The group was formed in 1985 by David Balakrishnan, Darol Anger, and Mark Summer in San Francisco.

He invited cellist Mark Summer, who had been working for three years as a member of a Canadian orchestra.

One of the first pieces they played was Balakrishnan's arrangement of "Stolen Moments" by Oliver Nelson which was released on their first album in 1987.

The group's members have included violinist Evan Price and Danish violist Mads Tolling.

[5] The group won a Grammy Award for its version of A Love Supreme by John Coltrane.