"In Transverse Time is (an) intimate
event, devoted to works by the quartet’s
members – Bruce Ackley on soprano, Steve
Adams on alto and sopranino, Jon Raskin
on baritone and Larry Ochs on tenor – and
playing to some of their greatest strengths,
their openness to new concepts and their
incredible sounds, bridging classical concepts
of the quartet with stunning individual
voices, Ackley’s soaring soprano, Raskin’s
harmonic-rich baritone, Adams’ lyrical alto
and Ochs’ blustery, vocalic tenor, filled with
the breath of free jazz. Their voices have
never been better framed in more immediate
conversation, or more alive than they are
here. It’s another annual Victo masterpiece."
Stuart Broomer in THE WHOLE NOTE (9/2018)
THE MUSIC:
Oxygen (Ackley) 7'43'
The Dark Forest Suite (Steve Adams)
Introduction 1'28"
Song 1 2'36"
Song 2 3'05"
Song 3 2'13"
Song 4 2'36"
Coda 1'20"
A Leap of Faith in Transverse Time (Raskin) 5'51"
The Time Being (Raskin) 5'36"
Hidden in Ochre (Ochs) 24'15"
Bruce Ackley on soprano
Steve Adams on alto and sopranino
Jon Raskin on baritone
Larry Ochs on tenor
"Oxygen" (Bruce Ackley) is from the fall of 2016 and employs an organizing method borrowed from Henry Kaiser. It also reflects this comment from bassist-composer, Barry Guy: "It is very important to be able to immerse yourself in the music and not allow the expressionistic aspects of the will to take over from the perceived balance of the structure". The work is dedicated to the memory of Bruce's son, Ivan Graves Ackley. (BMI/Metalanguage)
"The Dark Forest Suite”, (Steve Adams) was inspired by the Basiani Choir from the Republic of Georgia. As a Georgian poet said during our 1989 tour of the Soviet Union, "Let's all go to the dark forest!". (BMI/Metalanguage)
"A Leap of Faith in Transverse Time" (Jon Raskin) The narrative improv structure relies on the "leap of faith" that has developed over many years of playing together in Rova to give new insight into the material and directions proposed, and that the transverse sounds will delight and move the music forward. ASCAP/Temescal)
"The Time Being" (Jon Raskin) started with Jon's fascination with a slow 17 beat pattern and was written to give Steve ’s wonderful alto sound a nice place to shine. (ASCAP/Temescal)
“Hidden in Ochre” (Larry Ochs) was originally created in 2016 to be performed by Rova in a resonant gallery, while surrounding the actions of Shinichi Iova-Koga, Dana Iova-Koga and Dohee Lee of inkBoat Physical Theater. (ASCAP/Trobar/BMG)
A brief review from the Atlanta weekly newspaper for the arts called "Creative Loafing" -- "Saxophone quartets can be an acquired taste, especially if their members are content playing supper-time jazz. However, Rova’s commitment to pushing forward, and challenging themselves and their audiences accounts for much of their perseverance. That, and talent. Their latest recording, In Transverse Time (Les Disques Victo), finds the quartet in meticulous harmony, with each player taking a measured approach to their solos. The Quartet’s members play multiple horns, but each settles into one primary instrument: Jon Raskin’s deep baritone holds steady while Bruce Ackley’s horn shimmers in tandem with the inventive brilliance of soprano virtuoso Steve Lacy. Ochs’ soulful tenor is unmistakable, and Steve Adams’ alto is fresh and bouncy. The whole recording is a musical journey through a wilderness of whistling reeds, but the 24 minute finale, “Hidden in Ochre,” lands listeners back at home after a wonderful whirlwind of sound." (Omar Khalid)
Stuart Broomer in THE WHOLE NOTE (9/2018):
"In Transverse Time is (an) intimate
event, devoted to works by the quartet’s
members – Bruce Ackley on soprano, Steve
Adams on alto and sopranino, Jon Raskin
on baritone and Larry Ochs on tenor – and
playing to some of their greatest strengths,
their openness to new concepts and their
incredible sounds, bridging classical concepts
of the quartet with stunning individual
voices, Ackley’s soaring soprano, Raskin’s
harmonic-rich baritone, Adams’ lyrical alto
and Ochs’ blustery, vocalic tenor, filled with
the breath of free jazz. Their voices have
never been better framed in more immediate
conversation, or more alive than they are
here. It’s another annual Victo masterpiece."
credits
released September 5, 2018
BRUCE ACKLEY
soprano saxophone
STEVE ADAMS
alto & sopranino saxophones
JON RASKIN
baritone saxophone
LARRY OCHS
tenor saxophone
Photo Credit: Peter Gannushkin
"Hidden in Ochre", "Oxygen" and "A Leap of Faith In Transverse Time" were recorded, edited and mixed Phillip Perkins. Recording assistant: Ethan Chuck. They were recorded on September 25, 2017 at the Mills College Art Museum. Special thanks to Dr. Stephanie Hanor, Director and Jayna Swartzman-Broksy, Program Director at the museum.
"The Dark Forest Suite" and "The Time Being" were recorded at Guerrilla Recording by Myles Boisen on October 6 and November 3, 2017. They were mixed by Myles Boisen at the Headless Buddha Mastering Lab on December 22, 2017.
All cuts were mastered by Myles Boisen at the Headless Buddha Mastering Lab on December 22, 2017
Rova: a group that can move you the way an Eastern European choir of voices can move you, but also a group with force that
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