The Fareed Haque Quartet West, featuring an NIU lecturer of music, began its new Wednesday night tradition playing at the Coffeehouse Restaurant.

Fareed Haque decided to play at the Coffeehouse because he said it is fun and gives the NIU students who back him “the opportunity to get out and play.”

Haque lectures in the music department and teaches guitar. His band features NIU music students Mark Bavach on guitar, Larry Kohout on bass and drummer Eric Monteka.

aque said some people might prejudge his band as amateurs because they are students, but added, “I can go anywhere in the world and play with these guys – they’re really good.”

The “West” appears in the band’s name because its lineup changes when he plays east of DeKalb—in Chicago, Haque said.

Haque is a veteran of two albums with his band, Manresa. He also has recorded with such jazz legends as Ramsey Lewis, Paquita D‘ Rivera, and Herbie Mann. Haque even made an appearance on Sting’s “Nothing Like the Sun” album.

Manresa’s current album, “Voices Raising,” is number four on the jazz charts and still climbing. Manresa features Rob Amster on bass, Pat Fleming on electric guitar and Jim Widlowski on drums. Haque, who is a classically-trained guitarist, plays only classical guitar on the album.

“Voices Raising” features guest artists such as Tony Levin, Rick Marotta, David Spinozza, Steve Rodby and Danny Gottlieb. Rodby and Gottlieb played together in Pat Metheny’s band before Gottlieb left the band and was replaced by Chicagoan Paul Wertico.

Haque recently appeared on David Sanborn’s NBC show, “Sunday Night,” where he was backed by Sting and the “Sunday Night” house band. Haque appeared with ex-“Late Night with David Letterman” guitarist Hiram Bullock and Omar Hakim, who has appeared on Sting’s “Dream of the Blue Turtles” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” along with a host of other pop and jazz albums.

Haque said Sting offered to back him on the show. “For those of you who would like to know, he’s the most down-to-earth guy,” said Haque about Sting. Haque was recently interviewed on WXRT in Chicago.