An Unforgettable Night of Genre-Defying Music: John Hollenbeck & the Koehne Quartett

The visionary John Hollenbeck, one of the most inventive drummers and composers in modern music, joins forces with the Koehne Quartett, one of Austria's leading interpreters of contemporary music, for a one-of-a-kind performance that pushes the boundaries of sound.

Hollenbeck, a Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist renowned for his groundbreaking work with GEORGE, the Claudia Quintet, the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, and collaborations with icons such as Meredith Monk and Bob Brookmeyer, brings his signature playful virtuosity and boundless creativity to this collaboration. Known for blending jazz, new music, and beyond, Hollenbeck’s compositions are ever-evolving, defying categorization and constantly surprising both him and his audiences. His fearless exploration of sound and structure has earned him a reputation as one of the most respected and exciting figures in contemporary music.

Joining Hollenbeck is the Koehne Quartett, a dynamic ensemble founded in 1987 and renowned for their cutting-edge interpretations of contemporary music. With deep collaborations across genres and artists like Dave Liebman, Anthony Braxton, and Wayne Horvitz, the Koehne Quartett blends classical precision with the spontaneity of jazz improvisation, creating a rich, expressive sound that transcends traditional boundaries.

The evening will feature Hollenbeck’s new string quartet collection, the Gray Cottage String Quartet, recently released on the Synthesis project, a string quartet album produced by Ryan Truesdell. The work reflects Hollenbeck’s "Americana" side while showcasing the adventurous, improvisational spirit that both Hollenbeck and the Koehne Quartett are known for. In addition, the program will include several other of Hollenbeck's innovative compositions, further exploring the dynamic intersection of jazz, classical, and improvisational music.

This is an evening where boundaries dissolve, and the worlds of composed and improvised music collide in an unforgettable sonic adventure. This is an exceptional collaboration- that will leave you inspired and amazed!!! (Pressetext)

I originally wrote the Gray Cottage Studies, a collection of solo violin etudes, in 2008 for and with the help of violinist extraordinaire Todd Reynolds while I was at the Blue Mountain Center (BMC), an artist residency in the Adirondacks – the Gray Cottage is where the composer-in-residence lives during their residency. The goal for Gray Cottage Studies (GCS) was to take what I learned from the experience of composing a solo violin collection and subsequently develop these solo etudes into string quartet pieces. But after performing and recording GCS, the opportunity for expansion did not present itself until Ryan Truesdell approached me with a commission for his project, Synthesis: The String Quartet Sessions.

The titles for GCS are taken from some of my daily experiences at BMC: getting lost in the fog on a morning canoe ride and ending up on the opposite end of the lake than I intended; shaking from the cold fall weather; observing a baby deer up close; waking up and feeling gratitude and then immediately coming back to earth when I got notice of a tax penalty approaching; thinking about Meredith Monk and what she has brought to world through her music and spirit; and when BMC caretaker and now director Ben Strader yelled “Jazz hands!” right before a group photo!

The rehearsals and recording session with Sara Caswell, Joyce Hammann, Lois Martin and Jody Redhage Ferber were a treat and a meaningful, educational moment for me. The care and detail that they took, sometimes discussing at length the bowings for one note, was just beautiful to watch. I had one of those composer moments at some point in the rehearsal, where all the time and effort seemed totally worth it. And what an incredible gift to have consummate musicians turn your little dots on a page into healing vibrations. And the ultimate gift comes from Ryan, who helped me realize a dream and skillfully led the project and with gentle care and his ever-present humor. It is an honor to be a part of this project with many great composers and old friends, including Ryan and the one and only Bob Brookmeyer! (John Hollenbeck)