Four Northwestern graduates With A Unique Repertoire Band Together

From left: Hunter Bockes, Brandon Quarles, János Csontos and Jordan Lulloff

If you know nothing else about the ~Nois saxophone quartet, know these two things: One, it’s pronounced “noise.” And two, they don’t play jazz. Surprised? That’s fine with them. That ~Nois is unconventional will become brilliantly clear when you hear them play—it’s an energetic, hypnotic sound unlike anything else. Especially from saxophones, which, as member Hunter Bockes admits, make “most people think of smooth jazz in a Panera. Or Kenny G.” Together with Bockes, János Csontos, Jordan Lulloff and Brandon Quarles met at Northwestern University as graduate students. “We had all played in quartets before, just never together,” Bockes says. “We decided to be, first, successful, and second, different, playing a very different repertoire.” Opportunities for classical saxophonists are unsurprisingly limited. But two years ago, the four musicians bet their post-graduate careers on what is essentially a saxophone startup. They’ll be offering their lively mix of experimental improvisations and contemporary classical works at spots like Constellation (June 2), Chicago Cultural Center (June 20) and Garfield Park Conservatory (June 23) this month alone. And that name? “It comes from the last part of Illinois,” explains Bockes. “We wanted something that tied together where we met and where we perform.”