On June 5, 2003, while riding his bicycle to work, bassist Matthew Sperry was hit and killed by a truck just outside of Oakland. A longtime Seattle stalwart of new and improvised music, Matt played in an amazing array of groups including ...kagel..., Brainstun, Ellen Fullman's Long String Instrument Band, the Black Cat Orchestra, Seattle Experimental Opera, Gamelan Pacifica, iv bricoleurs, and the Seattle Creative Orchestra. As a superb improviser, composer, and music presenter, Matt gave much to Seattle and the many adventurous musicians who live here.

To celebrate the luminous life and personality of this versatile musician, Seattle trombonist Stuart Dempster organized a public memorial concert for Sperry's musical compadres and collaborators to pay homage. Composer Tom Baker presents a requiem for fretless guitar and samples culled from Sperry's various recordings. Cellist and Black Cat Orchestra honcho Lori Goldston duets with Susie Kozawa, who plays found instruments like sea kelp and adorable windup toy cars with phonograph needles.

Many others with connections to Matt--choreographer Sheri Cohen, Christian Asplund, Wally Shoup, Ian Rashkin, Greg Campbell--will also participate. Cohen dances Moise Pipick Variations, which Sperry set to music in 1996. Alto saxophonist Shoup offers a short solo piece. Asplund and Rashkin resurrect an old Brainstun number, "Construction 1." Indeed, Sperry's bass work on "Construction 1," from the 2003 CD Brainstun 2 (Present Sounds), reminds me that he was a sensitive accompanist, too.

At midnight, David Knott conducts a large ensemble in works dedicated to Matt's memory on KEXP's Sonarchy program on 90.3 FM. The man may be gone but his music and influence continue.

Catch the Matthew Sperry memorial concert Sat June 5 (Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 329-4224), 7:45 pm, $5.

chris@delaurenti.net