Cellist Malcolm Parson, currently of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and violinist Alex Hargreaves, arguably the brightest shining star among the current crop of young lions of the jazz violin scene in America, will join the group in January 2016 upon the departure of original cellist Mark Summer and violinist Mateusz Smoczyński.
TIQ founder David Balakrishnan: “Every group, particularly one that has been together for 30 years, reaches transition points along their journey. We are so happy for Mark as he moves into this new phase in his career, and honor the wonderful years of camaraderie and stirring performances he has given us. Mateusz as well has contributed mightily to the story line in his recent tenure. At the same time, one of our group’s core strengths is discovering new and exciting talent, allowing us to grow, evolve and keep the quartet alive and vibrant. Both Malcolm and Alex are uniquely gifted in their ability to transition effortlessly between classical music, jazz, and contemporary styles, and to meld them together into a personal unique sound, a perfect fit for TIQ. We are thrilled to unleash their formidable talents and know our audiences will love this latest evolution of our ensemble.” NY Times arts beat story