"Combining off-kilter jazz improvisation with comedic performance art, this Boston-based ensemble offers up a rollicking pastiche of musical skits and gamelike exercises. Much of the material probably works better in person: The complex vocal interplay of a scene called “The Man From the Music,” for example, is nearly incomprehensible without visual cues. But the instrumental tracks have a delightfully skewed aesthetic, and the Quartet’s impression of a radio tuning in stations at random is just plain funny."
-Forrest Dylan Bryant Jazz Times
"Watching
Roberge and Stone act out their skits with the help
of the occasional monster mask or lame prop while
playing saxophones is a bizarre experience at first,
a bit like being a part of someone's manic episode,
but once you go with it, you'll be taken on a journey
where anything is possible....... If the zany antics
of The Quartet of Happiness can open the world of
music and theatre to our children and inspire their
teachers then it is indeed a welcome change."
-Kathryn Adams, Leonardo
Digital Reviews
"The Quartet of Happiness may not be known in jazz circles quite yet, but the ability shown during all eight of these tracks should raise a few eyebrows."
-S/T Neufutur
"The
alto and tenor saxophonists duel or harmonize quite
well. The band combines a playful mix of improvisation
and carefully rehearsed material. There are surreal/comical
multi-part dialogue sections with costume changes,
funny hats and masks."
-George Parsons, Dream
Magazine
"It's
dreadful, it makes me want to cry."
-Kelly's Grandmother
"The
Quartet of Happiness is a visual and audio
experience. They are creative, entertaining and
full of surprise. You have to check them out!"
-Jerry Bergonzi, Internationally acclaimed
saxophonist
"The kids and I
had a great time and learned a lot."
-Steve Shanley, Director of Bands, Cedar
Rapids Washington High School
"...they
came to our school and immediately began to dessimate
everything in sight. They tried to beat up our students,
but failed, because they were all just a bunch of
wusses..."
-Bob Washut, Associate Professor of Jazz
Studies, UNI |
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