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Rocco John Iacovone

Composer/Saxophones/Piano
Rocco John studied privately with Lee Konitz. He and holds a BA and Master’s degree in Composition from Hunter College, where he studied under the direct disciples of Nadia Boulanger. He is the Founder and Artistic Director for COCA (Coalition of Creative Artists), an interdisciplinary, improvisational arts group based in NYC. In addition to composing and performing events with COCA, Rocco plays regularly in NYC with his band, the Rocco John Group. He spends each summer in Alaska playing originals and jazz standards with his group ‘Rare Form”.

Rocco was cut his teeth playing first Alto in Sam Rivers “Orchestral Explorations” at the Studio Rivbea during the “loft years”. He’s also played with Karl Berger, Barry Atschul, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Larry Grenadier and Phil Grenadier. His years of study with Lee Konitz, and training under Sam Rivers helped Rocco create a compositional and playing style that often reflects Lee’s emphasis on tasteful restraint combined with Sam’s sense of adventurous abstraction. Given his musical training, it is no surprise that Rocco’s music blurs the lines between “in” and “out” playing; creating a link between the two for the audience to follow. Audience participation is important to Rocco’s philosophy of sharing the sacred and universal aspect of music. He encourages his audience to be active listeners, and sometimes runs shows through COCA that encourage audience participation in multiple disciplines on a very tangible level.

In addition to performing and recording, Rocco is dedicated to the idea of strengthening the Jazz idiom by passing the music on to the next generation. Rocco has taught Jazz for the past twenty years, and often gives Jazz residencies with his band.

Rocco has three CD’s which feature The Rocco John Group (Rocco John Iacovone leader/Alto and Soprano saxophones, Aaron Keane/Bass, Dalius Naujokaitis/percussion): The first one is called “Miles To Go”, an Avant-Garde collection of original and standard tunes. In 2006 Rocco expanded his trio to a quartet (Rocco John Iacovone leader/Alto and Soprano saxophones, Mike Irwin/Trumpet, Aaron Keane/Double Bass, Dalius Naujokaitis/Percussion & drums) and released their latest CD of all original tunes,
“Don’t wait too Long…” in June 2007 to excellent reviews (available on itunes, digistation and cdbaby). This CD won “best of 2007” awards from Jazz review, radio forum, a 2007 Twirly award from 88.7radio in Sacramento with “the voice” Dick Crockett and one honorable mention from “All about Jazz”. Their third CD, also all originals, is called Devotion, and it is a dedication album to some of Rocco’s Jazz favorites. Go to the discography page for more info!

There are also Three CD’s with RARE FORM. RARE FORM is Rocco’s duo with Murray Nash (composition/keyboard/bass), his collaborator in Alaska. All the CD’s: “Live at the Fairview” and “Please Seat Yourself” and
“Conversation in 3”are freewheeling interpretations of standards and originals.

All of Rocco’s CDs can be heard at www.cdbaby.com. Rocco can be reached at rocco@roccojohnmusic.com , or www.myspace.com/theroccojohngroup. Find out the whole picture by traveling around this site.
To book for festivals, performance or Jazz residencies, or for more info call Rocco at:

212-253-7404 or 1-917-312-9487.

April 2009
All About Jazz Rocco John Group Devotion review

Rocco John Iacovone draws from a deep well for his musical inspiration, with sources as diverse as Eric Dolphy, JS Bach, Charlie Parker and Nadia Boulanger. These influences manifest themselves on Devotion, a pleasantly original quartet work composed and led by the talented and eclectic saxophonist, who blends these genres with skill and imagination.

On “Riffin for Eric” Iacovone blows his alto like a snake charmer playing the New Thing on this tribute to Eric Dolphy, while Michel Irwin wails on trumpet. Bassist Aaron Keane and drummer Dalius Naujokaitis aren’t sleep-inducing hypnotists timekeeping on auto-pilot; they create complex foundations for the soloists. “Bass Talk” could be described as hardbop free jazz, with splendidly raucous tandem work by Irwin and Iacovone on soprano. “Bach to Bird” is a wonderful mix of jazz and baroque elements that sounds like what Charlie Parker might have done had he lived a little longer. Iacovone captures Bird’s sound perfectly, with Nauokaitis’ dynamic drumming giving the song greater texture. Iacovone’s and Irwin’s dynamite countermelodies, and a daring trading of fours between Keane and Naujokaitis, highlight the dashing “Cy’Cology”.

“Devotion Suite” and “Freedom Theme” are the disc’s calling cards, ambitious extended works sharing the common bonds of classical symphonies and A Love Supreme. Each work moves between the brooding and upbeat, through layered trios, furious duets and thrashing drum solos, all performed seamlessly and faithful to Iacovone’s concepts of improvisational cohesion, dynamism and complexity. Despite all the influences, there is no shallow parroting here. Iacovone and crew are originals with important things to say musically. Devotion is a deep, stimulating conversation. –Terrell Holmes

JAZZCHICAGO.NET Review February 2009
This release has been getting considerable airplay and deservedly so. A trumpet, sax, bass and drum quartet, the music herein harkens back to the great music of the '60s and '70s. Rocco John Iacovone plays hard edged alto and soprano with more than a touch of Coltrane. His songs reference a number of influences, including Trane, but also Eric Dolphy, Lee Konitz and Lennie Tristano, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and even J.S. Bach. Bassist Aaaron Keane and drummer/percussionist Dalius Naujokaitis provide muscular rhythmic support, while trumpeter Michael Irwin is the leader's main foil. Irwin is bassist Dennis Irwin's son, and Rocco even penned a bass-driven tribute to the beloved musician ("Bass Talk"), who passed away last year. Throughout, the focus & interconnectivity of...is laser sharp.
"Riffin' for Eric" (Dolphy) is classic hard bop that sounds like a return to the early '60s, with Iacovone and Irwin trading lines. "Bach to Bird" merges Parker's bop with the classicism of the father of Western music –- showing how interconnected the music of the world really is. "Cy-Cology" is written over the chord changes of "All of Me" and pays tribute to Tristano and the composer's first teacher, Konitz. Meanwhile, "Mischievous Mystic" is a bluesy and satisfying tribute to the great Monk.
The centerpiece of the album are two suites. The "Devotion Suite" and "Freedom Theme" both call to mind Coltrane's 1960's work and hold up well in comparison, where lesser lights have failed. In fact, the strength of the compositions, combined with the dedication of the players to bring this harshly beautiful music to life, has obviously struck a chord with listeners. Somewhat surprising, and a bit inspirational as well, since neither Iacovone or Irwin restrain themselves by softening or smoothing their sound and fearlessly squeak, shreik and gibber to their hearts content. And in the end, everything old is made new again.-Brad Walseth

Midwest Record January 2009
This well rounded Big Apple sax man stops to take a breath along this journey to tip his hat to the players the inspired him in the first place. Playing with the style and smooth chops of a real vet, this is jazz you hear in clubs off the beaten track that you almost hate to tell your friends about so the place doesn’t get over run with tourists. Nice, solid playing is what’s on tap here and this cat does it right.
1003 (Coalition of Creative Artists)
Chris Spector

JAZZ.COM January 2009
: 92/100 (90-94 Outstanding. A work of superior merit)
Reviewer: S. Victor Aaron
Blues forms in jazz are as common as polka in Rating Eastern European music, but mutated blues forms are typically more interesting. That's what Thelonious Monk loved to do and Rocco John Iacovone does on "Mischievous Mystic." The lack of a chordal instrument puts some of the responsibility of carrying the melody on bassist Aaron Keane, but he doesn't do it entirely, and that's intended. After a brief statement of the lumbering theme by both horns, it's up to the listener to fill in those blanks.

The spartan arrangement serves to accentuate the lonely, fragile quality of Iacovone's alto. Even more haunting is when Irwin begins the handoff from Iacovone by making his trumpet weep. Both play a game of harmonic shuffleboard, getting as close to the edge of tonality without falling off.

Iacovone has stated that he wrote this song in tribute to Monk. No one can truly capture Monk's style of composing; the best one can hope for is to approximate his "mischievous" spirit. On this tune, Rocco John and his group do just that.

VILLAGE VOICE
Jazz Consumer Guide: Festival Visions
By Tom Hull September 2008
Honorable Mention: The Rocco John Group
Don't Wait Too Long [COCA Productions]

Iacovone plays alto sax, cut his teeth in '70s lofts,
cooled his heels in Alaska, returns as gray-haired demon.

BILLBOARD Review May 2007
Don't Wait Too Long, the debut release by The Rocco John Group, is an impressive offering by this steadily burning quartet of improvisers. Much of the excitement can be attributed to the originality inherent in the five compositions penned by its leader Rocco John Iacovone. The alto saxophonist adds a contemporary dimension to the approaches used by such altoists as Lee Konitz,Greg Osby, Eric Dolphy,Ornette Coleman,Charles McPherson. Overall, this recording is a testament to the high quality and experimentation that continues to attract new enthusiasts to the free jazz idiom. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide

ALL ABOUT JAZZ Review May 2007
So much of the jazz on CDs these days sounds so much the same, that when a disc such as this one is released, on which the music clearly speaks with its own voice, one must take notice.
Saxophonist Rocco John has studied with Sam Rivers and Lee Konitz and his distinctly apparent ability to both compose and improvise in the Jazz idiom clearly reflects the lessons learned from these masters. Disc recommended.
-Russ Musto , All about Jazz New York

Cadence, August 2007
…this restless feeling that makes this record so worthwhile, particularly in the way in which the horns conduct an open dialogue against a brimming rhythm section, also seen on cookers like “Gentilesse” (with Iacovone sounding quite Konitz a la Braxton) or the pulsing “Cursory Rhyme”. A good dose of Blues sensibility also runs with the currents on tracks like the midtempo “Indigo Joe” and the (likely) Mingus-influenced “Ming’s things”. They also further show their expansive horizons with smoky balladry (Leticia”),odd-meter shifts (“Bicycle for two”) and slippery counter-point driven strutting (Don’t wait too long”). Surely passing under the radar, Rocco John Iacovone and his quartet deserve the attention of folks looking for creative improvised terrains with timekeeping sensibilities.
Jay Collins, Cadence, August 2007

Zzaj Productions review - November, 2007
The Rocco John Group - DON'T WAIT TOO LONG: Rocco John Iacovone's (all original) alto sax work will please the ears of jazz aficionados the world over, especially on driving tuneage like (my favorite on the CD) "Bicycle For 2"! He's joined by Michael Irwin's trumpet, double bass by Aaron Keane & drums/percussion by Dallus Naujokaltis - & not just "joined"... these players are right on th' mark(s) together. Absolutely kickin', no hesitation & high-energy all the way through the album. Another jumpin' tune was track 8, "Cursory Rhyme"... the reeds & brass are in synch from the opening note, & that bass/drum syncopation keeps the music at full-tilt... I'm very much impressed, & you will be too if you cut your teeth on jazz tothat doesn't compromise & allows no hint of "smooth" to creep in - ANYwhere! A "way of life" is presented sonically - not that '30's "hep-cat stonedbe-bopper" thang, either - this has th' mellow parts, but it also has edges that we all have to navigate on our journey! Very tasty jazz adventure that gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! Get more information about the group at www.roccojohnmusic.com
Dick Metcalf aka Rotcod Zzaj, Zzaj Productions  
Jazz review 2008
The Rocco John Group are keepers of the improvisational flame, as evidenced by this exquisite performance piece.  Reviewed by: Mark E. Gallo