Solo Mads: Violin Looping Show

MADS TOLLING is an internationally renowned violinist and composer originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, now living in San Francisco. As a former nine-year member of both bassist Stanley Clarke’s band and the celebrated Turtle Island Quartet, Mads won two Grammy Awards, and he was nominated for a third Grammy in 2015. He was the 2016 winner of the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Violin Award. Mads has performed with Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Barron, Paquito D’Rivera, Leo Kottke and Sergio & Odair Assad. Mads is a current member of Bob Weir & Wolf Bros/Wolfpack Band.

 

When the pandemic hit, Mads stopped getting call-backs from his bandmates. As most venues closed their doors, Mads realized the importance of bringing music to people where they live, so during those years he performed many driveway, back-yard and cul-de-sac concerts around the Bay Area of California. The violin as a solo instrument has its limitations, so Mads started looping himself in real time. With the use of effect pedals, he makes the violin sound like one-man-band. The results are exciting, with Mads pushing the boundaries of where a violin can go. The set list includes such diverse tunes as Duke Ellington’s’ “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony, Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango” and Jimmy Hendrix’s “Hey Joe.”