The Rocco John Group House Concert

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1 Live chat
2 Show photos and MP3 recordings
3 Biography
4 Video
5 External Links
6 Images

The Rocco John Group

Who: The Rocco John Group - The Rocco John Group are keepers of the improvisational flame...

Date: Saturday, July 12th, 2008 / 7PM

Time: Doors open all day - music starts at 7PM - entire concert is webcast live.

Suggested in-house donation: $10 honor system - 100% of all proceeds generated go directly to the performer.

Where: The Whole Wheat Radio Palace in Talkeetna, Alaska. Click here for driving directions to Whole Wheat Radio in Talkeetna

Food: Some munchies are provided but if you'd like to bring desserts or other munchies either for yourself or to share, feel free.

Drink: Coffee, tea, non-alcoholic drinks provided. Otherwise, bring your own beer or wine. Please drink responsibly.

Kids: No kid care will be provided for this show - unless you bring it. Probably not a good show for small kids to attend anyway. But if you want to come and can't make other arrangements for the little ones, just make sure they are downstairs and don't disturb the adults in the audience. Thanks!

Contact: Jim Kloss at 733-2452

More Info: More general information about our cabin concerts can be found by clicking on this link If you cannot attend, remember that all of our cabin concerts are webcast live. Just click on the Listen (lo-fi) or Listen (med-fi) or Listen (hi-fi) links on the left-hand menu. In addition, if you can't make the concert, they are recorded and if the artist gives permission, the complete recording will be posted on this page within a few days of the show.

Live chat

Click here to go to the live chat about the show.

Show photos and MP3 recordings

Click on any photo to see it fullsize. Right-mouse click on any audio MP3s and "Save" them to your computer to listen.

Biography

The Rocco John Group are proud to be recipients of a 2007-2008 Chamber Music America residency grant.

Rocco Iacovone

Rocco Iacovone, the Band's leader cut his teeth during the loft scene of the 70’s playing first Alto for Sam Rivers at Studio Rivbea. He also studied Alto with the masterful Lee Konitz. Considering those two influences, it is not surprising that the group’s style blurs the line between “in” and “out” playing. Rocco has developed a playing/compositional style that is a unique combination of the spirit of River‘s “free’ jazz, and Konitz’ emphasis on tasteful restraint and melodic content.

The group likes to encourage their audience to actively follow a thought as the musicians toss it around and wring it out. Playing together as a trio since 1997, the group welcomed Trumpeter Mike Irwin to their ranks in 2006. Over the years, the group has grown from a loose group of improvisers to a tight group of musicians who read each other’s thoughts and enhance each other’s strengths.

Rocco holds a BA and a Masters degree in Composition from Hunter College where he studied with the direct disciples of Nadia Boulanger. He has been active since the “loft” years where he sat first Alto with River’s ORCHESTRAL EXPLORATIONS at Studio Rivbea. There he learned first-hand how to compose for an improvisatory medium.

The Bass player for the Rocco John Group, Aaron Keane, began the cello at age 8, studying the Suzuki method as a child and switched to the Acoustic Bass by age 15. He went on to spend two years at the Manhattan School of Music before leaving New York to tour. While at the Manhattan School of Music, he studied classical Bass with Homer Mensch. The groups’ drummer, Dalius Naujokaitis hails from Lithuania where he studied music at the Conservatory of Vilnius. He has worked extensively in Lithuania as well as playing in numerous Jazz festivals throughout Europe. He is the principal drummer for the Kenny Wollesen Band.

Trumpeter Michael Irwin is the newest member of the group. Exposed to music at an early age by his father, Jazz bassist Dennis Irwin, Michael took up the trumpet at age 10. At the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, SUNY, Michael studied under Jon Faddis, Wynton Marsalis and others, earning a BFA in music performance. He has worked with a great variety of musical organizations including Orlando Marim’s Latin Orchestra, Kenny Wollesen’s SLAM, Amayos Fu-Arkistra and others.