Turtle Island Quartet Scheduling a 'Trane' Stop

Two-time Grammy winning classical/jazz crossover group Turtle Island Quartet makes its inaugural appearance on the UT Dallas campus 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in the University Theatre.

The group salutes the enduring musical influence of John Coltrane with a performance of recordings from their latest album, A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane. The album includes songs from Coltrane’s groundbreaking 1964 work, A Love Supreme, and works he popularized or other artists composed in tribute to him.

The Turtle Island Quartet won a Grammy Award for an album saluting of saxophone great John Coltrane and his landmark album A Love Supreme.

Part of the Turtle Island Quartet’s stint on campus will include a master class for participants of the University’s new Chamber Music Institute, which is directed by Ron Neal of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra.

Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma has proclaimed Turtle Island Quartet to be “a unified voice that truly breaks new ground – authentic and passionate – a reflection of some of the most creative music-making today.”

Formed in 1985, the Turtle Island Quartet’s name is derived from creation mythology found in Native American folklore, where “Turtle Island” is the name for the North American continent. The name was adopted courtesy of poet Gary Snyder’s influential book of the same name.

The group’s pair of Grammy awards comes from the 4 + Four with the Ying Quartet album, a 2006 collaboration with the artists of the same name who are also a part of the 2008-2009 UT Dallas arts season, and 2007 release A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane.

“We are very excited that the Turtle Island Quartet will also offer a master class as a part of our new Chamber Music Institute program,” said Kathryn Evans, Associate Dean for the Arts. “There is nothing more important for students than having the chance to learn from leaders in the field in an intimate setting. It’s a vital part of their college experience.”

Tickets are $25. Discounts are available for the following groups: UT Dallas students, faculty, staff, alumni association members and retirees; children under 18; students of other universities; seniors; outside groups of 30 or more and Tiers of Friendship donors. Buy tickets in person or by phone from the UT Dallas Box Office (972-883-2552). The University Theatre is located near Drive C in the center of campus; for further directions and parking options, visit http://www.utdallas.edu/map.

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