Music Review Unplugging the Hendrix Experience By ALLAN KOZINN Published: March 3, 2011 In 1969 David Balakrishnan, then a teenage violin student, attended a Jimi Hendrix concert in Los Angeles that led him to reconsider his approach to his instrument, and to music more broadly. He began learning some of Hendrix’s guitar solos on the violin, and he decided that his repertory should embrace both classical music and pop. As a composer he extended that philosophy to his own music. Mr. ... Read More
NY – here we come!
Classical Music/Opera Listings, for Feb. 25-March 3 Published: February 24, 2011 ★ Turtle Island String Quartet (Wednesday) This quartet has made a point of exploring jazz with the same seriousness it brings to classical works. Now it has taken on the music of Jimi Hendrix, which it plays with energy and inventiveness, if not quite the feedback-embellished grit that Hendrix brought to it himself. Hendrix dominates the program, which also includes “Tree of Life” by David Balakrishnan, one of the ... Read More
Great review of our CD on The Big City blog
THE BIG CITY Songs For Strings Lovers Posted on February 2, 2011 by George Grella There’s some tendency to marvel at the novelty of certain instruments in genres outside of their origins, or common sighting; look, there’s an accordion in that jazz band! (Although I will admit that Matthew Welch is still a surprise, and his music is fine). But these instruments tend to be ones that have been used for popular music genres for a long, long time, and it’s the era of recorded, electric music that is ... Read More
Turtles take on Salina, KS – Jan 15th
Turtle Island String Quartet photographed at The Fox Theater in Oakland, CA April 22, 2010(C)Jay Blakesberg Something old, something new 1/7/2011 By GARY DEMUTH Salina Journal As a young man, David Balakrishnan was a classical violinist who loved jazz, a bluegrass fiddler who grooved on swing, be-bop, rock music and the music of his father's native India. But when it came to forming his own musical identity, the Los Angeles native couldn't commit to one particular style. So he decided to ... Read More
Mix chats with David Balakrishnan about TIQ's latest CD
“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
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
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