The Musical Art Quintet Classical Quartet from San Francisco, CA

Please note: the Musical Art Quintet is a 5 person string ensemble that specializes in NON-TRADITIONAL music that ranges from Jazz, Classical, Tango, World, Klezmer, to Improvised music, Rock, etc... We can perform specialized programs and specific songs with advance notice. If you are looking for a group to play Pachelbel's Canon, please call someone else. "Classical music is sexy again. Lest you doubt that, look no further than Mission District chamber group The Musical Art Quintet"-East Bay Express "...composer-bassist Sascha Jacobsen's concoctions hop nimbly through a world of styles while impressing with ear-catching intricacy and handsome technique...indelible tracks like "Milonga de San Francisco" and Afrobeat-inflected "Fela Feliz" are spirited treats that will have you twirling across the floor." -San Francisco Bay Guardian "Polished performance" - New York Times The Musical Art Quintet was formed in 2008 in the Mission district of San Francisco during chamber music jam sessions every Sunday night at Cafe Revolution. Each week a new piece of music was written by MAQ band leader Sascha Jacobsen to be performed at Classical Revolution, and ink still wet, we would read through the piece in front of a live audience. As our repertoire grew, a core group of players emerged and the quintet was founded. The name of the quintet is taken from The Musical Art Quartet, a string quartet formed in the 1920's and led by the Great-Grandfather and namesake of the bassist and composer of the quintet, Sascha Jacobsen. Although classically trained, the members of The Musical Art Quintet are skilled improvisors and each one brings with him a special area of expertise. Whether it is Argentine Tango, Afro-Cuban Son, Klezmer, Classical works, or even Electronica, the Quintet is at home. The music of band leader, Sascha Jacobsen, is essentially rhythmic in nature, utilizing dance forms to propel his melodies forward. Each piece is based on a dance form, but instead of a Sarabande or a Gigue, Jacobsen uses rhythms like Cha Cha Cha or Milonga. Nuevo Chamber is our name for this new genre that blends world music influences with a chamber music ensemble, infusing rhythms from Argentina, Cuba, Africa, Jazz, Classical and even Electronica into our own style of music. The Quintet has cemented it's status as a top world music string ensemble with recent recordings with the Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, Stevan Pasero (Twelve Shades of Night, 2010, Sugo records) and with the Argentine Tango group, Trio Garufa (El Rumor de tus Tangos, 2010, Garufa records). The Musical Art Quintet is: Anthony Blea, Violin Jory Fankuchen, Violin Charith Premawardhana, Viola Lewis Patzner, Cello Sascha Jacobsen, String Bass,