What a beautiful surprise it was to wander into Barbes last night to hear the Parker String Quartet – former regulars on the Barbes Classical series – play Terry Riley, György Kurtág, and two movements from Dvořák's "American" Quartet. In that small back room, their intense, passionate performance was right on top of you, yet never overpowered. When you can walk in on something like this on your way home from the subway, you know you're living in the right neighborhood.