Playlist: Kronos Quartet

It's easy to say that Kronos Quartet has redefined the concept of a classical string quartet over its 40-plus-year lifespan. Thanks to streaming and an extensive catalogue of recorded material, it's also easy to prove it. On the eve of the Wex world premiere of A Thousand Thoughts: A Live Documentary by Sam Green and Kronos Quartet, we've put together a playlist to showcase the exceptional talent and groundbreaking range of the San Francisco-based ensemble. The 15 tracks include a number of selections from the set list of the January 25 performance, along with work reflecting collaborations with artists from Nine Inch Nails and Tom Waits to Mali's Trio da Kali. There are also a few examples of Kronos' covers, including their take on Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice and composer/bandleader Raymond Scott's Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals, which should be instantly recognizable to fans of classic Warner Bros. animation.

Click here for the Spotify playlist "Kronos Quartet & Friends"

Image: Kronos Quartet: Sunny Yang, Hank Dutt, John Sherba, David Harrington (left to right). Photo © Jay Blakesberg