Valinor Quartet is a unique hybrid of jazz and classical; classical highlighted by Sergei Teleshev (of Trio Voronezh) on accordion fused with jazz by members of the International String Trio -- Ben Powell (violin), Slava Tolstoy (guitar) and Greg Feingold (bass). The all acoustic Valinor Quartet encompasses the diverse cultural backgrounds of its members, hailing from Russia, USA and England, to influence its stylistic diversity and unique performance aesthetic. The group's riveting displays utilize a breathtaking range of styles -- from classical to Beatles; from Gypsy Jazz to Klezmer, from popular movie soundtracks to Tango and a few surprises in between. This multi-cultural concert experience instantly appeals to a wide range of audiences; large and small, young and old, from all walks of life. Their eclectic synergy explodes with buoyant energy, intimate acoustic dynamics, stylistically informed phrasing, and loving attention to detail. When the future members of the quartet played together for the first time -- they instantly new that something very special just happened. "As soon as we played with Sergei, we got that "shivers down the spine feeling"..." Tolstoy recalls. "There is something magical about how the tone of his accordion completes the sounds of our guitar / violin / bass trio. Of course the fact that Sergei is an award winning virtuoso who has years of experience playing all over the world doesn't hurt either!" What started as an informal jam session quickly evolved into a bustling sonic laboratory as the quartet steadily refined its repertoire and expanded its stylistic reach. The group has now honed it's energetic concert program into an acoustic collection of articulate arrangements, exclusive to this rare instrumentation. Such shared proficiency, both instrumental and conceptual, is seldom seen or heard in today's ever growing market of gimmicks and one dimensional music making.

• published: 27 Oct 2013
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