by Nick Widman
The Turtle Island Quartet plays a mix of jazz, rock, and classical music. One of the most interesting aspects about this band is their name, which derives from a commonly held Native American creation story found in tribes across America. The creation myth begins with a sky woman who fell to the earth and landed in an endless ocean. Animals managed to save her and create land upon a turtle which became “turtle island,” or, the world as we know it. This inspiration matches well with the band’s style which is focused on alternative and resonant styles of music such as folk and classical music that feature more soulful and nature based music.
The quartet is known for their focus on a mix of music, particularly folk music, but also for the diverse cultures of the members of the quartet which allowed for a creative outlook much like the Native American myth that inspired the name of the band. The group is also known for their ability to cover the works of other artists, making existing songs their own by adding their instrumental skills and creativity. Two notable examples are their arrangements of Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia” and John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.” Turtle Island Quartet received a Grammy Award nomination for “A Night in Tunisia” in 1988, and in 2009, they won a Grammy Award for “A Love Supreme.” Their Coltrane cover drew on the styles of several different jazz performers including Miles Davis and Sam Clark. Miles Davis was chosen as the most prominent of these outside influences as he has a longstanding relationship and career with Coltrane and the quartet wanted to highlight the bond between the two performers.
Violinist David Balakrishnan formed Turtle Island Quartet in 1985, having wanted to form a string quartet for some time. He invited three performers: cellist Mark Summer, violinist Darol Anger, and violist Laurie Moore. Balakrishnan is the only remaining original member of the group as the other original members have either retired or gone on to pursue different careers or music groups. The quartet has remained prestigious throughout the years, however, as it has featured seventeen different members, several of whom have been nominated for Grammy Awards.
Turtle Island Quartet visited Geneseo on several occasions, but most notable was their visit in 2014 since the group was more popular than ever due to their recent Grammy win and nomination. Not only had they received recognition from the music industry for their ability, but they became one of only a few performers to come to Geneseo four or more times, cementing themselves as a favorite in the Geneseo area.