Rova Saxophone Quartet
The Rova Saxophone Quartet is a Californian saxophone quartet that includes saxophonists Jon Raskin , Larry Ochs , Steve Adams and Bruce Ackley .
Founded in 1977 for a festival at Mills College in Oakland (California) , the Rova Saxophone Quartet was an “insider tip” among fans of improvised music for many years. Over the years, Rova built on the achievements of " collective improvisation "; The focus is on the fusion and "harmonization" of composition and improvisation.
In the initially predominant works written by the members of the quartet, the quartet can be seen by numerous composers of new music (such as Ives, Messiaen, Xenakis, Feldman, Penderecki, Varese, J. Cage), but also by jazz musicians (such as Coltrane, Coleman or Monk). The quartet broadened its material base through the collaboration with important composers and performers such as Anthony Braxton , Terry Riley , Alvin Curran , John Zorn , Steve Lacy , Andrea Centazzo , Lindsay Cooper , Richard Teitelbaum , Pauline Oliveros , Liz Allbee and the Kronos Quartet . In particular, the development of the quartet Chanting the Light of Foresight written for Rova by Riley required a new, specifically microtonal playing style of the four saxophonists that overcame the tempered mood of the saxophones. Ultimately, the quartet made a specific contribution to redefining the music of the 20th century and to the development of American improvisation music.
Founding member Andrew Voigt resigned in August 1988 and was replaced by Steve Adams. The name Rova is derived from the initials of the surnames of the four founding members. The quartet has released numerous records and CDs and has been touring around the world for more than two decades.