THURSDAY APRIL 27
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Conductor Christian Knapp leads the band in two Nocturnes by Debussy, "Nuages" and the effervescent "FĂȘtes." Next time they should complete the set with the infrequently heard "SirĂšnes." Also on the program: Sibelius's Violin Concerto with soloist Dmitry Sitkovetsky and a 20th-century classic, BartĂłk's defiant, last-gasp Concerto for Orchestra. Also Sat Apr 29 at 8 pm. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $15â$87.
WALLY SHOUP/GUST BURNS DUO
Fire-breathing alto saxophonist Shoup duets with Burns, whose eruptive runs, quietly slithering chords, and forays into the piano's innards were a highlight of the recent Seattle Improvised Music Festival. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave E, 322-1533, 8 pm, $5â$15 sliding scale donation.
FRIDAY APRIL 28
ALEX ROSS
Ranging from Richard Strauss to Steve Reich and beyond, the eminent and usually spot-on music critic of the New Yorker offers an "iPod Tour" of 20th- and 21st-century music. I have only one question for Ross, whose brainy 2005 article "The Record Effect" utterly failed to address electronic and acousmatic music: Why has the most innovative, radical music of the last two decadesânoise, plunderphonics, lowercase sound, and phonographyâbeen electronic? On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888, 7:30 pm, $10/$12.
SATURDAY APRIL 29
KRONOS QUARTET
This musically omnivorous string quartet serves up Steve Reich's Triple Quartet, a collaboration with Azerbaijani garmon (a honeyed-up accordion) virtuoso Rahman Asadollahi, and a transcription of "Flugufrelsarinn (The Fly Freer)" by neo-proggers Sigur RĂłs. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787, 8 pm, $26â$40.50.
SUNDAY APRIL 30
GREG BOWERS
Bowers, a member of the composition faculty at PLU, premieres three works: Symmetries for brass sextet, "String Quartet No. 2: By-products of Mass Media," and Cantata for a Sacred Union. Subtitled "A Gay Wedding Cantata" and scored for choir, trumpet, and organ, the Cantata "incorporates texts from gay/lesbian poets dealing with love and spirituality from all historical periods." University Congregational Church, 4515 16th Ave NE, 524-2322, 4 pm, free.
MONDAY MAY 1
JIM KNAPP ORCHESTRA
In 2003 when I asked Jim Knapp about the all-important balance between ensemble writing and solos in big-band jazz, he told me, "In a good composition, when a solo occurs, it should seem imperative that it be thereâthat the solo is the necessary next thing." Seattle Drum School, 12510 15th Ave NE, 364-8815, 8 pm, $5/$10.
TUESDAY MAY 2
BENNY GOLSON
One of the original hard-bop hoplites, tenor saxophonist Golson gigged with just about everyone back in the day, including Tadd Dameron, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He subsequently helped pioneer cop-show jazz in the late 1960s and early '70s, writing music for episodes of Mission Impossible, It Takes a Thief, and Ironside, among others. Also Wed May 3. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 7:30 pm, $20.50.
WEDNESDAY MAY 3
GUTBUCKET
New Yorkâbased thrash-jazz outfit shares a bill with the Special Ops, a boisterous subdepartment of the Monktail Creative Music Concern. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823, 9 pm, $5.
