From the Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2004 issue

Music

Concerts

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30



SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Guest conductor JoAnn Falletta ascends the podium for Samuel Barber's rousing single movement Symphony No. 1, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, dubbed the "Italian." Jean-Louis Steuerman is the piano soloist in some Schumann and Richard Strauss' Burleske. Also Sat Oct 2 at 8 pm. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $15-$85.

JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO

Just as I'm getting really annoyed by the ton of jazz-crossover acts signed to Verve Records, one of the great labels in jazz history, I listen to John Scofield's EnRoute (Verve), which reminds me of two landmark jazz guitar records by Wes Montgomery: Smokin' at the Half Note (Verve) and Full House! (Riverside). Like Montgomery, Scofield has faultless technique, an ineffable sense of swing, and a penchant for toe-tapping solos. With Dennis Irwin (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums). Also Fri Oct 1 and Sat Oct 2 with sets at 8 pm and 10:15 pm as well as Sun Oct 3 with sets at 6:30 pm and 8:45 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 8 pm, $20.50/$22.50.

EUGENE CHADBOURNE

The Doctor is in: guitarist, banjoist, and electric rake inventor Chadbourne brings his countryfied improvisatory style for a rare solo concert. Percussionist Greg Campbell steps in on the second set. This gig kicks off Polestar's multi-week series devoted to solo performances. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 329-4224, 8 pm, $10.

MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN

Hamelin, revered for sallying fearlessly into unusual and daunting piano works by Alkan, Ives, and Rzewski, makes his Seattle debut. On the program: Busoni's transcription of J. S. Bach's "Chaconne" from the Violin Partita in D minor, Schumann's Fantasiestücke, op. 12, and Alkan's Symphony for Solo Piano, op. 39, nos. 4-7. Meany Hall, UW Campus, 543-4880, 8 pm, $29/$32.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 2



KELLEY JOHNSON QUARTET

Recently returned from a tour of Central Asia, this elfin-voiced singer bounces through standards and forgotten chestnuts. Keep your ears open for her drummer, Phil Parisot, who at a jam session several months ago miraculously exhumed glittering cymbal crashes and crackling tom hits from another drummer's crappy drum kit. Tula's, 2214 Second Ave, 443-4221, 8 pm, $12.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 3



COMPLINE CHOIR

Circa 530 AD, St. Benedict prescribed music and manual labor as an antidote to the excesses of monasticism (self-flagellation, standing on a pillar year after year, vermiform mortification, etc.). Benedict outlined seven offices to be spoken and sung. Compline, the last holy office of the day, is sung after dinner, hence the late Sunday start time. The cathedral is chilly this time of year, so dress warmly. St Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, 323-0300, 9:30 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 6



THE FULL CHOPIN, PART I

Pianist George Fiore discusses and plays a passel of scherzos, preludes, nocturnes, and impromptus by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), the first great composer to focus almost exclusively on the piano. Also, cellist Aaron Nation performs two movements from Chopin's Cello Sonata. Town Hall, Eighth Ave and Seneca St, 652-4255, 7:30 pm, $13-$18.

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