THURSDAY JUNE 29
SEATTLE WOMEN'S JAZZ ORCHESTRA
When I caught this group last December, I was delighted by the consistently fine solos, especially those from saxophonist Tobi Stone and trombonist Jenny Kellogg. Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave, 684-7171, noon–1:30 pm, free.
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
If you can't wait for Earshot's Jazz Festival this fall, head north for this festival laden with heavies and leavened with promising newcomers from all genres of improvised music. Performers include Preservation Hall Jazz Band, noise duo Fe-Mail, Dutch saxophonist and ICP orchestra mainstay Tobias Delius, Dr. John, and avant cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm. Through Sun July 2. Various venues, check www.coastaljazz.ca for details, $11–$95.
FRIDAY JUNE 30
ELECTRIC SHEPHERD
This release party for the double-CD compilation Electric Shepherd: An Audio Tribute to Philip K Dick (Backwards Records) features performances by a slew of noise, IDM, and otherwise experimental acts: Syphilis Sauna, Gonken, Ffej, Son of None, DJ L.A.M.P, Wounded Infidel, Penetration Camp, and Red Squirrels. The Fremont Abbey, 4272 Fremont Ave N, 297-6221, 6 pm, $5.
JAZZ & SUSHI
A weekly series of straight-ahead jazz in a cozy, low-key setting. This week, drummer and Pony Boy Records honcho Greg Williamson leads a quartet with John Hansen (piano), Jon Hamar (bass), and Alexey Nikolaev (saxophone). I first heard Nikolaev several years ago at a nighttime jam session; boring, bullshit solos held sway until Nikolaev woke everyone up with a commanding, thematically coherent solo. Hiroshi's Restaurant, 2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4967, 7:30 pm, free.
SATURDAY JULY 1
TERENCE BLANCHARD
I wasn't too keen on this trumpeter's 2005 disc, Flow (Blue Note), but live this trumpeter eschews the slick and burns it up. Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333, 7:30 and 10 pm, $18/$20.
SUNDAY JULY 2
COMPLINE CHOIR
Circa 530 AD, St. Benedict prescribed music and manual labor as an antidote to the excesses of monasticism (self-flagellation, standing on a pillar year after year, vermiform mortification, etc.). Benedict outlined seven offices to be spoken and sung. Compline, the last holy office of the day, is sung after dinner, hence the late Sunday start time. The cathedral is refreshingly cool this time of year so put something on over that too-tight T-shirt. St Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, 323-0300, 9:30 pm, free.
MONDAY JULY 3
JIM KNAPP ORCHESTRA
Bandleader Knapp has corralled a fine group of players (Jay Thomas, Tom Varner on French horn, Phil Sparks, and many others) to traverse his smartly constructed and swinging compositions. Seattle Drum School, 12510 15th Ave NE, 364-8815, 8 pm, $5/$10.
TUESDAY JULY 4
BELLEVUE PHILHARMONIC
I was aghast at the crowds and miserable sound system at Gas Works Park last year. The hovering helicopters and sheet-white spotlights reminded me of Apocalypse Now. Those who prefer to swim through a smaller sea of sweating humanity should try this Eastside celebration. Conductor Fusao Kajima leads the orchestra in a live performance synchronized with fireworks. Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 NE Fourth St, Bellevue, 425-452-4106, 9:30 pm, free.
