces from Steve Adams and Jon Raskin, arranged by Adams to overlap and interact as one extended composition. Instrumentation for all pieces: Rova Sax Quartet plus electric guitar, el. bass, and drummer to Rova's left onstage; violin, viola, cello and acoustic bass - a string quartet - to Rova's right onstage; with Rova members rotating to the conductor or 'conduction' podium at center stage as required.
Rova Power Trio Meets Rova Sax Quartet plus Strings
Rova power trio: John Shiurba (el gtr.), Jason Hoopes (el. bass), Jordan Glenn (drums)
Rova String Quartet: Christina Stanley (violin), Tara Flandreau (viola), Alex Kelly (cello), Scott Walton (bass).
Rova Sax Quartet: Larry Ochs, Steve Adams, Jon Raskin, Bruce Ackley
In the run-up to Rova’s major show “Rovaté 2015” taking place on June 29 at ODC Theater, this is the second of two concerts at C4NM where Rova will introduce musical units of the June orchestra.
Tonight in set 1, we introduce Rova Power Trio, one-third of the Rovate orchestra. They improvise as a trio and perform a conduction with Rova String Quartet, conducted by a member of Rova. Set 2: Rova itself, improvising on themes and ideas, and using visual cues for improvising that all will be fleshed out during Rovate with the orchestra. Set 3: Rova Strings plus a second conduction of Strings plus power Trio.
John Hanes & Jon Raskin Chimera Duo
The Chimera Duo came about because of a love the Chimera BC6 analog synthesizer- a small but very versatile device. John likes to use it for a sound source to slice and dice in software and use an iPad as a controller. Jon likes to setup a mini ensemble of small devices many of which have a physical controller element. All in all, you get a music that is a tail of serpent, a head of a goat and roars like a lion. Or it may all be an illusion.
In any case come on down to the Alley and hear some amazing sounds. Its a small space so get there early.
www.waveformeless.com 510 250 9934
21st annual Penofin Jazz Festival
Potter Valley, CA
All shows in the AFTERNOON of May 9. Tickets FREE. But there is a catch, see below
NOTE: Rova plays at 5 PM but come out early for three shows prior to Rova including:
Peter Brotzmann with Hamid Drake and William Parker at 3 or 3:30 PM !!
and the great Portland tenor Rich Halley and his smoking quartet at about 2 PM.
interesting sounding LA trio opens at 1 PM
Worth the drive time folks!! Small intimate site with a twenty year tradition of laying out a fine time for all. Food and drink for sale but BYOB.
TICKETS NEED TO BE RESERVED AND RECEIVED IN ADVANCE.
To do that, contact rova@rova.org as soon as you know for sure that you can come.
Include your name, your mailing address where you will receive the tickets, and the number of people coming with you.
Do not request the tickets until you are sure you can come, but do request the tickets before May 2.
Tickets and the address of the site will be sent by mail.
Rova has never played this show as a unit before, but our understanding is that if you do not have physical tickets, they can not let you in. (It's a local issue that makes for this rule.)
John Hanes & Jon Raskin performing at Day Of Noise at KZSU. John and Jon will be playing Chimera and other small synthesizers along with jaw harps, concertina and other odds and ends
- Broadcasted locally at 90.1FM
- Broadcast can be streamed from anywhere around the world - http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/
- Webcam is http://studio.stanford.edu
NextNow presents a festival to benefit the good works of Earth Justice and the Coalition On Homelessness.
Hardly Strictly Personal is a celebration of Post-Beefheart Drug Arts -
24project,57musicians from the new music community come together over two days to celebrate creative art and the inspiration of Don Van Vliet (AKA Captain Beefheart) and to give back to the larger community..
Friday Jan 16th from 7pm 'til 11pm and Saturday Jan 17th from 1pm 'til 11pm Berkeley will see a broad range of inspired and inspiring performances.
Projects Represented:
Friday -
Bill Noertker Ensemble
Lords Of Outland
Qualia
Rova Saxophone Quartet
Religious Phase
Seth Augustus
Lopez/Sordahl Duo
Saturday-
Aaron Oppenheim Ensemble
Loren Steele
RTD3 – Helgrin-Nunn-Carrol
Crystal Pascucci Duo
Collette McCaslin-Sheila Bosco
Pachuco Cadaver
Henry Kaiser
Cartoon Justice w/Gretchen Jude & Strings
Ross Hammond
Forward Energy
Tri-cornered Tent Show
Dialectical Imagination
Cloud Shepherd
Biif Aashiiki
Beauty School
Instagon
Eric Glick Rieman
9:30pm The Time Beings, Vijay Anderson - drums, Lisa Mezzacappa - bass, Jon Raskin - sax performing original compositions, favorite tunes and improvisations about time.
10pm Fred Frith - electric guitar, Jason Hoppes - bass, Jordon Glenn - drums
Frith returns to his deep roots in this improvising trio with the classic lineup of guitar, bass and drums. Playful, intimate, and bound together by a dark and delicate interplay, the group reminds us what listening is all about. After a lifetime of experience across almost every field of musical endeavor, Fred stretches out in the company of two stalwarts of the vibrant Bay Area music scene who have their own stories to tell.
Horn of Plenty is Jon Raskin – Baritone Sax, Aram Shelton – Alto Sax, and Aaron Bennett – Tenor Sax. We will be performing re-engineered sound track music from Bollywood films, blues, original music and perhaps some hard rock.
The Double Negative Ensemble is made up the following stellar musicians and master improvisers: John Bischoff - electronics, Nava Dunkelman - percussion, Matthew Goodheart - piano, Frank Gradkowski - clarinet/sax, Shoko Hikage - koto, Aurora Josephson - vocal, Elzbieta Potak - violin, Jon Raskin - clarinet/sax,.
The combined knowledge of this group of accomplished musicians and improvisers has my ears a flutter in anticipation of the sounds that will be conjured. The term improvisations doesn’t really do justice to the hard work of creating the musical language and technique on an instrument and than honing the artistic aesthetic to create music that each of these musicians have done. This is even more astounding to me when it is in an ensemble.
The music non-narrative will be organized by Jon Raskin who will provide source material and basic structures to be used as needed for the various sub groupings.
