"Classical Music is sexy again"

-East Bay Express

"polished performance"
-NY Times

Our new album is available at Amoeba Records in San Francisco or on iTunes
Or you can buy it right here:

Upcoming performances:
Saturday, March 3rd, Brava Theatre, 5:30-7:30 p.m. FREE SHOW

Tuesday, March 27th, Brick & Mortar, SF, 9pm

Sunday April 1st, Monterey Symphony Salon, 7-9pm

Thursday, April 5th, Subterranean Art House, Berkeley

Sunday May 6, Legion of Honor, 12 noon

Sunday June 3rd, Legion of Honor w/Guitarist Stevan Pasero, 12 noon

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. 

     Although classically trained, the members of The Musical Art Quintet are skilled improvisors 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 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 even Electronica into our own style of music. The Quintet has cemented it's status as a top world music string ensemble with recent recordings with the Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, Stevan Pasero (Twelve Shades of Night, 2010, Sugo records) and with the Argentine Tango group, Trio Garufa (El Rumor de tus Tangos, 2010, Garufa records).

The Musical Art Quintet is:

Anthony Blea, Violin www.anthonyblea.com
Jory Fankuchen, Violin www.classicalrevolution.org
Charith Premawardhana, Viola www.classicalrevolution.org
Shain Carrasco, Cello www.presidioquartet.org
Sascha Jacobsen, String Bass, www.saschajacobsen.com

Special Announcements:

We just received a grant from the Zellerbach Foundation to present free concerts around the bay, look for those in 2012.