From the May 8 – May 14, 2003 issue

Music

Classical, Jazz, & Avant

Polestar Festival Part One

by Christopher DeLaurenti

For its first-anniversary celebration, Polestar Music Gallery has corralled a compelling collection of local talent and touring big guns. Two pianists kick off the festival: Robin Holcomb (Thurs May 8, 9 pm, $8) is well known in town, but keep your ears open for Gust Burns. A composer and free improvisor, Burns has a lithe, spidery touch on the keyboard; joining him is an up-and-coming reed player, Adam Diller. I'm also excited by the return of bassist Reuben Radding (Fri May 9, 8 pm, $8). His recent CD with NYC-based saxophonist Daniel Carter, Luminescence (AUM Fidelity), is limned with an elegant telepathy that enables the duo to veer from the straight-ahead to the spooky in a trice. After Radding's duet with Carter, Seattle drummer Gregg Keplinger enters the fray for what will surely be a barnburner. Phenomenal Bay Area violinist and vocalist Carla Kihlstedt (Tues May 13, 8 pm, $8) plays music by Lisa Bielawa, Igor Stravinsky, Conlon Nancarrow, and Tamar Diesendruck.

Polestar collaborated with Earshot Jazz to import some world-class European improvisors. Master bassist Barre Phillips (Sat May 10, 8 pm, $12) anchors a trio with two excellent Swiss players, saxophonist Urs Leimgruber and pianist Jacques Demierre. Perhaps the most anticipated act in the festival is the trio of Evan Parker, Alex von Schlippenbach, and Paul Lytton (Wed May 14, Seattle Asian Art Museum, 8 pm, $12). To my ears, Saxophonist Parker fulfills the promise of free improvisation: to synthesize the strands and knots of 20th-century music (blues, jazz, the avant-garde) into a distinct, compelling, passionate voice. Not to be missed. CHRISTOPHER DeLAURENTI

The Polestar First Anniversary Festival of Creative Music runs Thurs-Sun May 8-18 (Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 329-4224); festival pass is $60.

chris@delaurenti.net

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