Most every year, Rova:Arts produces a major concert featuring music composed by Rova members or commissioned by Rova:Arts. In 2015, the special concert features three works by Rova, by Larry Ochs, and by Steve Adams + Jon Raskin together, all written for creative orchestra consisting of string quartet, sax quartet and power trio (el gtr, el. bass, drums).
In the run-up to Rova’s major show “Rovaté 2015” taking place in late June at ODC Theater, this is the first of two concerts at C4NM where Rova will introduces musical units of the June orchestra. Tonight in set 1, we introduce Rova String Quartet, one-third of the Rovate orchestra: Christina Stanley (violin), Tara Flandreau (viola), Alex Kelly (cello), Scott Walton (bass). 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. A second “preview” show will occur June 10, again at CNM featuring the power trio of John Shiurba, Jason Hoopes and Jordan Glenn plus the same Rova String Quartet. Don’t miss either one; taken together they will allow you to see this music evolve before your eyes and ears.
Tara Flandreau is a violinist, violist, composer/improviser, conductor and visual artist. She just retired in May from her position as chair of the Performing Arts Department at the College of Marin, in Kentfield, California, where she taught music theory and composition, ear training, strings, music history, and directed the chamber music program. She will continue as the conductor of the COM Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra of about 50 musicians in Spring 2014.
Dr. Alex Kelly is a San Francisco based cellist, composer, electronic musician. He composes and performs with major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, new music ensembles, string quartets, cello quartets, big bands, jazz combos, rock bands, hip-hop crews, klezmer bands, world music ensembles, theater companies, radio productions, ballet companies, modern dance companies, and circus troupes. He also composes film scores and video game music. Alex is the author of the cello technique book “The Seven Points” which teaches fingerboard-mapping techniques. His live-looping solo show has been seen in a variety of venues ranging from Davies Symphony Concert Hall to Yosemite mountaintops.
Christina Stanley is a Bay Area based violinist, multi instrumentalist, vocalist, electronic musician and songwriter who began piano at 5 and violin studies at the age of 8. She is currently an active performing musician and teacher, working as a solo artist as well as a member of various ensembles. As a studio musician, she has appeared on albums for Kill Rock Stars, 4AD and Beggars Banquet/rough trade. She has been a featured solo performer for the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, a vocalist for the William Winant percussion ensemble, and has premiered works by George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell under conductor Petr Kotik. Her original painted graphic scores have been featured at the Outsound New Music Summit in San Francisco, Temple Ad Hoc in Los Angeles and Rock Paper Scissors Gallery in Oakland. She is passionate about working with living composers and composing new music.
Scott Walton is a bassist and pianist whose music negotiates the terrain between jazz, free improvisation, and the classical avant-garde. Praised for his “dramatic” soloing (Downbeat), “graceful fluidity” (All About Jazz), and “propulsive energy” (OneFinalNote), the Downtown Music Gallery proclaims that Walton “consistently shines” as a bassist. He has performed in festivals and major venues throughout North America and Europe with groups he co-leads, and in a host of collaborative contexts.