FRIDAY MAY 12

MARK SALMAN
Salman's bold recitals of Franz Liszt's fiendishly difficult piano music rank among my favorite concerts of 2005. Now he's surveying the posthumously published sonatas of Franz Schubert (1797–1828). This jaw-dropping pianist tackles Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1, the Sonatine op. 61 by one of the few pianists admired by Liszt, Charles Valentin Alkan, and Schubert's Sonata in A major, op. post. University Christian Church, 4731 15th Ave NE, 522-0169, 7:30 pm, $10/$20.

BOBBY PREVITE
My latest garage-sale find, a 1985 LP of The Ritual by Khalil El'Zabar, lists a "Robert Previte" album on the inner sleeve. Since then, Previte has become one of the most intriguing drummer/composers around. He's touring in a new band with guitarist Charlie Hunter and sax ace Skerik touting a new disc, Coalition of the Willing (Ropeadope), which sizzles with fresh, jazzy juxtapositions of old rock riffs. The Dead Men open. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599, 9 pm, $20, 21+.

SATURDAY MAY 13

BRIAN COBB
I used to list doctoral recitals in this column frequently, but I gave up when hardly anyone could confirm the program. Cobb, a composer, doctoral candidate at the UW, and bassist in the Tom Baker Quartet, has it together. On the docket: scattered for solo flute, in a far country, and a song cycle for chamber ensemble, Campfire Songs. Brechemin Auditorium in the Music Building, UW campus, 685-8384, 1:30 pm, free.

THE ESOTERICS
This a cappella ensemble sings sonnets of Keats, Petrarch, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and others set to music by John Muehleisen ("The soul's expression" and "Perplexed music"), Carlos Chávez ("Sonnet to sleep"), and Paul Crabtree (Three Rose Madrigals). Also Sun May 14 at Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle at 3 pm. St Joseph's Church, 732 18th Ave E, 935-7779, 8 pm, $10–$20.

SUNDAY MAY 14

SPLINTER SQUID
The inaugural concert of a regular series devoted to the noisier aspects of the avant. The organizers of the Wooden Octopus Skull fest have enlisted 10 acts to play 15-minute sets, including Withdrawal Method, the "glacier noise" of Arctic Crash, Arachnid Arcade, Hemingway (the press release promises "Hemingway is going to be loud"), Red Squirrel, Syphilis Sauna, and Ffej. Seattle Drum School, 12510 15th Ave NE, 364-8815, 7 pm, $6.

SEATTLE CHAMBER PLAYERS
Music by Dutch composers: Louis Andriessen (The New Math(s) scored to a film by Hal Hartley), Theo Loevendie, Guus Janssen ("Pogo I" inspired by punk's pogo dancing), Jacob ter Veldhuis ("tatatata" for cello and boom box), and Yannis Kyriakides (Tinkling, a take-off of Monk's "Trinkle, Tinkle"). Recital Hall at Benaroya, 200 University St, 286-5052, 7 pm, $12–$20.

WEDNESDAY MAY 17

CAROL GENETTI
Among the few who convincingly make freely improvised music with the human voice, the amazing Genetti teams up with fellow Chicago electronicists Adam Sonderberg and Katherine Young. Moog maven Eric Lanzillotta opens. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, 8 pm, $5–$15 sliding scale donation.