MADS TOLLING QUARTET (USA)
Mads Tolling Quartet was founded by violinist Mads Tolling in 2009, his first major solo project. The Mads Tolling Quartet now consists of:
Mads Tolling – violin
Dave Mac Nab – guitar
Dan Parenti – bass
Eric Garland – drums
The group came together through the eclectic San Francisco music scene. Each musician brings a high level of virtuosity and pure joy in playing to the group. There really are no limits for what the MTQ is capable of doing. This is evident on the three recordings the quartet has released to date, collaborating with Grammy Award-Winning instrumentalists and vocalists around the world with selections ranging from Radiohead to Miles Davis. With its unique instrumentation and signature sound, excitement levels go high during live performances. There are some moments of pure spontaneity, but underlying the concept of MTQ are thoughtful compositions and arrangements.
Mads Tolling, a Grammy Award-winning performer & arranger, has a distinct melodic and lyrical ‘groove’ to his writing. MTQ enjoys playing well-known pieces such as Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk”, Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog”, giving them a new twist, while staying true to the spirit of the original versions.
Mads’ first project under his own name was a trio with guitarist Mike Abraham and bassist George Ban-Weiss. In March of 2008 Mads Tolling Trio released its first album entitled, Speed of Light.
The album features ten tunes of Mads Tolling originals and arrangements, and in addition a popular solo violin version of Miles Davis’ “Blue in Green”. Soon after the release, the trio expanded to its current configuration – Mads Tolling Quartet – adding drummer Eric Garland. The Quartet has performed at numerous venues around the US, including Yoshi’s Oakland & San Francisco, Herbst Theatre, Yerba Buena Gardens, SF Jazz, Stanford Jazz Festival, Jazz Alley in Seattle, Napa Valley Opera House, Monterey Jazz Festival and Blues Alley in Washington DC.
In the summer of 2009 MTQ went in the studio to record The Playmaker, which features special guests: bass legend Stanley Clarke, Yellowjackets founder Russell Ferrante & vibist Stefon Harris. In December 2009 Mads and The Playmaker were featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, and many rave reviews followed including Washington Post, Downbeat Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle.
NPR Morning Edition piece on The Playmaker
In 2012 Mads Tolling Quartet released “Celebrating Jean-Luc Ponty – Live at Yoshi’s.” The album is an homage to the French violin virtuoso, who gave Mads his first break, when he recommended Mads to join Stanley Clarke’s Band ten years earlier. Ponty himself loves the album, and he has invited Mads to appear alongside him on concerts in the San Francisco area.
The current MTQ configuration is still violin, guitar, bass and drums, but now the guitar chair is filled by Dave Mac Nab. Dave is one of the first-call guitar players in the Bay Area. He was the guitar player on the mega hit musicals Hamilton and Wicked, and he has played with everybody from Bob Weir to Bryan McKnight. On bass is Dan Parenti, who frequently tours with Pete Escovedo and Sheila E. Eric Garland has been playing in the MTQ and Mads Men bands for over ten years now, and his creative drum beats are a cornerstone in both groups.