A QSF Journey (Quartet San Francisco)
A QSF Journey (Quartet San Francisco)
Quartet San Francisco’s first project on the Reference Recordings label features several arrangements by founder and first violinist, Jeremy Cohen, who takes us on a spin around the world through his explorations of multiple styles showcasing the polish of QSF. Recorded at Skywalker Ranch and engineered by the legendary “Prof” Keith O. Johnson and Sean Royce Martin.
Featuring Jeremy Cohen and Joseph Christianson, violins; Chad Kaltinger, viola; and Andres Vera, cello
Label: Reference Recordings
Release: September 21, 2018
“A beautiful, spacious recording from this eminent audiophile label and its brilliant recording team, ensnaring all of the sparkle, flair and tactile glory of this intrepid string quartet in flight in their eclectic global program. The arrangements are opulent and colorful. … The QSF performance wraps us in the wonderment … and melodic catenations, brought to sparkling life by these four consummate musicians’ glowing verve.” —Boston Concert Reviews
“…is this stuff on this recording any good? The answer is a resounding “yes”. This is not Beethoven or Bartok, so don’t expect that. It is entertainment, though at a very high level, and the music itself is ingratiating and relaxing, the latter in the sense of pleasurable, not sleep-inducing. We get a wide variety of compositions and arrangements, from Gershwin to Chinese folk songs, from Mongolian folk songs to African folk songs, from American spirituals to Argentinian tangos. It’s all great fun, beautifully done, and with far more depth than simple surface-level forays into each individual genre—there is real artistry here, not only in the playing (each member of the quartet is a first-class artist with wide experience in many types of music) but in the music itself, pieces with great integrity and sophistication. Whether the energetic Fiesta!, the luscious rhythmic jauntiness of Tango Eight, or the delicious vibrancy of the African folk song Jambo—to name just a few—this is indeed a journey worth taking for almost anyone who appreciates an exciting and worthy hour of engrossing music. Make sure you are one of them! Great sound silvered at Skywalker Sound in California.” —Steven Ritter, Audiophile Audition