Music Reviews : Double Bass and Saxes at Monday Evening Concerts

Italian double bassist Stefano Scodanibbio and the San Francisco-based ROVA Saxophone Quartet split the bill at the latest Monday Evening Concert in Bing Theater at the County Museum of Art. The first half of the program, entirely for solo double bass, provided the most surprises.

Scodanibbio was at his best when performing his own compositions, including four of the “Sei Studi” (1981-83). Displaying a dazzling, disciplined virtuosity, Scodanibbio made use of harmonics, spiccato and two-handed pizzicato in the difficult etudes emphasizing extended techniques.

In another of his compositions, “Strumentale” (1980), Scodanibbio sawed away with his bow in a steady pulse, deftly bringing out melodies with resonating harmonics and creating a satisfying hurdy-gurdy effect.

Giacinto Scelsi’s minimalist excursion in scordatura and drones, “Le Reveil Profond” (1976), and Xenakis’ portamento-laden “Theraps” (1976) opened the evening. Scodanibbio performed both with precision and insight.

After intermission, the acronymic ROVA Quartet--Jon Raskin, Larry Ochs, Andrew Voigt and Bruce Ackley--offered its less disciplined blend of contemporary jazz and new music in two original compositions, and a more reserved, new-age sensibility in Terry Riley’s “The Pipes of Medb”(1987).

“The Unquestioned Answer” (1987), by Ochs and Raskin, paid tribute to Anthony Braxton and Ornette Coleman--as well as the more obvious influence of Charles Ives--with a rich cacophony, abundant in jazz licks.

A short jazz composition by all four members, “Swang”(1987), ended the evening humorously.