Noah Garabedian Explores Solitude and Community on “Quartets and Solos”
Bassist, composer, and educator Noah Garabedian has announced a new album aptly entitled Quartets and Solos, which showcases his writing on his own and in a group format. For the quartet portion of the songs, he’s joined by pianist Carmen Staaf, drummer Jimmy Macbride, and saxophonist/EWI player Dayna Stephens, whose Contagious Music label will be putting the record out on September 19th. The dichotomy of the album is something that’s grown in Garabedian’s own life.
“Community and socialization are essential ingredients to music, especially improvised music,” he says. “But as I have grown older, I have learned how to celebrate and cherish being alone; how to find comfort in being by yourself. Artistic creation doesn’t just appear out of nowhere — it comes from a deep fountain that is replenished and fed by the community that teaches you, nourishes you, and holds you. But artistic creation is also done through your own will power… it’s about frequency and the continued drive for creation, evolution, and production.”
The song is split between eight tracks with the full quartet and four solo pieces written for each member of the band: Staaf on “The Most Beautiful One,” Macbride on “Snap Pop,” Stephens on “To Swim Below,” and Garabedian himself on “To Dance Underground.” The bassist used the compositions as a sort of portrait of each player.
“The solo compositions are very intentional and connected, and each one was written for that specific musician,” Garabedian explains. “Dayna, Carmen, and Jimmy are all fantastic musicians, but with the solo pieces I tried to capture unique aspects of each of their playing — lean into what makes them special. The solo pieces can be thought of as appetizers to an entrée. Still delicious — just slightly smaller and less dense.”
You can hear the whole group’s dynamic in the first release from Quartets and Solos, entitled “Fast Slow.” The track begins with a unison bass line between Garabedian and Staaf before Stephens jumps in with a melody.
Quartets and Solos will be released on September 19th. Until then, you can catch Garabedian on tour in New York, California, and Tennessee.
Noah Garabedian 2025 Tour Dates:
| Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| August 16 | Bar Bayeux | Brooklyn, NY |
| August 21 | Sam First | Los Angeles, CA |
| August 22 | The Sound Room | Oakland, CA |
| August 23 | The Palo Alto Arts Center | Palo Alto, CA |
| August 24 | Chez Hanny | South San Francisco, CA |
| October 9 | Close Up | New York City, NY |
| October 17 | Rudy's Jazz Room | Nashville, TN |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
