THURSDAY MAY 18
PRIESTER'S CUE
Listed on my copy of Sun Ra's Supersonic Jazz, trombonist Julian Priester has gigged with several luminaries. He helms a quartet stocked with some of Seattle's finest young players: Dawn Clement (piano), Geoff Harper (bass), and Byron Vannoy, (drums). Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, 8 pm, $5–$15 sliding scale donation.
FRIDAY MAY 19
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Students from the UW School of Music star in a fully staged production of Mozart's farcical romantic comedy. I'm always keen to hear young voices tackle Mozart, whose vocal writing still daunts singers today. Also Sun May 21 at 3 pm. Meany Theater, UW Campus, 543-4880, 7:30 pm, $15/$20.
JAZZ & SUSHI
A weekly series of straight-ahead jazz in a cozy, low-key setting. This week, veteran saxophonist Bill Ramsay fronts the rhythm section of John Hansen (piano), Chuck Deardorf (bass), and Greg Williamson (drums). Hiroshi's Restaurant, 2501 Eastlake Plaza, 726-4966, 7:30 pm, free.
SEATTLE COMPOSERS' SALON
Bolted onto the Seattle Symphony's Made in America festival, the monthly, informal salon presents new music by Seattle composers. Visiting composer/pianist Gabriela Lena Frank discusses her music and Praveen Venkataramana, Christopher Shainin, Keith Eisenbrey, and Tom Swafford serve up finished works, previews, and works in progress. Soundbridge at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 336-6650, 8 pm, $5 suggested donation.
SEATTLE PRO MUSICA
A biggie from Bach, the behemoth Mass in B minor. Also Sat May 20 at 8 pm. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave, 781-2766, 8:15 pm, $15–$23.
SATURDAY MAY 20
DAY OF MUSIC
The Seattle Symphony's Made in America festival of contemporary classical music culminates in free performances (orchestra and wind band concerts at 2 and 3:45 pm) and ticketed events, Gabriela Lena Frank's kiddie concert (11 am) and a three-fer $20 trifecta: Affinity (5 pm), the Saint Helens String Quartet (6:30 pm), and the Symphony (8 pm). Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747, 11 am–8 pm, $15–$20.
SUNDAY MAY 21
SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor Christian Knapp leads the SYSO in a winning program. On the docket: John Adams's miniature masterpiece, the exhilarating "Short Ride in a Fast Machine," the Concerto for Tuba by Ralph (rhymes with "safe") Vaughan Williams, Britten's Four Sea Interludes (including the startling "Dawn") from his opera Peter Grimes, and Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, op. 78. Veering from thudding sub–Carmina Burana trash to utterly inspired scoring within just a few measures, Nevsky epitomizes the cohabitation of genius and schlock within Prokofiev, who, if blessed with better taste, would have been a great composer. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 362-2300, 3 pm, $8–$35.
TEMPERED STEEL
Ffej, instrument builder Frank Junk (anyone remember Utterance Tongue?), and avant guitarist Dennis Rea update and electrify the thumb piano, an ancient African instrument made of flattened nails, wood, and dried gourd. This experimental ensemble dubs-out, distorts, and layers gently thrummed tines into blipping, polyrhythmic soundscapes. Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 625-4444, 10 pm, $5.
