TURTLE ISLAND STRING QUARTETT

Turtle Island String Quartet

"The Hamburg Concert"

"... the most creative music-making today ..." (Yo-Yo Ma)

The Hamburg Concert, the latest CD to be released by this legendary jazz and rock string quartet, is also their first-ever live recording. So that now, for the first time, listeners can enjoy a representative cross-section of Turtle Island String Quartet's fascinating repertoire, with the character of this recording ideally reflecting the ensemble's explosive creativity.

Formed in 1985, the Turtle Island String Quartet is a genuinely American ensemble. This is suggested immediately by its name, taken from the native Americans' conception of their continent centuries ago. But it is the Quartet's approach to music that makes it so particularly American. Not only do these musicians cut across cultural boundaries that stubbornly persist - especially in Europe - or refuse even to acknowledge these divisions: in their own quite inimitable way, they mix jazz, bluegrass, blues and rock with the European musical tradition.

For example, in an arrangement by Danny Seidenberg heard on "The Hamburg Concert" - CD, the TURTLES update "Winter" from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"; and, with the same naturalness, they invest Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" with the character of a classical string quartet. Their originality, versatility, humor and breathtaking virtuosity are, of course, just as clearly demonstrated in their own compositions, which, for the Turtle Island String Quartet, constitute the decisive part of their repertoire - the four Californians describe themselves as "composing musicians" in the tradition of the 18th century.

Press review:

"The niche they fit into best might be labeled "Wow!"
St.Louis Post-Dispatch Everyday Feb.26, '99

David Balakrishnan, co-founder of the quartet, has also collaborated with such ensembles as the Modern Jazz Quartet and Manhattan Transfer. In addition, he has made a name for himself as a successful composer and arranger. Evan Price, the group's youngest member, has played with such musicians as Stephane Grappelli and Stevie Wonder and has repeatedly been named Fiddle Champion in both the USA and Canada.

Danny Seidenberg, as much at home in classical music as in jazz, has worked with Steve Reich and Liza Minnelli and - a specialist in period instruments, too - is active in several Early Music ensembles. Mark Summer has been a member of the Quartet from its inception and is regarded - thanks not least to his phenomenal percussion and pizzicato technique - as the outstanding jazz cellist of our time.

This Stringquartet set a standart beyond the reach of its few contemporaries: zest, imagination and brilliant technique!