Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Zone - Zone (UNSEEN RAIN Records 2018)


Zone is a quintet of distinguished musicians who create an utterly modern sound rooted in not only the history of jazz, but also in a vast array of music traditions, old and new. While the members have all played with each other in different ensembles, mostly in the downtown New York scene, Zone is particularly fertile group for their considerable compositional and improvisational abilities. Sensitivity, interplay and deep listening are always evident whether the music is lyrical or hard hitting. Rocco John Iacovone studied composition under the direct disciples of Nadia Boulanger as well as saxophone and improvisation with Lee Konitz and played with Sam Rivers at Studio Rivbea,. Rocco has released a number of recording, including two on UNSEEN RAIN, Embrace The Change - with his quartet and Peace and Love with his Improvising Composers Ensemble. Jack DeSalvo initially appeared on the international jazz scene with the groundbreaking trio D3 and as a member of the electric harmolodic group Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society.

He is a member of Sumari, the 12 Houses Orchestra and other groups, including his own. Jack studied composition with Ariadna Mikéshina, classical guitar with Leonid Bolotine and jazz with Bill Connors and others. Jack appears on numerous recording including many on UR. Chris Forbes has been on the piano bench as a crucial part of countless NYC ensembles including Jason Kao Wang's Sing House, Matt Lavelle's 12 Houses Orchestra, the Steve Swell Quintet and Chris' own trio. He is a classically trained composer, jazz pianist, and has composed for symphonies, chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and musical theater. Dmitry Ishenko has played bass with a wide range of jazz artists, including Steve Lacy, John Tchicai, Eric Harland, Dave Liebman, Myron Walden, Jeff Williams, Roy Campbell, Jr., Sam Yahel, Steve Swell, Kenny Wollesen, Ches Smith, and many others.

A graduate of both the Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, he is also a busy session player and arranger, having worked in the studio and on the road with Paul Banks of Interpol, among others. has toured all over the world. He appears on Blaise Siwula's UR album Remoliona. In addition to being an incomparable jazz drummer, Tom Cabrera is an adept world percussionist Initially a mainstay in the Hudson Valley, NY jazz scene in Florida Tom gigged constantly establishing himself as a preeminent player on Orlando's vibrant jazz scene.

After returning to NY he immersed himself in the creative jazz scene as a member of the Julie Lyon Quartet, the Matt Lavele Quartet, Sumari, Jack DeSalvo's trio and quartet and the 12 Houses Orchestra. He appears on a number of UR releases including with his own trio, What I've Found and Rocco John Iacovone's Embrace The Change.

1. Nomad's Dog 07:58
2. Number 16 05:22
3. Walking Damp Ground 08:15
4. Surprised By Joy 06:27
5. Whispers 06:17
6. Hide and Seek 10:01
7. A-Wa-Re 10:40
8. Faborit 09:59