Turtle Island Quartet

The group plays jazz standards and original compositions that cross several styles, including blues, classical, jazz, and world music. Violinist David Balakrishnan got the idea for a jazz string quartet in 1985. He invited cellist Mark Summer, who had been working for three years as a member of a Canadian orchestra. One of the first pieces they played was Balakrishnan's arrangement of "Stolen Moments" by Oliver Nelson which was released on their first album in 1987. The group's members have included violinist Evan Price and Danish violist Mads Tolling.{{cite web| last1=Child| first1=Fred| title=Turtle Island Quartet: Bending Musical Lines|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4647605| website =NPR.org|accessdate=29 September 2017|language=en|date=11 May 2005}} Price and Tolling are both alumni of Berklee College of Music.{{Cite web|title=Grammy-winning Guitarist Jason Vieaux and Grammy-winning Violinist Evan Price Presented by DjangoFest Northwest|url=http://www.whidbeylocal.com/article/view/2079/2018/9/grammy-winning-guitarist-jason-vieaux-and-grammy-winning-violinist-evan-price-presented-by-djangofest-northwest|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Whidbey Island|language=en}}

As a child, Balakrishnan was inspired by Jimi Hendrix. Then he discovered jazz and the music of the David Grisman Quartet.{{cite web|last1=Child|first1=Fred|title=Darwin's Theories, Speaking Musically|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121778672|website=NPR.org|accessdate=29 September 2017|date=28 December 2009}}

Balakrishnan's arrangement of "A Night in Tunisia" by Dizzy Gillespie was nominated for a Grammy Award.{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Ken|title=Speak For Yourself! A Hyper-History of American Composer-Led New Music Ensembles| url=http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/speak-for-yourself-a-hyperhistory-of-american-composerled-new-music-ensembles/25/|website=New Music Box|accessdate=29 September 2017|date=1 May 1999}} The group won a Grammy Award for its version of A Love Supreme by John Coltrane.{{cite web|last1=Pulliam|first1=Becca|title=Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' Live, With Strings|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103900584|website=NPR.org|accessdate=29 September 2017|date=17 September 2009}}

The quartet has worked with Paquito D'Rivera, Ying Quartet, Edgar Meyer, the Manhattan Transfer, Modern Jazz Quartet, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Current

• David Balakrishnan – violin and baritone violin (original member) (1985–1993, 1997–present)
• Benjamin von Gutzeit – viola (2012–present)
• Naseem Alatrash – cello (2021–present)
• Gabriel Terracciano – violin (2018–present)

Past

• Mark Summer – cello (original member) (1985–2015)
• Darol Anger – violin and baritone violin (original member) (1985–1997)
• Laurie Moore – viola (original member) (1985–1987)
• Irene Sazer – viola (1987–1990)
• Katrina Wreede – viola (1990–1992)
• Jeremy Cohen – viola (1992)
• Danny Seidenberg – viola (1992–2004)
• Tracy Silverman – violin (1993–1997)
• Evan Price – violin (1997–2007)
• Mads Tolling – viola (2004–2007), violin (2007–2012)
• Jeremy Kittel – viola (2008–2012)
• Mateusz Smoczynski – violin (2012–2015)
• Alex Hargreaves – violin (2016–2018)
• Malcolm Parson – cello (2016–2021)

• Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album, 4 + Four, 2005
• Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album, A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane, 2007{{cite web|title=Turtle Island String Quartet|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/turtle-island-string-quartet|website=Grammy|accessdate=29 September 2017|language=en|date=14 May 2017}}

• Turtle Island String Quartet (Windham Hill, 1988)
• Metropolis (Windham Hill, 1989)
• Skylife (Windham Hill, 1990)
• A Shock to the System (Windham Hill, 1990)
• On the Town (Windham Hill, 1991)
• Spider Dreams (Windham Hill, 1992)
• Who Do We Think We Are? (Windham Hill, 1994)
• A Night in Tunisia, A Week in Detroit (Chandos, 1994)
• By the Fireside (Windham Hill, 1995)
• The Hamburg Concert (CCn'C Records, 1997)
• Art of the Groove (Koch, 2000)
• Danzon (Koch, 2002)
• 4 + Four with the Ying Quartet (Telarc, 2005)
• A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane (Telarc, 2007)
• Have You Ever Been..?: The Music of Jimi Hendrix and David Balakrishnan (Telarc, 2010)
• Mike Marshall and the Turtle Island Quartet (Adventure, 2014)
• Confetti Man (Azica, 2014){{cite web|title=Turtle Island String Quartet {{!}} Album Discography {{!}} AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/turtle-island-string-quartet-mn0000807181/discography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=29 September 2017}}
• Bird's Eye View (Azica, 2018)
• Absence with Terence Blanchard (Blue Note, 2021)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://turtleislandquartet.com/ Official site]

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Category:Musical groups established in 1985

Category:Jazz ensembles from California

Category:American string quartets

Category:Windham Hill Records artists

Category:1985 establishments in California