Album Notes

The SF Guardian says: "composer-bassist Sascha Jacobsen's concoctions hop nimbly through a world of styles while impressing with ear-catching intricacy and handsome technique...indelible tracks like "Milonga de San Francisco" and Afrobeat-inflected "Fela Feliz" are spirited treats that will have you twirling across the floor."

     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.