After 30 seconds into Cuong Vu’s new album, Vu-Tet (artistShare), I’m hooked. Deftly using electronic processing, Vu
smears his trumpet into a compacted mélange of echoes that
twitter and cry like seagulls circling over a seaside crevasse. Against
this lush backdrop and gentle mallet taps, Vu gradually builds up a
quiet melody with dreamy, nocturne-like notes.
Like the great trumpeters of the past—notably Miles Davis, who
drenched his trumpet in echo on Bitches Brew, and Bill
Dixon—Vu uses electronic processing to amplify the inner
qualities of the instrument.
“With loops and delays, it’s like playing with another person,” Vu
explains. “It’s not just automatic. I have to react to what all
those loops are doing.” When I wonder whether electronics might act
as a sonic magnifying glass, Vu agrees, adding, “When you play loudly,
the range and intensity of the trumpet diminishes. It starts to sound
the same, loud and splatty. With electronics, you hear the subtleties.
I get to play softly and be heard.”
Vu, who tours with Pat Metheny, is settling into Seattle.
Recently appointed assistant professor of jazz studies at the UW, the
Bellevue native looks forward to showing off his trio with bassist
Stomu Takeishi and drummer Ted Poor. On Vu-Tet, the three mingle
multiple styles, from the updated bebop licks of “Never, Ever, Ever” to
the 1970s jazz-rock thrash of “Accelerated Thoughts,” which bristles
with hectic jump cuts and a sly nod to the staccato trumpet intro of
Bitches Brew.
Vu looks forward to teaming up his group with the eclectic guitarist
Bill Frisell. “He’s one of my idols; he sounds good with anyone and can
elevate any group to another level.” Don’t miss it. 
Catch the Cuong Vu Trio and Bill Frisell Wed Feb 6 at Meany
Theater, UW Campus, 543-4880, 7:30 pm, $10/$15.
Thurs 1/31
VAUGHN & OWCHARUK
Pianist Eric Vaughn brings his energetic touch to a showcase for the
Seattle-based Broken Time label. In addition, Michael Owcharuk leads an
adventurous chamber-jazz sextet that features Jim Knodle (trumpet) and
Beth Fleenor (clarinet). Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 7:30
pm, $10/$18.50.
ILLUSION OF SAFETY
This long-running electro-acoustic project imbues fuzzed-up collages
with a rhythmic vitality that bypasses the clichés (steady
tempo, sterile percussion samples, etc.) of beat-based electronic
music. Fourth-floor Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center,
4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 8 pm, $5—$15 sliding-scale
donation.
Fri 2/1
APHONIA RECORDINGS SHOWCASE
I caught the first installment of this monthly series in January and
left inspired. Here, Aphonia Recordings honchos Ben L. Robertson and
Andrew Senna team up as the Precambrian, but the focus is on two other
groups, Problems and Paintings for Animals. Based in Olympia, Problems
play chamber music in just intonation using violin, viola, steel pedal
guitar, and a retuned Farfisa organ. Paintings for Animals make
hypnotic and gorgeous collages from vocal snippets and field
recordings; I had a hard time leaving their MySpace page. Gallery
1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, 8 pm, free, but donations
accepted.
Sat 2/2
MARK WILSON
Flouting the Second Law of Classical Guitar—Thou shalt play
Bach at every concert—Wilson ranges across eight centuries of
music, from the “Two Cantigas de Santa Maria” by Alfonso X
(1221—1284) to transcriptions of Josquin De Pres
(1450—1521) and the “Cancion del Fuego Fato” (“Song of the Willow
Wisp”) by Manuel de Falla (1876—1946). St. Ignatius Chapel,
Seattle University Campus, 296-5587, 7 pm, $15 suggested
donation.
STRANGE & BARRECA
Allen Strange, author of the cult tome Electronic Music:
Systems, Techniques, and Controls, spearheads a concert with
electric accordion, computer, and interactive video. He shares the bill
with Marc Barreca, who back in the late 1970s and early 1980s,
performed with the pioneering Seattle electronic music group Young
Scientist. Fourth-floor Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd
Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 8 pm, $5—$15 sliding-scale
donation.
Sun 2/3
MT. NONFICTION SESSIONS
No jam session this week; instead, drummer Ethan Cudaback has
assembled a decidedly avant show. Noise-skronk guitarist Ed Petry teams
up with the improvising vocalist Detonator Beth. Zach Shaw proffers a
solo set on saxophone and electronics. Gogan and Bunch, rightly
described as “kind of a cross between Butthole Surfers, Captain
Beefheart, and Depeche Mode” round out the bill. Blue Moon Tavern,
712 NE 45th St, 675-9116, 8:30 pm, free.
Tues 2/5
OLIVIER LATRY
My nominee for sleeper gig of the week. Latry, whose
much-anticipated concert was canceled last year, returns with a program
of French organ music by Tournemire, Duruflé, Jehan Alain, Jean
Langalais, and Dupré. I’m a fan of his complete Messiaen cycle
on Deutsche Grammophon, so I’m eager to hear him essay the titanic
L’Ascension by Olivier Messiaen. St. James Cathedral, 804
Ninth Ave, 382-4874, 7:30 pm, students pay as able/$15 suggested
donation.
