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Jon Raskin

Highlights of Rova founding member Jon Raskin's early career include his '70s participation in new music ensembles directed by John Adams (San Francisco Conservatory of Music) and Dr. Barney Childs (University of Redlands). Before Rova, Raskin served as music director of the Tumbleweed Dance Company (1974-77), was a founding member of the Blue Dolphin Alternative Music Space and participated in the creation of the Farm- an art project that included a city farm, a community garden, Ecology Center, Dance and Theater companies and organized the creation of a city park. Highlights as a member of Rova include composing a collaborative work for SF Taiko Dojo/Rova, working with Howard Martin on the installation work “Occupancy”, composing music for Mr. Bungle/ Rova, organizing the 30 year Anniversary Concert of John Coltrane's Ascension, performing the music of Miles Davis at the Fillmore with Yo Miles! , the Glass Head Project with Inkboat and the ongoing Electric Ascension Project.

Raskin has received numerous grants and commissions to work on a variety of creative projects: NEA composer grant for Poison Hotel, a theater production by Soon 3 (1988); Reader's Digest/Meet the Composer (1992 & 2000); Berkeley Symphony commission (1995) and Headland Center for the Arts Residency 2009.

Besides over 40 recordings with Rova, Raskin's recording experience include Anthony Braxton, Eight (+3) Tristano Compositions 1989 For Warne Marsh (1989) and The Bass & the Bird Pond with Tim Berne (1996), Wavelength Infinity- A Sun Ra Tribute, Between Spaces with Phillip Gelb, Dana Reason & Pauline Oliveros, Terry Riley's In C 25th Anniversary, and solo work on the Art Ship Series. His currents CD's include Let's go Juke Box Suite (Not Two) with the Rova Saxophone Quartet , JR Quartet (Rastascan) with Liz Allbee, George Cremaschi and Gino Robair, Music + One (Rastascan) a Improvisation compendium for improvisers to play along with and Kaolithic Music, Jaw Harp Music recorded in a 587 Gallon Vase (Evander Music) “Open Box” on the Tzadik label, Music and reading performances by: Liz Albee, Carla Harryman, Aurora Josephson, Ava Mendoza, Jon Raskin, Gino Robair, Roham Shikhaini, and John Shiurba. FPR trio with Frank Gratkowski, Phillip Greenlief and Jon Raskin,

Other groups: The Out Of Bounds Trio: Tim Bulkley-drums, Safa Shokrai- Bass, Jon Raskin – alto sax. Jon Bafus- drums & Jon Raskin Duo, 2 + 2 Project with Phillip Greenlief performing the music of Steve Lacy, The Long Table Project, Phillip Greenlief – alto sax, John Hanes – drums, Jon Raskin – bari sax, Dan Seamans – electric bass, John Shiurba – electric guitar.

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14
Album Review

Bafus - Raskin - Shiurba: Fair Shanks Suburbia

Read "Fair Shanks Suburbia" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Fair Shanks Suburbia emerges as a noteworthy exploration into the avant-garde, where Jon Bafus (Unsilent Majority), Jon Raskin (ROVA), and John Shiurba (Anthony Braxton) orchestrate a sonic journey that transcends conventional musical boundaries. It is a cohesive narrative that delves into the complexities of suburban life through an experimental lens. From the outset, the trio sets a bold tone with their opener “Rubber Band Rattle Can," a piece that fuses chaotic rhythms with moments of startling clarity. Bafus' ...

2
Album Review

Jon Raskin / Phillip Greenlief: 2 + 2 with Jen Baker & Liz Allbee

Read "2 + 2 with Jen Baker & Liz Allbee" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Innovative saxophonists Jon Raskin and Phillip Greenlief use graphic scores for a series of recordings, each with a similar pair of instruments. These collaborations are called 2 + 2. The first of these is the provocative 2 + 2 with Jen Baker & Liz Allbee. As the title indicates Raskin and Greenlief join two brass players, trombonist Jen Baker and trumpeter Liz Allbee. The resulting music, both improvised and interpreted, is a stimulating conversation of four unique yet synergistic voices ...

1
Album Review

Jon Raskin Quartet: Singing Songs As One

Read "Singing Songs As One" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


In 2021, innovative saxophonist Jon Raskin released a number of stimulating concerts which were initially streamed live on Oakland's NIR radio station in 2009. The last of the series is the intriguing and unique celebration of sound called Singing Songs As One. On it Raskin leads a like-minded quartet for a superbly cohesive performance. In addition, the engineer Eli Crews did some real-time overdubbing, enhancing the music's haunting effect. “Configuration and Positioning," the longest track of the set, ...

3
Album Review

Jon Raskin, Ross Hammond, Clifford Childers, Dana Wendel: Space and Time Blues

Read "Space and Time Blues" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


On the captivating Space and Time Blues saxophonist Jon Raskin, with three equally adventurous colleagues, puts a uniquely intriguing twist on country blues. The heavily improvised release is made up of seven interconnected parts each with a picturesque title. The result is a cinematic and evocative suite filled with warmth and spontaneity. Opening the album with a dramatic sense, “Amongst The Reeds" starts off with collective tolling sounds reminiscent of church bells. Within the somber mood that drummer ...

1
Album Review

Jon Raskin: The Long Table

Read "The Long Table" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Intrepid improviser and saxophonist Jon Raskin has kept busy during the covid-19 pandemic by releasing, for the first time, several of his past recordings. Of the many exciting albums he put out in 2021 on his own Temescal label, The Long Table stands out for a few reasons. As superb as the rest of his catalogue, this 2014 date has an infectious groove and a melodic structure different from Raskin's more experimental work. It also includes two covers, one penned ...

2
Album Review

Jon Raskin Quartet: Up & Down, Sideways

Read "Up & Down, Sideways" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Innovative saxophone improviser Jon Raskin continues to put out, on his own label Temescal, never before released sessions from his catalogue. The intriguing Up & Down, Sideways finds him in a quartet with long standing associates, a group that Raskin himself calls the most significant in his career outside of Rova. This short album consists of a dozen, stimulating, electronically enhanced soundscapes that unfold with an eerie charm. On “(Plot Line) Allow for Tenderness," Raskin plays a wistful ...

1
Album Review

Jon Raskin: Goodheart Raskin Tarasov Trio

Read "Goodheart Raskin Tarasov Trio" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Saxophonist Jon Raskin thrives in collaborative settings. An intrepid improviser and originalist, Raskin is perhaps best known for his association with the innovative Rova Saxophone Quartet. He has, however, made several albums with other equally adventurous musicians. The 2021 Goodheart Raskin Tarasov Trio finds him in good company with pianist and sound artist Matthew Goodheart and drummer Vladimir Tarasov of the legendary Ganelin Trio,. Recorded between 2011 and 2013 these six pieces have a remarkable thematic cohesiveness. Overall, ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Fair Shanks Suburbia

Self Produced
2023

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Synergy Signals

Artifact Recordings
2021

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Songs From The Urban...

Gold Lion Arts
2021

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Live at NIR Studios

Temescal Records
2021

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Book 'P' of...

Self Produced
2021

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