ARBOS QUARTET
Cat Toren ~ piano
Sam Davidson ~ clarinet
Meredith Bates ~ violin
Josh Cole ~ acoustic bass

Arbos, comprised of four of the busiest musicians in Vancouver, formed as an ensemble in the Fall of 2009.  Fusing compositional elements of classical chamber music with jazz forms and improvising practices is the common goal of the quartet. This drumerless quartet takes on a unique approach to instrumentation, using piano, clarinet, upright bass and violin.  Playing original jazz compositions, inspired by classical chamber music, new techniques in improvisation and creative music, and both standard and fresh takes on jazz forms, makes the music of Arbos creative, stimulating and pleasing to the ear.   All members of the quartet compose and submit music for the group to play.

The members come from diverse musical backgrounds. While Josh and Catherine hail from a strong jazz schooling, both graduates of Capilano University’s Jazz Studies Program, Sam and Meredith are both proficient classical musicians, with Bachelor of Music degrees from the University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University, respectively. Influences range widely from the string quartets of Shostakovich to traditional tango, jazz to indie rock.

www.myspace.com/arbosquartet