Turtle Island Quartet with Nellie McKay

Fusing the classical quartet esthetic with contemporary American musical styles, Turtle Island Quartet has developed a performance practice that honors both styles. The journey has taken Turtle Island through forays into folk, bluegrass, swing, be-bop, funk, R&B, new age, rock, hip-hop, as well as the music of Latin America and India. All Turtle Island members are accomplished improvisers, composers and arrangers as well as having extensive conservatory training. Their repertoire consists of hundreds of ingenious arrangements and originals that reflect their revival of improvisational chamber traditions. “The Turtle Island Quartet won their Grammy Awards in a category called ‘Best Crossover Album,’ but I’m not sure I would define their music as crossing over. It’s more like a dive into an experience of infused inspiration, heavy on the infusion, and a spiritual and musical journey like no other.” — MD Theater Guide