Home » Jazz Musicians » Atlantis Quartet

Atlantis Quartet

Atlantis Quartet formed in 2006 and has emerged as one of the premier modern jazz groups in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The group consists of four of Minnesota's most exciting jazz artists who have come together to create and explore fresh and original sounds on the modern edges of the jazz idiom. Dwight Hobbes of Pulse of the Twin Cities credits Atlantis Quartet with "strong compositions and insanely serious chops" while the Dakota Jazz Club refers to the band as "One of the most exciting bands in town, this group tackles complex, catchy originals with ease".

In its relatively short existence, the quartet has performed many of the area's top jazz venues, including the Dakota, Artists' Quarter, Cedar Culural Center, Clown Lounge, and more, and has even brought its lively jazz sound into rock clubs such as the Uptown Bar, 331 Club and Bunkers. Atlantis has also shared the stage with acclaimed artists like Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jonathan Kreisberg, and Imani Uzuri.

August 2007 marked the release of Atlantis Quartet's debut album, Again, Too Soon. The album is a collection of eight original compositions recorded last spring at Fur Seal Studio in Minneapolis, MN. In a review of the album from the spring 2008 issue of Jazz Improv Magazine, Clive Griffin says "What is abundantly clear is that each of the members of the Atlantis Quartet are highly skilled musicians who have invested themselves heavily to develop their individual approaches... Together, they sound genuinely inspired, enjoying the music-making they're doing together." Griffin goes on to say, "The Atlantis Quartet is a versatile group of jazz musicians whose music evidences their understanding and appreciation of important jazz influences - influences that they have assimilated individual and group creativity, to reach this notable moment of expressions that is the album Again, Too Soon."

In December 2009, the quartet put out its much anticipated follow up album, Animal Progress, featuring 12 new compositions as well as the new lineup of Chris Bates on bass and Brandon Wozniak switching from tenor to alto saxophone. The record has been met with rave reviews. Rick Mason of the Citypages calls the album "the full blossoming of a signature Atlantis sound that taps historic elements like swing, bop, and free jazz while referencing contemporary bits of funk, rock, and world music, then rolls it all into a cohesive bundle of kinetic energy with the visceral allure of intense fireworks and the intellectual challenge of multilayered complexity."

Read more

Tags

4
Album Review

Atlantis Quartet: Hello Human

Read "Hello Human" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


Even though, after 12 years of existence and four critically acclaimed albums, Minnesota-based collaboration Atlantis Quartet has nothing further to prove, the formation presents itself more invigorated than ever. Hello Human showcases a versatile and energetic quartet, presenting 10 originals which span from humble post-bop exercises to punk-infused riff workouts, all the while enveloped by a coherent overall sound. Just recently guitarist Zac Harris exposed his appealingly warm guitar tone on trio recording American Reverie (Shifting Paradigm Records ...

304
Album Review

Atlantis Quartet: Again, Too Soon

Read "Again, Too Soon" reviewed by Aaron Basiliere


The compositional intensity found in the Minneapolis-based Atlantis Quartet's live performances in and around the Twin Cities have garnered it with praise as being one of the bands to watch on the mid-western modern jazz scene. Minnesota-area critics and fans alike have dubbed the foursome as “the most exciting band in town" and their assessment is far from incorrect, as tenor saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, guitarist Zacc Harris, bassist Travis Schilling, and drummer Pete Hennig work their mojo like free-jazz connoisseurs ...

Read more articles
"Atlantis Quartet are highly skilled musicians who have invested themselves heavily to develop their individual approaches...together, they sound genuinely inspired." -Jazz Improv Magazine

"[Animal Progress] is the full blossoming of a signature Atlantis sound that taps historic elements like swing, bop, and free jazz while referencing contemporary bits of funk, rock, and world music, then rolls it all into a cohesive bundle of kinetic energy with the visceral allure of intense fireworks and the intellectual challenge of multilayered complexity." - Rick Mason, Citypages

"This is a band of bold artists, not afraid to tackle such iconic music as Love Supreme or Head Hunters, yet equally fearless in delivering their own compositions without compromise." - Andrea Canter, Jazz Police

Read more

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Hello Human

Shifting Paradigm Records
2018

buy

Animal Progress

Self Produced
2009

buy

Again, Too Soon

Atlantis Quartet Music
2009

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.