BILL BRUFORD'S EARTHWORKS
Revered for his dexterous drumming with King Crimson and Yes, Bruford has been in the jazz-rock racket since the late 1970s. Years ago, I remember picking up the LP One of a Kind and expecting the worst, only to hear passionate interplay between Bruford, Dave Stewart, Jeff Berlin, and Eddie Jobson. Those cats have long since moved on, but Bruford's all-acoustic group cooks too. Also Fri May 9 and Sat May 10 at 8 and 10 pm, as well as Sun May 11 at 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, sets at 8 and 10 pm, $17.50/$21.50.
FRIDAY MAY 9
JOSEPH ADAM
The four notes representing J. S. Bach's name (B-flat, A, C, and B-natural, which is H in German nomenclature) have been a popular motif with composers for centuries. Cathedral organist Joseph Adam tackles works by Robert Schumann, Ernst Pepping, Wilhelm Middelschulte, Franz Liszt, Max Reger, Johann Ludwig Krebs, and Bach's own son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, all of which embed the B-A-C-H theme in the music. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave, 382-4874, 8 pm, $15 suggested donation, students pay as able.
SATURDAY MAY 10
THE ESOTERICS
This excellent choral group celebrates the centennial of English composer Lennox Berkeley, who studied with the legendary Nadia Boulanger. Also Sun May 11 at United Methodist Church in Edmonds at 3 pm. St. Joseph's Church, 732 18th Ave E, 935-7779, 8 pm, $15-$20.
SUNDAY MAY 11
SEATTLE OPERA'S YOUNG ARTISTS
Up-and-coming singers beginning their professional careers in opera sing assorted arias, duets, and ensembles. Due to the long lead-time in honing vocal chops, "young" in opera ranges from 20 to 40, so if you want child prodigies, watch Star Search or similar froth. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave at Cherry St, 622-9250, 2 pm, free.
SEATTLE CHAMBER PLAYERS
As part of the Seattle Symphony's Viva La Música festival, the SCP play Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas' Ocho X Radio, assorted tangos by Astor Piazzolla, and Ecuadorian composer Jorge Campos' Quartet, which was commissioned by the SCP. Pre-concert discussion with Jorge Campos and Pablo Zinger starts at 6:15 pm. Recital Hall at Benaroya, Third Ave & Union St, 343-0445, 7 pm, $12-$20.
WEDNESDAY MAY 14
ANN CUMMINGS
Ah, the vertiginous, finger-breaking piano music of Franz Liszt. Apart from a choice selection of pieces from the Transcendental Etudes (including Mazeppa) and his underrated late works (Czardas Macabre, Weigenleid), Cummings prefaces each piece by donning a mask and uttering a poetic aphorism. Sherman Clay Piano & Organ, 1624 Fourth Ave, 622-7580, 12:15 pm, free.
STEVE RODEN
This Los Angeles-based artist discusses his installations at Jack Straw and the George Suyama Space. Roden, who is credited with coining the term "lowercase sound," opens with a brief performance. His hushed, subtle textures should suit the quiet environment of Jack Straw nicely. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919, 7:30 pm, free.
