SEATTLE CHAMBER PLAYERS
The SCP premieres Janice Giteck's Ishi, an homage to the last survivor of the Yahi tribe, as well as Minute Symphony by noted music critic Kyle Gann. A bounty of 20th century composers rounds out the program: John Cage's Five, two obscure pieces by Henry Cowell, Robert Ashley's graphically notated In memoriam... Esteban Gomez, and Tracking Pierrot, a late work by the pioneer of mobile form in music, Earle Brown. Keep your ears open for Morton Feldman's spookily murky Bass Clarinet and Percussion. Pre-concert talk starts at 7:15 pm. Recital Hall at Benaroya, Third Ave and Union St, 286-5052, 8 pm, $12-$20.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13
INBOIL
Using amplification, sampling, and looping, inBOIL aurally magnifies a small, often overlooked sound like a tinkling bell or a drop of water into a turbulent, thunderous tsunami of sound. Living Room, 4301 Fremont Ave N, 8 pm, $3.
PROJECT W
Fiery alto saxophonist Wally Shoup and cellist Brent Arnold mark the release of their CD, Confluxus (Leo Records), a disc filled with deliciously acrobatic feints and parries heard too infrequently in freely improvised music today. Percussionist Greg Campbell fills in for Toshi Makihara. Folk-rock experimenter KnotPineBox and DJ Plastiq Phantom share this eclectic bill. Lo_Fi, 429B Eastlake Ave E, 254-2824, 9 pm, $6.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 15
THE RING
Tickets to the Seattle Opera's renowned summertime cycle of Richard Wagner's Ring tetrology sell out months in advance, so here's an early warning. And although I usually ignore the opera world's star system, which often hypes names above talent, Jane Eaglen's return as Brünnhilde makes this August 2005 cycle a must. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 389-7676, $244-$1,152.
JACK WRIGHT
Wright is one of the living treasures of free improvisation. Ranging from what most people would call "melodic" to atomized slivers of sound, his music is risky and maintains an openness to all sounds that few live performers ever attain. Not to be missed. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 8 pm, donation requested.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16
QUAKE
'Tis the season for political music, so this chamber group obliges with their collectively composed 9066. Addressing the U.S. internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, 9066 combines prerecorded sound, speech, improvisation, Noh music, and Jazz. Also on the program: Chinary Ung's Oracle and Eric Satie's Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear arranged by Quake pianist Meade Crane. Recital Hall at Benaroya, Third Ave and Union St, 292-2787, 7:30 pm, $10/$20.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 17
BALLARD JAZZ FESTIVAL
Hot on the heels (perhaps too soon?) of the Earshot Jazz Festival, this four-night event encompasses two Brotherhood of the Drum gigs, Friday night's Ballard Jazz Walk, and a culminating concert at Mars Hill on Nov 20. The "Brotherhood" refers to drummer-led bands, in this case Michael Shrieve (Santana), Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden), Matt Jorgensen+451, and the dark horse Gregg Keplinger Trio. See www.ballardjazzfestival.com for details. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599, 8 pm, $12-$30.
