The
Rova Saxophone Quartet is a
San Francisco-based
saxophone quartet formed in October 1977 at the same time as their "less adventurous" but better known colleagues the
World Saxophone Quartet. The name "Rova" is an
acronym formed from the last initials of the founding members: Jon
Raskin,
Larry Ochs, Andrew
Voigt and Bruce
Ackley. Andrew Voigt left and was replaced by Steve Adams, but the group did not change the acronym.
Metalanguage Records was founded in 1978 by
Henry Kaiser and Ochs. It showcased Rova as well as many independent artists and produced the Rova Arts Festival in 1980.