I Ching Quartet
The I Ching Quartet plays soulful acoustic folk music on a variety of instruments, performing mostly in Chicago and the Midwest. If you’re in the neighborbood, join us on the porch sometime.
The I Ching Quartet is:
- Nathan Paulus
- John Herbst
- Sharon Hoyer
- Ross Martens
- Lauren Gregory
- Josh Miller
- Ethan Pikas
With special appearances by:
- Danah Albaum
- Ted Martens
- Fredrick Contino
A Brief History:
In the autumn of 2005, on a front porch on the West side of Chicago, IL, Nathan Paulus, John Herbst and Sharon Hoyer tinkered with vocal harmonies for a few of Nate’s bluesy, country folk songs. Ross Martens and his singing saw joined the group soon thereafter and the I Ching Quartet was born.
Since those first days, new members have found a spot on the stoop – the incomparable Danah Albaum on strings, wandering philosopher and sometimes-member Fredrick Contino on banjo – making a sound once difficult to define even more genre-defying. On the spirituals, the vocals build – one, two, three, four parts – as the violin joins the fray. Laid back instrumentals swing and drone simultaneously. Children’s songs have the sing and clap along energy that makes the I Ching a band best experienced live. At the core of the acoustic swell are always the relaxed, melancholy songs by Nate and folky tunes by John, strummed on his ukulele and sung with the sweet sincerity the lyrics demand.
The I Ching Quartet plays the front porches, back yards and parks of Chicago in fair weather, and the cozy neighborhood bars during the long, cold winters.
Oh yeah, and it’s pronounced “EE CHING”.