The Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet is coming out with a new album titled “Invisible” in April 2024.
“We have a live album entitled ‘Invisible’ coming out in April 2024 on Bandstand Presents, a label out of Austin, Texas,” Dave Sharp said. “Look for it on all streaming services. There will be a limited edition pressing of 200 vinyl LPS available at live performances. “
Sharp shares more about the background and history of the band.
“The ‘worlds’ portion of the (band) name is meant to represent the music we explore from different worlds or spheres of influence, such as Turkey, Bulgaria, India, et cetera,” Sharp said.
The Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet includes Sharp on Bass, guimbri, quatar and synthesizer, Igor Houwat on oud, Henrik Karapetyan on violin and Mike List-Cajon on riq, tabla and baya, djembe, cymbals, pot drum, frame drum and darbouka.
“We are influenced by rhythmic and hypnotic music from around the world, including Indian music, Middle Eastern music, Eastern European music, African music and South American Music,” Sharp said. “There is quite a diverse set of sounds coming from all of these regions, and we pay tribute to that with the rhythms in our music, as a way to honor and explore these traditions. At the same time, we aim to create new sounds with our original compositions, which draw from the music traditions of each member of the quartet.”
Their music is a balance of composition and improvisation.
“About 50/50 composed and improvised, this can fluctuate from show to show,” Sharp said.
While the name specifies a quartet, there are often five or six band members on stage playing their wide array of enigmatic instruments.
“Yes, we operate as a core quartet, featuring oud, violin, bass/synth, and percussion, and often feature special guests to join us on certain performances,” Sharp said.
The Dave Sharp Quartet started in 2015 in Ann Arbor, and has played at the Jazz Ascona Festival in Switzerland, the Detroit Jazz Festival, The Concert of Colors, Kerrytown Concert House, Blue LLama Jazz Club, APAP Conference in NYC, Urban Beat in Lansing, to name a few.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
