Musical Art Quintet

The Musical Art Quintet was formed in 2008 in the Mission district of San Francisco during chamber music jam sessions every Sunday night at Cafe Revolution. Each week a new piece of music was written by MAQ band leader Sascha Jacobsen to be performed at Classical Revolution, and ink still wet, we would read through the piece in front of a live audience. As our repertoire grew, a core group of players emerged and the quintet was founded.

The name of the quintet is taken from The Musical Art Quartet, a string quartet formed in the 1920's and led by the Great-Grandfather and namesake of the bassist and composer of the quintet, Sascha Jacobsen.

Although classically trained, the members of The Musical Art Quintet are skilled improvisors and each one brings with him a special area of expertise. Whether it is Jazz, Argentine Tango, Afro-Cuban Son, or Klezmer, the Quintet is at home. The music of band leader, Sascha Jacobsen, propels the group with rhythmic, lyrical, modern compositions, and new arrangements of pieces by great composers of all genres.

Nuevo Chamber is our name for this new genre that blends world music influences with a chamber music ensemble, infusing rhythms from Argentina, Cuba, Africa, Jazz, Classical and even Electronica into our own style of music. The Quintet has cemented it's status as a top chamber ensemble with recent recordings with the Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, Stevan Pasero (Twelve Shades of Night, 2011, Sugo records) and with the Argentine Tango group, Trio Garufa (El Rumor de tus Tangos, 2012, Garufa records).