In Transverse Time
The release of In Transverse Time marks Rova's 40th anniversary, and the quartet's leap into a 5th decade of intrepid artistic activity. The disc is their first quartet-only CD since the 2012 A Short History, and features new compositions by each of the Rova members. Gorgeous renderings of each piece have been captured by sonic maestros, Myles Boisen and Philip Perkins.
In Transverse Time
Rova Saxophone Quartet
1. Oxygen (Ackley) 7'43"
The Dark Forest Suite (Adams)
2. Introduction 1'28"
3. Song 1 2'36"
4. Song 2 3'05"
5. Song 3 2'13"
6. Song 4 2'36"
7. Coda 1'20"
8. A Leap of Faith in Transverse Time (Raskin) 5'51"
9. The Time Being (Raskin) 5'36"
10. Hidden in Ochre (Ochs) 24'15"
BRUCE ACKLEY
Soprano saxophone
STEVE ADAMS
Alto and sopranino saxophones
JON RASKIN
Baritone saxophone
LARRY OCHS
Tenor saxophone
Notes and credits:
“Hidden in Ochre”, “Oxygen” and “A Leap of Faith in Transverse Time” were recorded, edited and mixed by Philip 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-Brosky, 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 on December 8, 2017 by Myles Boisen. All cuts were mastered by Myles Boisen at the Headless Buddha Mastering Lab on December 22, 2017.
“Oxygen,” from the fall of 2016, 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.
“The Dark Forest Suite” 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!”
The narrative improv structure of “A Leap of Faith in Transverse Time” trusts that the "leap of faith" developed over many years of playing together will give new insight to the material and directions proposed, and that the transverse sounds will delight and move the music forward. “The Time Being” 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.
“Hidden in Ochre” 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.