A student of Architecture and Fine Arts (1966-69), Rova founding member Bruce Ackley formed Sound Clinic, an improvising wind trio (with trumpeter George Sams and saxophonist Lewis Jordan) and a 1970's precursor to the all-winds Rova. Ackley has contributed to several recording sessions with such musicians as John Zorn, Henry Kaiser and Eugene Chadbourne. He also organized the quartet Unchambered with cellist Rohan de Saran, koto player Miya Masaoka and bassist Stefano Scodanibbio (1996) and leads the ongoing jazz trio Actual Size. He recorded a 1997 CD of his trio compositions with drummer Joey Baron and bassist Greg Cohen for Avant.