PONCHO SANCHEZ LATIN JAZZ BAND
For world-class Latin jazz, look no further than Poncho Sanchez. His group has it all: tight charts, great soloists, and jaw-dropping ensemble work. Last time Sanchez & co. rolled through town, I was bowled over by Sanchez's extended conga solo that spanned Boulez to boogaloo. Also Fri Oct 24 and Sat Oct 25 with sets at 8 and 10 pm, and Sun Oct 26 with sets at 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, sets at 8 and 10 pm, $22.50/$24.50.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 24
IVES & WOLF SONGBOOK
Soprano Natalie Lerch, baritone Michael Delos, and pianist Roger Nelson serve up a broad sampling of songs by Hugo Wolf (1860-1903) and Charles Ives (1874-1954). While Wolf wrote some immortal songs over a century ago, Ives, chiefly known for his rowdy orchestral music, was also a prolific (and unlike Wolf, quirky) songsmith. PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E Roy St, 325-6500, 8 pm, $6/$12.
SEATTLE BAROQUE
Last time I saw Seattle Baroque, it was a mixed bag of marvelous performances and pieces laced with intonation and ensemble problems. This time they're doing fewer pieces, so my hopes are higher. On the program: J. S. Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor for harpsichord and strings, and his Cantata 51 for soprano and trumpet, Jauchzet Gott, as well as music by Telemann, Scarlatti, and Torelli. Also Sat Oct 25 at the Recital Hall at Benaroya at 8 pm, and Sun Oct 26 at the Kirkland Performance Center at 7 pm. University Christian Church, 4731 15th Ave NE, 322-3118, 8 pm, $10-$27.
TOM BAKER
Seattle composer and guitarist Tom Baker celebrates the release of his new CD, Sounding the Curve, a collection of new works for fretless guitar. Apart from duets with improvisers Tari Nelson-Zagar, Lyn Goeringer (on theremin!), Jesse Canterbury, and Dale Speicher, Baker performs Deconstructing Steve, a canonic dissection of Reich's Electric Counterpoint. Myself, I'm still slaving away on my own Electric Counterfeit. Recommended. Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson St, 583-0497, 8 pm, $5.
MONDAY OCTOBER 27
QUAKE
New music sextet tackles pieces by Kazimierz Serocki, Joseph Schwantner, John Muehleisen, Steven Rush Thomas Albert, and for fun, an arrangement of Camille Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre. Recital Hall at Benaroya, Third Ave & Union St, 286-5052, 7:30 pm, $10/$20.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 28
DX ARTS
Faculty and graduate students of the UW's Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media present an evening of electro-acoustic music and digital video, including the premiere of Richard Karpen's Anterior View of an Interior with Reclining Trombonist: The Conservation of Energy. Trombonist Stuart Dempster is the soloist, and presumably the reclining trombonist. Meany Theater, UW Campus, 543-4880, 8 pm, $5/$10.
ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO
Longtime avatars of avant-jazz pay a rare visit. With a stalwart lineup of Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Moghostut, and Famoudou Don Moye, this is a sure bet. Do not miss this gig. Also Wed Oct 29. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 8 pm, $23.50/$25.50.
