Its name derived from the deeply-held faith that when the spirit says move, one should do so, FAQtet (Faith in Action Quartet), since its inception in 2003, has been a singular voice in the creation of a bold, new trend in chamber music for the string quartet. Currently expanded with two additional violinists and bass, this ensemble plays rep from Brahms to Brubeck, with their own original creations thrown in! Swing, jazz, and blues as well as cutting edge contemporary music are all within this talented ensemble’s realm.
FAQtet made its radio debut in 2004 after just a few months of working together, solidifying their commitment to the mission at hand. FAQtet presents a unified voice that reflects the old and the new of music written primarily by composers of color. The mission of redefining creative music-making by African-American instrumentalists through honoring the classical quartet dynamics combined with contemporary world musical styles is the driving force of this ensemble.
A unique element of FAQtet is the use of improvisational and compositional chamber techniques that traditionally are not explored by classically-trained string players. FAQtet ensemble members continue to refine their skills through rehearsing and perfecting “re-compositions†of works by old and new composers, always searching for new repertoire by some of today’s cutting-edge composers. FAQtet’s vision for its contribution to the arts is to advance all musical genres for strings and to revel in uncovering and sharing buried gems of literature generally not heard by audiences and certainly not presented in the string quartet setting.
By setting the bar high for their performances and raising the “entertainment†as well as “educational†factor for audiences, FAQtet is serving the musical community with its unique focus while nurturing the growth of its individual members. FAQtet strives to remain at the forefront of revolutionizing the image of the African American classical instrumentalist, the composer of color, and the string quartet idiom.
The journey has resulted in a foray into repertoire that includes folk, bluegrass, creative, improvisational, swing, be-bop, jazz, gospel, spirituals, and funk as well as music from non-American entities. Members of FAQtet have collaborated collectively with hundreds of famed artists such as Al Jarreau, Herbie Mann, Rod Stewart, Orbert Davis, Doc Severinson, Gladys Knight, Sandi Patti, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dennis DeYoung, Chick Corea, Shania Twain, Nicole Mitchell, David Boykin, Vicki Winans, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Peter Cetera/Chicago, Brian McKnight, Yolanda Adams, Smokey Norful, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin….the list goes on!!!
FAQtet (as Connoisseur Musica) has toured China, Thailand, Egypt and Europe.
