– General Description: Top notch string quartet strutting and playing truly swinging jazz and then thoughtful, questioning motives. Completely worth adding to any instrumental program that focuses on modern accessible composition (meaning it's not 12 tone non-memorable strands of sound). Echoes of all sorts of string styles and loads of fun. You would want to sing along at times if there were any words. It's got jazz with no bass or drummer.
– Musicians:
Jeremy Cohen - violin
Mathew Szemela - violin
Chad Kaltinger - viola
Kelley Maulbetsch - cello
– FCC Compliant: YES
– Recommended Tracks: all of them, but especially 11, then 3, 8, 9
– Track Reviews:
1. (6:26) California Pictures For String Quartet: Oakland - swinging piece, really fun in ways you wouldn't expect
2. (3:30) California Pictures For String Quartet: Carmel - slower and more thoughtful, use of syncopation in legato is hypnotic and lovely
3. **** (7:15) California Pictures For String Quartet: Venice - swinging and jazzy again, holds together as a pseudo show-tuney show off
4. (5:46) Funky Diversions In Three Parts: Mike and Randy - bright and more staccato in feel plus a sliding in aural thought
5. (4:56) Funky Diversions In Three Parts: Towner - slows the pace again with octave handholding under sweet lines above
6. (5:12) Funky Diversions In Three Parts: Maurice White - fast and a bit more dissonant and mountain-style crying in tone
7. **** (8:29) The Bay Is Deep Blue - attentive and fast with percussion on the soundboards, motives swimming relaxed and then tense
8. (3:02) Three Stages For String Quartet: Focus - easy then quick plucking and syncopation with legato above
9. **** ( 3:50) Three Stages For String Quartet: Contemplation - slower and a questioning minor key, sad and throbbing
10. (4:05) Three Stages For String Quartet: Resolution - fast insect fluttering, tense piece
11. ***** (7:56) Guamba - scratchy and then a tango like on a rocking ship, very sexy