• the217
• Stage
• Turtle Island Quartet graces Krannert

Taking the stage at Krannert Center on last night, Turtle Island String Quartet played anything they wanted. Starting with a gratifying

solo set from Leo Kottke, the group soon took the stage playing a tune both aggressively and sweetly, showing the dynamic of the group. They started calling put songs, either on the program or not, and played them through with improvisations and a fluidity that has been lost on many

standard string quartets. Their song choices covered almost every genre from Fleetwood Mac to plucked guitar god John Fahey to an Indian tune written with the same holiday cheer as a Christmas carol. Each member

had an impressive resume but more impressively, they switched many

standard pieces around to better suit their own styles. They played "Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah" with a Latin feel. Miles Davis’s "Silent Night/All Blues" put a twist on their holiday themed set but they also played some

Kottke originals like "Rings," a song written for a wedding that wasn’t meant to last. Each instrument's beauty was maximized by the variation of ways in which is was played. For example, the cello, which was self-described as a

cello/bass/drums, added much color to their already diverse sound.