Quartet San Francisco

An adventurous crossover ensemble, Quartet San Francisco mixes classical string traditions with jazz improvisation, bluegrass, and Latin sounds. Since their debut in 2001, the group, lead by violinist Jeremy Cohen, has garnered acclaim, earning Grammy Award nominations for 2006's Latigo, 2007's Whirled Chamber Music, and 2009's QSF Plays Brubeck. Along with interpreting works by Dave Brubeck, The Beatles, and Raymond Scott, among others, the group showcased contemporary California composers on 2013's Pacific Premieres. With 2018's A QSF Journey, Cohen brought all of the project's varied genre influences to bear with a handful of his own compositions. Quartet San Francisco was formed in 2001 in San Francisco by violinist Jeremy Cohen as an outlet to explore classical alongside an array of other genres. Prior to launching the group, Cohen grew up in a family of musicians and eventually took lessons with both Itzhak Perlman and Anne Crowden. As a performer, he developed a distinctive style, drawing from classical luminaries like Fritz Kreisler as well as swing legends like Joe Venuti and Eddie South. Along with soundtrack and symphonic work, Cohen was a member of the Turtle Island String Quartet and has performed on albums with Linda Ronstadt, Diane Reeves, and Regina Belle, among others. The group debuted with their 2002 self-titled album, which featured the original lineup of violinists Cohen and Kronos Quartet founder James Shallenberger, violist Emily Onderdonk, cellist Joel Cohen (Jeremy's brother), and bassist James Kerwin. By their second album, 2006's Latigo, the membership had shifted, with Kayo Miki replacing Shallenberger on second violin and the group no longer using a bassist (John Santos added occasional percussion on the album). It garnered their first Grammy nomination for Best Classical Crossover Album. Over the years, the QSF's lineup has changed often, with Cohen as the sole continuously remaining member. Among the virtuoso performers who have been members in the group are violinist Dawn Harms (2002 to 2004), cellist Michelle Djokic, violist Keith Lawrence (2008-2012), violinist Alisa Rose (2009-2012), and cellist Kelley Maulbetsch (2011-2015). In 2007, they released Whirled Chamber Music, mixing blues, funk, jazz, and tango and taking on songs by Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, and Alan Menken as well as seven by Raymond Scott. The album was nominated for Best Classical Crossover Album. Two years later, they delivered QSF Plays Brubeck, an exploration of the music of innovative jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. Recorded at Skywalker Sound by Judy Kirschner, the album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, Classical. They followed it with 2011's Five by Four, which featured three songs by the Beatles. For 2013's Pacific Premieres, Quartet San Francisco showcased the work of several modern California composers, including Gordon Goodwin, Vince Mendoza, and Patrick Williams as well as Cohen. Both Goodwin and Mendoza picked up Grammy nominations in the Best New Instrumental Composition category for their contributions to the album. A QSF Journey arrived in 2018 and featured songs in a bevy of classical, swing, and bluegrass styles, all written by Cohen.
© Matt Collar /TiVo