FRIDAY OCTOBER 11
PHONOGRAPHERS UNION
Although I'm sure there is a real Phonographers Union somewhere, this Phonographers Union is merely an informal collective of folks who make field recordings. Phonographers Steve Barsotti, Doug Haire, Alex Keller, Dale Lloyd, Perri Lynch, Heather Perkins, Toby Paddock, and yours truly improvise with unprocessed field recordings of elephant seals, a Chinese Laundromat, ambiance inside a stairwell, wasps, and whatever else our microphones have captured in recent months. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union, 329-4224, 8 pm, $6.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12
AXIOM OF CHOICE
This ensemble of Persian émigrés and American compatriots blend classical Persian music with Western-style improvisation, which, depending on your point of view, might be an unseemly cultural dilution of a great musical tradition or a rewarding cross-pollination. In any case, expect soaring, melismatic vocals and an array of exotic percussion instruments. Myself, I'm hoping to spot a santur, a kind of hammered dulcimer. Meany Theater, UW Campus, 543-4880, 8 pm, $24.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 13
CHAMBER THEATER MATINEE SERIES
Sheesh, everyone but my Aunt Tildy has a series these days. Named for the Chamber Theater tucked away up on the fourth floor of the Oddfellows Hall, this installment showcases avant improvisation and composition from the Tugboat Complex Trio (Kelvin Pittman on saxophone, pianist Gust Burns, and drummer Matt Krane) and Adam Diller, who has written music featuring alto sax, clarinet, and bass clarinet. Ilyas Ahmed on solo guitar opens the show. Oddfellows Hall, 915 E Pine St, 3 pm, $5/$8.THE ESOTERICS
Continuing a cycle of themed concerts, conductor and music director Eric Banks commissioned nine composers for an a cappella suite based on the poems of that grouchy Greek poet Hesiod. David Asplin, Eric Banks, Janice Giteck, Bern Herbolsheimer, John Muehleisen, Mark Petersen, Carol Sams, Christopher Shainin, and Donald Skirvin set texts in the original Greek from the Homeric Hymns, the Theogony, and my particular fave, the Works and Days ("He who puts off work is always wrestling with ruin."). All nine composers will be present for the 90-minute preconcert discussion at 4 pm. Also Sat Oct 12 at St. Joseph's Church in Seattle at 8 pm. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 652-4255, 8 pm, $14/$17.

MONDAY OCTOBER 14
VIKTOR ULLMANN: MUSIC IN EXTREMIS
The great music scholar Charles Rosen had it right: Musicians are the ones who keep the work of worthy but forgotten composers alive. Pianist Phillip Silver discusses and plays the music of Viktor Ullmann, a composer who was killed at Auschwitz in 1944 during World War II. Silver explores Ullmann's life, work, and beliefs. Brechemin Auditorium, UW campus, 685-8384, 7:30 pm, $5/$8.MATT JORGENSEN+451
This sleek quartet does its part for Origin Records' ongoing jazz series at the Grand Illusion. Propelled by Seattle drummer Matt Jorgensen and Marc Seales on Fender Rhodes electric piano, this outfit cooks up an appealing, straight-ahead brand of jazz. Still Life Cafe at the Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, 8 pm, $7.