“Have You Ever Been…” Turtle Island Quartet Plays The Music of JIMI HENDRIX And The Music Of DAVID BALKRISHNAN Telarc Records Gary Eskow December 25th, 2010 David Balakrishan has a problem with the Turtle Island Quartet. Well, not really. The group, which he founded a quarter of a century ago, has won a pair of Grammy Awards in the last several years and their latest release “Have You Ever Been…?” is amassing critical praise. Robert Friedrich, who tracked, mixed, and mastered the project at ... Read More
Archives for December 2010
A review of our 25th Anniversary Herbst Theatre SF gig
Examiner.com - San Francisco The Turtle Island Quartet has been giving concerts under the auspices of San Francisco Performances (SFP) since 1991 (back when they were known as the “Turtle Island String Quartet”); so an SFP gig at Herbst Theatre offered the most appropriate venue for their 25th Anniversary Concert. Furthermore, as Brent Assink, Executive Director of the San Francisco Symphony, said of the Symphony’s centennial season, when you have a big birthday, you want to invite all of ... Read More
San Fran Examiner talks to David about their Silver Anniversary concert – Dec 10th
Commemorating 25 years of Turtle Island By: Georgia Rowe 12/05/10 Special to The Examiner Since founding the Turtle Island Quartet, violinist David Balakrishnan has led the group on a wide-ranging musical journey through folk, jazz, Latin, bluegrass and other repertoires where traditional string quartets fear to tread. This month, though, he is returning to his roots, celebrating Turtle Island’s 25th anniversary with a new CD and a concert featuring the music of rock guitarist Jimi ... Read More
The Washington Post says the Turtles have "…astonishing versatility"
In performance: Turtle Island Quartet at 25 At twenty-five, the Turtle Island Quartet exists in a constant state of renewal. Founding members violinist David Balakrishnan and cellist Mark Summer welcome young second violinists and violist who are attracted by the sort of technical and improvisational opportunities the standard classical repertoire doesn't offer. They bring new ideas, new repertoire and amazing skills to the group, stay several years and then move on. The quartet's silver ... Read More
The Turtles talk 25 years on their Pink Section cover story!
At 25, Turtle Island Quartet turns back to Hendrix Jesse Hamlin, Special to The Chronicle Friday, December 3, 2010 In 1981, violinist David Balakrishnan began composing string quartet music that seamlessly merged the styles he loved: jazz, classical, bluegrass and Indian music. But who could play it? "I was writing for a string quartet that just didn't exist," says Balakrishnan, a UCLA-trained composer who grew up listening to Indian music, played with Stephane Grappelli and David Grisman, ... Read More
The Washington Post talks with the Turtles
Turtle Island Quartet to salute Jimi Hendrix and Charles Darwin on the same album. (Copyright Jay Blakesberg) By Mike Joyce Friday, December 3, 2010 TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET Here's something few groups could pull off: coupling an ingeniously arranged tribute to Jimi Hendrix with an original string ensemble suite honoring the life and work of Charles Darwin. Yes, musically speaking, it helps to be a little bipolar, says Turtle Island Quartet co-founder David Balakrishnan. Of course, being in a ... Read More
The Turtles take on the Nation's Capitol!
by Emily Cary When the Turtle Island Quartet plays, all the preconceived notions about string instruments are abolished and listeners are transported to an uncharted dimension. Two years after a jaw-dropping concert illustrating their "string theory," the virtuoso musicians return to George Mason University Center for the Arts with original pieces inspired by jazz musicians and even a scientist. Their guests, the outstanding jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and Mike Marshall, the world-renowned ... Read More