Although classically trained, the members of The Musical Art Quintet are skilled improvisers 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 a new genre of music that blends World Music influences with a chamber music ensemble, infusing rhythms from Argentina, Cuba, Africa, Jazz, and Classical into fiery chamber music played with precision and flare.

1. Milonga de San Francisco

2. El Viejito

3. Luna Llena

4. Algo Nuevo, Dick "Taco" Mesa, arr. S. Jacobsen

5. La Nuit la Plus Longue

6. Life is Beautiful

7. Fela Feliz

8. Paddies, Solo Razafindrakoto, arr. S Jacobsen

9. Descansado, Mark Vanderpoel & S. Jacobsen

10. Ombligao en Argentina, music S. Jacobsen, words Avotjca

11. Mi Chinita

12. Ultimo Amor

All songs by Sascha Jacobsen unless otherwise noted

All photos by Freda Banks

Engineers, Stevan Pasero, Sascha Jacobsen

Mixed by Rico Macalma, Sascha Jacobsen

Recorded and mixed at Grenada Studios

Mastered by Rainer Gembalczyk, at Sienna Digital

Design by Will Yarbrough

The Musical Art Quintet is:

Anthony Blea, Violin, Conga, Bongo

Jory Fankuchen, Violin

Charith Premawardhana, Viola

Shain Carrasco, Cello

Sascha Jacobsen, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Sound Design

Guest Musicians:

Phillip Brezina, Violin, track 1,2

Adam Scow, Violin, track 2

Louis Pazner, Cello, track 6,12

Edgardo Cambon, Cajon, Bongo, Guiro, Maracas, track 3,7,8,9

Avotjca, Voice, track 10

Andoni Panici, Voice, track 6

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 Electronica into our own style of music. 

About the Musical Art Quintet...

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 1940's and led by the Great-Grandfather and namesake of the bassist and composer of the quintet, violinist, Sascha Jacobsen. The Musical Art Quartet was named for the School in New York (the New York School of Musical Arts) that would later become the Julliard School, where the elder Sascha taught violin.

1. Milonga de San Francisco; I wrote this piece to represent the great love I have for Argentine music.  I discovered Tango here in San Francisco while playing with Guillermo Garcia and Adrian Jost of Trio Garufa.  The rhythms and melodies of this country will inspire me for the rest of my life. The first theme is simple and in the minor key while the B section is in Major, with a contrapuntal line in the Cello and then Viola.

2.  El Viejito;  I wrote this piece shortly after my son was born. I called him El Viejito, or "Little Old Man" because he was bald, wrinkly and looked very much like his grandfather.

3. Luna Llena; (Full Moon) was written for my daughter Kaia Luna, and represents the energy of the light from a full moon or a daughter's eyes.  Our violist Charith gets a solo moment in the B section of the melody, and you will hear the wonderful Uruguayan percussionist Edgardo Cambon on Cajon and Bongo.

4. Algo Nuevo; (Something New) is a fantastic piece from the Ray Baretto album, Rican/Struction.  It was written by the sax player Dick "Taco" Mesa.  The original is so packed full of energy, I have tried to distill that energy into the strings who play the part of Piano, horns, and even Cow Bell.

5. La Nuit la Plus Longue; (The Longest Night) I wrote this electro-Tango on the longest night of the year, December 21st, 2010.  It is an ode to the great inspiration that the night brings for me.

6. Life is Beautiful; this piece has a positive message for anyone within earshot. Andoni Panici provides the uplifting vocals. The main melody is based on a simple harmonization of the Major scale, and the form is a mix between a Chaconne and a Rondeau.

7. Fela Feliz; this piece is my tribute to the great musician Fela Kuti, featuring our Violinist Anthony Blea using pizzicato, double stops and even Bariolage to vary the theme.

8. Paddies; written by the great Malagasy guitar master known as Solorazaf, is infused with rhythms from Madagascar blended with jazz harmony.

9. Descansado; (relaxing) was co-written with NY bassist Mark Vanderpoel and shows off the versatile Anthony Blea on both Violin and Conga. 

10. Ombligao en Argentina; coming from the Argentine slang called Lunfardo. Ombligao means dancing navel to navel. Extraordinary Poet and Latin music scholar Avotjca wrote this amazing poem and we found a natural combination between her words and my music. The piece starts with a fiery cadenza from our violinist Jory Fankuchen.

11. Mi Chinita; (my country girl) was written for my wife Andrea, who is from the north of Argentina. 

12. Ultimo Amor; (Last Love) I wrote this waltz as incidental music for the playwright Peter Popodopolous and his play Last Love. 

Special Thanks to our Kickstarter campaign supporters. Without your help we couldn't have done it! Thanks also to all the musicians and supporters of Classical Revolution who have helped us grow from a cafe in the Mission district to a worldwide movement! 

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Press inquiries
Stephanie Dalton, Urban Music Presents

415.796.2319 / 415.503.8207

stephanie@urbanmusicpresents.com

www.urbanmusicpresents.com