Album Notes

"Miles to Go" is a collection of original and standard jazz
tunes. More than half of the CD is comprised of original pieces allowing the
group to really stretch and experiment. The title cut "Miles to Go" has
two takes, each with a very different interpretation. Listen to them back to
back for a chance to hear how the group works! "Eclipse/Fables of
Faubus" is an especially interesting juxtaposition of two Mingus classics.
"Kumbha" is a spontaneous composition based on a loose set of parameters
set up by the composer. It is based on a Hindu purification ritual. It is the
most avant-garde of the eight cuts and may signal the direction in which
this group is growing.

About the artists...

Composer/Saxophones/Piano
Rocco John studied with Lee Konitz and holds a masters degree in Composition from Hunter College. He is the Founder and Creative Director for COCA (coalition of creative artists), an interdisciplinary, improvisational arts group based in NYC. Besides writing and performing events with COCA, Rocco plays around NYC with various improvisational Jazz groups and is currently working on a new COCA project. He spends each summer in Alaska playing and recording original and straight-ahead jazz with his group there. These CD's are also available on cdbaby.com. They are: "Live at the Fairview", "Please Seat Yourself", and "Conversation in 3".

Rocco was very active during the "loft" years playing first Alto in Sam Rivers "Orchestral Explorations" at the Studio Rivbea; and with Lee Konitz, Karl Berger, Barry Atschul, and the Jazz Composers Orchestra. In addition to performing and recording Rocco is currently teaching Jazz and Jazz History at The College of St. Francis Xavier in NYC.

Bass
Aaron Keane began studying the Suzuki method as a child. After some years studying under Homer Mensch and Rocco Iacovone, Aaron went on to spend two years at the Manhattan School of Music before he left New York to tour. He's back in the Big Apple, playing and recording with multiple groups around the city.

Percussion
Dalius Naujokaitis was born in Lithuania. He studied music there at the University of Vilnius, where he earned his degree. He has done extensive performance work in Lithuania and Europe. He is living in the U.S. now, playing and recording with a number of groups.