While the Kronos Quartet paved the way for chamber-jazz by recording tributes to the work of both Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, the Turtle Island Quartet (née the Turtle Island String Quartet) have consistently explored jazz in the lingering shadow of their Bay Area competitors. Two years ago, it paid off when Turtle Island scored a Best Classical Crossover Album Grammy Award for A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane, an album short on actual Coltrane compositions but nonetheless acclaimed for its technique and process of transcribing Coltrane’s actual solos for violin, cello and viola. Excitement should be high for their concert this week, as they’ve just gotten out of the studio recording a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, entitled Have You Ever Been?, featuring “Gypsy Eyes,” “Little Wing” and others. The album is due out in the fall, but you can get experienced this weekend when the Turtle Island Quartet turns to mermen on Saturday, March 27, at the Dance Palace. 503 B St., Point Reyes Station. 8pm. $28–$30. 415.663.1075.Gabe Meline
.Mar. 27: Turtle Island Quartet at Dance Palace
