BILLY COBHAM
Beloved for his ballistic drumming with early-1970s jazz-rock gods the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham and his Art of 5 group return for a straight-ahead performance. Admittedly, this band is not as innovative as the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but how long can any musician play tunes with titles like "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters"? Do not miss this legendary drummer. Also Fri Mar 7 through Sun Mar 9. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, sets at 8 and 10 pm, $19.50/$23.50.
WAYNE HORVITZ 4 + 1 ENSEMBLE
Keyboardist Wayne Horvitz has enlisted local luminaries Reggie Watts, Julian Priester, Eyvind Kang, and Tucker Martine for a stab at the most difficult flavor of jazz group, the electro-acoustic ensemble. Blending acoustic and electronic processing is no easy task, but if anyone can (and often does) pull that rabbit out of the hat (and maybe make it talk), it's Tucker Martine. HUB North Den on the University of Washington campus, 543-1447, 8 pm, $2/$4.
SATURDAY MARCH 8
DISJUNKT
Propelled by reedman/flutist Dan Blunck, this trio blends electronic processing with acoustic instruments. Guitarist Rik Wright adds electronic atmospheres while Simon Grant's brash drumming anchors the group. Unlike the aforementioned 4 + 1 Ensemble, which veers toward ethereal cool, Disjunkt is scrappier, spewing more in-your-face skronk. Now there's a double bill waiting to be booked. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Avenue at E Union, 329-4224, 8 pm, $6.
SUNDAY MARCH 9
BEST OF THE NORTHWEST
Yeesh--titles like this one do everyone a deep disservice. While Bern Herbolsheimer, John Muehleisen, and others deemed "Best of the Northwest" by Seattle Pro Musica are indeed fine composers, too many names are missing for this concert to merit the moniker. Where are Tom Baker, Ellen Fullman, Matt Shoemaker, Richard Karpen, or the dozen others who are at least as good? It's too bad that a concert of well-composed and probably well-performed new music bears such an ill-informed, pedestrian title. Pre-concert discussion with the composers starts at 2:30 pm. Also Sat Mar 8 at Bastyr University Chapel in Bothell at 8 pm. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 781-2766, 3 pm, $10-$21.
MONDAY MARCH 10
CONTEMPORARY GROUP
Since George Gershwin, jazz and classical music have been mingling (and eyeing each other warily) for at least seven decades. For the first half of this gig, jazz pianist Marc Seales displays his splendid touch on assorted tunes. The second half features Tom Collier's Xenolith for mallet jazz quartet and string quartet, Bill Smith's 10 X 200 (which features clarinetist Jesse Canterbury), and Third Stream fountainhead Gunther Schuller's Transformations. Meany Theater, University of Washington campus, 543-4880, 7:30 pm, $5/$8.
MODERN MASTERWORKS
Violinist Lorenz Gamma and pianist Ming Tsu present duos by Ravel, Schnittke, and Lutoslawski. The Ravel is an early work that remained unknown until 1975, almost 40 years after his death. For me, however, Schnittke's Quasi una Sonata is the real lure for new-music nuts. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 652-4255, 7:30 pm, $14-$18.
