The Turtle Island Quartet has a few surprises up its sleeve for its performance later this month in Sayre.
The Grammy-winning string quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 28 at the Guthrie Performing Arts Center at the Sayre Theatre. The performance is part of the Bradford County Regional Arts Council's 2013-14 Nightlife on the Susquehanna series.
Bucking the typical classical fare, the group will perform works from its 2010 recording "Have You Ever Been�," an interpretation of the works of legendary musician Jimi Hendrix. The string quartet form allows the group to highlight Hendrix's work as a composer, said Turtle Island Quartet co-founder Mark Summer.
In fact, the quartet often strays from classical music, also dabbling in jazz, American vernacular and world music styles. "We've tried to cover the music that we really love," Summer said.
"Have You Ever Been�" was inspired by a visit to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a venue and museum located at the site of the original Woodstock festival. After performing there, quartet members visited the Woodstock museum, where co-founder David Balakrishnan drew inspiration from a video of Hendrix performing.
"I could see a light bulb go on over his head," Summer said.
The quartet will also play works from some of their other recordings, including the Grammy-winning "A Love Supreme," an ode to John Coltrane, and upcoming projects including a collaboration with mandolinist Mike Marshall, which will be released March 22. A collection of jazz works many years in the making will also come out this fall, Summer said.
In choosing what to perform, the group takes inspiration from several different styles and pays tribute to them using the versatility of the string quartet form, Summer said.
The quartet honors the classical tradition established by the string quartets before them while adding a modern flair, Summer said. The quartet form "works equally as well to showcase contemporary music with a groove," he said.
Fans of all music can expect to have a good time at the show, he said. "It's really cool to watch four people doing this," Summer said. "People want to tap their feet."
After their Sayre performance, the group's travels will take them to Chicago and then to Russia for the first time, Summer said.
The group, which formed in 1985, includes original members Summer and Balakrishnan as well as violinist Mateusz Smoczynski and viola player Benjamin von Gutzeit, who joined two years ago.
To buy tickets for the Turtle Island Quartet's performance at the Sayre Theatre or for more information, visit www.bcrac.org or call (570) 268-2787.
Amanda Renko can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or email: arenko@thedailyreview.com.