LAFAYETTE STRING QUARTET
Together for almost two decades, each member of this quartet sports an Amati instrument from the 17th century. On the program: Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 3 in F, one of Beethoven's "Razumovsky" quartets, and Mozart's Quartet in D Minor. Mozart is currently proscribed from my musical diet, but given the chance to hear legendary period instruments in an excellent space, I'll make an exception. Town Hall, Eighth Ave and Seneca St, 652-4255, 7:30 pm, $13-$18.
FRIDAY APRIL 2
COSê FAN TUTTE
Singers from Seattle Opera's Young Artist Program stage Mozart's farcical romantic comedy. Along with the chance to catch up-and-coming singers--the program cultivates talent much like baseball's farm system--it's nice to see singers who aren't too old for their roles. Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE Sixth St, Bellevue, 389-7676, 7 pm, $15/$28.
JIMMY SMITH
Although jazz has a rich legacy of organists, it was Jimmy Smith's great LPs on Blue Note and Verve that elevated the Hammond organ into the pantheon of immortal jazz instruments. Smith's fiery hard-bop solos, R&B-inflected grooves, and bluesy down-home arrangements made him one of the greatest organists of all time. He's a sharp wit, too: Back in the late 1970s, when asked about fusion, the then-dominant but soulless form of jazz, Smith replied, "Fusion? Sounds like confusion to me." Also Sat April 3. The Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333, sets at 7:30 and 10 pm, $28. SUNDAY APRIL 4
CHARLES LLOYD
Earshot Jazz kicks off its "Springsville" mini-festival with this veteran tenor saxophonist, tabla master Zakir Hussain, and drummer Eric Harland. Lloyd, who also doubles on Tibetan oboe, first came to prominence in the late 1960s on albums such as Forest Flower and recently returned to form with a series of discs on ECM that includes the mellow The Water Is Wide. Town Hall, Eighth Ave and Seneca St, 547-6763, 8 pm, $17-$35.
MONDAY APRIL 5
JOSEPH ADAM
The St. James Cathedral organist presents a lunchtime concert of organ music dubbed "Springtime in Paris." Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and University St, 215-4747, 12:30 pm, free.
SOUND OF THE BRUSH
Violinist Tari Nelson-Zagar and clarinetist Jesse Canterbury play freely improvised duets. Both masters of their respective instruments, these two can make extended techniques (unorthodox fingerings, tapping the instrument, impossibly high tones, etc.) the most musical thing to do at just the right moment. The final set is an open-to-all-comers mix 'n' match improvisation. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 329-4224, 8:30 pm, donation requested.
STRINGS ATTACHED
All-star faculty recital of music for strings by Brahms, Debussy, and Shostakovich. Meany Theater, UW campus, 543-4880, 7:30 pm, $8/$10.
TUESDAY APRIL 6
MICHAEL BISIO TRIO
To inaugurate his month-long residency at CHAC, bassist Michael Bisio has enlisted avant trumpeter Rob Blakeslee and percussionist Greg Campbell, whose recent solo gig at Polestar ranks in my ears among the top gigs (so far) of 2004. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0500, 8 pm, $5.
