Making their Spiegeltent debut, the Grammy-nominated American Patchwork Quartet binds timeless American folk songs with jazz sophistication, country twang, West African hypnotics, and East Asian ornamentation—a deliberately designed homage to America’s past and a showcase of its dynamic present. The quartet’s music is grounded and sincere, resisting easy symbolism in favor of lived complexity, as each carefully chosen piece reflects the joys, sorrows, and enduring hope of a nation shaped by shared dreams and diverse histories.

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American Patchwork Quartet

Fisher Center at Bard

Comprising four Americans from different cultural backgrounds, the American Patchwork Quartet are activists as well as artists, striving to counter pervasive prejudices around the issues of race and immigration, performing a repertoire of centuries-old American folk songs made new with creative arrangements, drawing connections between the nation’s contemporary culture and its immigrant roots. Led by Grammy-winning vocalist Falu Shah, Grammy-winning guitarist/vocalist Clay Ross, 3x Grammy-winning drummer Clarence Penn, and highly acclaimed and sought-after bassist Yasushi Nakamura, APQ breathes new life into the folk canon, accepting accountability for the future of a country both hospitable and hostile towards those that believe most fervently in its dreams of equality.

McCarter Theatre Center

With several Grammy® Awards among its members, AMERICAN PATCHWORK QUARTET brings together diverse backgrounds and talents to reimagine timeless songs from America’s past. Weaving together the music, stories and experiences of many people, they create a beautiful musical tapestry that draws connections between contemporary American culture and its immigrant roots

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

“The quartet's goal is purposeful: to unleash music's magic to help counteract pervasive prejudices around immigration and race” (Montana Public Radio).

On a mission to reclaim the immigrant soul of American folk and roots music, Hindustani vocalist Falu Shah, Ranky Tanky guitarist and co-founder Clay Ross, acclaimed Issei bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and master jazz drummer Clarence Penn showcase the dynamic diversity of contemporary culture by reimagining timeless songs from America's past that highlight the country’s immigrant roots.

SFJAZZ Center

American Patchwork Quartet (APQ), led by multi-GRAMMY® award-winning guitarist and vocalist Clay Ross, binds timeless American folk songs with jazz sophistication, country twang, West African hypnotics, and East Asian ornamentation. APQ’s sound is a masterful confluence of tradition and innovation, transcending culture, politics, and ideology. Their debut was recently nominated for “Best Folk Album” at the 67th GRAMMY® Awards. 

American Patchwork Quartet

Apr 22, 2027