Creative Nation Music is proud to announce the May 18th release of The Monster Returns (CNM 017), the latest recording from the Boston-based theatrical jazz group, Quartet of Happiness. Known for its unusual combination of performance art, irreverent humor, story telling and educational elements, this innovative ensemble engages audiences of all ages with its ability to accentuate the fun aspects of jazz without sacrificing any of its innate creativity. The Monster Returns features musical game pieces, satirical looks at music history and TV talent shows, a sing-along about New Jersey and various other comic vignettes, all infused with modern jazz and a high level of musicality.

“Combining off-kilter jazz improvisation with comedic performance art,” wrote JazzTimes‘ Forrest Dylan Bryant in his review of the group’s self-titled 2007 debut, “this Boston-based ensemble offers up a rollicking pastiche of musical skits and game-like exercises…the instrumental tracks have a delightfully skewed aesthetic, and the Quartet’s impression of a radio tuning in stations at random is just plain funny.” The Boston Phoenix‘s Jon Garelick adds, “The music is a technically daunting blend of spot-on bebop, rock and funk rhythms, and fiendish avant-skronk arrangements that require airtight precision. If these guys just talked to talk, it wouldn’t matter—but they execute!”

“Although their approach is definitely all their own,” explains Creative Nation Music’s Eric Hofbauer, “Quartet of Happiness fits in perfectly with our guiding principles of documenting and supporting local jazz musicians with distinctive musical personalities. I’ve worked with these musicians in various settings over the past decade, including my own groups, and despite their outward humor and lightheartedness, they’re very serious about what they do, which is introduce creative improvised music to audiences who wouldn’t normally interact with jazz. They do this by bringing together a history of collaboration with such jazz luminaries as Bob Brookmeyer, George Garzone, Steve Lacy and the Either/Orchestra with a diverse range of non-jazz influences including Blue Man Group, GWAR, Igor Stravinsky and Frank Zappa.”

Founded in 2003, Quartet of Happiness has toured around Boston and beyond with its current line-up of Rick Stone (alto saxophone), Kelly Roberge (tenor saxophone), Kendall Eddy (bass) and Austin McMahon (drums) since late 2005. United by a common goal of taking jazz down from the ivory tower and returning it to the people, these thirty-something conservatory educated musicians perform an eclectic range of original music in venues ranging from elementary schools to jazz clubs. The band’s upcoming May 18th performance at Boston’s upscale Scullers Jazz Club will serve as both a CD release event for The Monster Returns and the official launch of its new Jazz Smiles initiative, a three-year fundraising campaign for performances in 50 cash-strapped public schools. Learn more at http://quartetofhappiness.com