chris@delaurenti.net


THURSDAY AUGUST 1


3 LEG TORSO

This improvising sextet (strings, accordion, percussion, and various mallet instruments including xylophone and marimba) melds classical chamber music with Middle Eastern and Eastern European folk songs. They will throw in some tangos too, which, for reasons unbeknownst to me, musicians and listeners seem unable to resist. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St, 547-6763, 5:30 pm, free with museum admission.


FRIDAY AUGUST 2


IOLANTHE

Some composers make it into the encyclopedias, but only the elect inspire fan clubs designed to keep their music alive. For three performances of the fun operetta Iolanthe, the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society has imported the U.K.-based G&S Company, which won first prize at the 2000 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival (no relation to the other two organizations) in Buxton, England. Anyone who can satisfy festival fanatics will probably put on a very good show. Also Sat Aug 3 at 2 & 8 pm. Bagley Wright Theatre, Seattle Center, 341-9612, 8 pm, $10/$30.


GRAHAM HAYNES

Son of the legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, flugelhornist Graham Haynes has recruited an unusually adventurous lineup for his Broken Sound Barrier group: Eyvind Kang on violin, NYC-based laptopper Shahzad Ismaily, and Kevin Sawka, a drummer who telegraphs live drum 'n' bass beats with admirable finesse. Such an eclectic lineup could sound like anything, but expect jazzy electronic solos (and in Haynes' case, billowing atmospherics) atop a skittering yet nu-funky rhythm section. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, 10 pm, $12.


SATURDAY AUGUST 3


MARROWSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL

The faculty of the Marrowstone Music Festival performs chamber music by Dvorák (the String Quintet in G Major, op. 77) and Fauré (Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, op. 15). Also on the bill is Seattle composer and musical treasure Ken Benshoof, whose piece "in Shadow, light" is scored for the unusual combination of piccolo, violin, viola, and cello. Western Washington University PAC Concert Hall, Bellingham, 360-650-6146, 3 pm, $14/$18.


SUNDAY AUGUST 4


JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO

I think of this crooner and his group as "white wine jazz"--at first piquant, but ultimately smooth and reassuring. This trio's languid sound is eminently suitable for sustaining the kind of elegant melancholy that's hard to maintain during an annoyingly sunny Seattle summer. Also Thurs Aug 1-Sat Aug 3 at 8 & 10 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 8 pm, $17.50/$21.50.


TUESDAY AUGUST 6


INBOIL/FFEJ

Back from gigging with cellist Brent Arnold and noise god MSBR in Japan, Seattle noisician inBOIL shakes the rafters with plenty of distorted thunder. The evening's stentorian emcee, Ffej, performs an all-too-rare ambient set on analog synth. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, 8 pm, free.


WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7


JAMES WHITON

Bassist Whiton has assembled a horde of musicians to celebrate the release of his CD Rhythm and Motion, which ranges from smoky spoken word monologues to funky electric piano-driven jazz. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599, 9:30 pm, $6.