Jazzy return to Carbondale

Guitarist Zacc Harris played an average of 200 shows a year while he was attending SIUC, but this week's performances with his new jazz project Atlantis Quartet are his first in the area since he moved to Minneapolis, Minn. in 2005.

Atlantis Quartet is playing at Tres Hombres Thursday, at Port Cape in Cape Girardeau Friday and Hangar 9 Saturday.

Harris performed with the jazz group Broken Grass during his time in Carbondale, but moved to Minneapolis to continue his music career after the group split up. He said he chose the city for many reasons, including its eclectic artistic scene.

"I knew that I would really have to move to a city to be able to perform as much as I wanted and needed to, to make a living without having to go on the road all the time," Harris said.

Harris said the biggest difference between the music scene in Carbondale and the scene in Minneapolis is the amount and variety of the music. He said that while Carbondale has a vibrant music scene, Minneapolis has more to offer in terms of clubs and the number of artists.

"I always felt that Carbondale, for a town of its size especially, has a fantastic music scene," Harris said.

Atlantis Quartet comprises Harris on the guitar, saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, bassist Travis Schilling and drummer Pete Hennig.

The group formed in October 2006 and began putting together an album within six months of playing together. Their debut album, "Again, Too Soon," was released in August 2007 and is available on the band's Web site, http://atlantisquartet.com, and iTunes.

Drummer Hennig said the group is not a traditional jazz band because it incorporates an assortment of elements from the members' varied backgrounds.

"Even though jazz has a big influence on us, I don't think we're going to play just jazz," Hennig said.

Atlantis Quartet does a lot of improvisation in its live shows, which Hennig said keeps the music new and exciting for the audience as well as the members of the ensemble.

Harris said Atlantis Quartet takes a very progressive and modern approach to its music.

"We've kind of taken on this idea of bringing other influences of music into the jazz idiom. There's a movement now to take some of the music that's been popular in the last 20 years or so and mix the sensibilities of that music with what we're doing," Harris said.

Audra Ord can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275 or amarie06@siu.edu.