THURSDAY AUGUST 10
TOM VARNER
One of the few French hornists in jazz, this recent New York transplant has hit the ground running, gigging with the Jim Knapp Orchestra, Vern Sielert, and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Here he presents his "reflective and exploratory" chamber jazz trio with saxophonist Eric Barber and percussionist Greg Campbell, who doubles on French horn. Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E Prospect St, Volunteer Park, 547-6763, 5â7 pm, free with museum admission.
AHMAD JAMAL TRIO
Well into his 70s, Jamal retains his unique dynamism and power: fierce keyboard runs that startlingly freeze in midphrase, placid interludes, and cadenzas stuffed with orchestra-sized chords comparable to Errol Garner, though with less humor and more bite. With longtime collaborators James Cammack (bass) and Idris Muhammad (drums). Not to be missed. Through Sat Aug 12; also Sun Aug 13 at 7:30 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, sets at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, $26.50.
FRIDAY AUGUST 11
SCMS SUMMER FESTIVAL
The concluding concert of the Seattle Chamber Music Society's Summer Festival includes plenty of out-of-the-way fare: Fanny Mendelssohn's Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, op.11; ZoltĂĄn KodĂĄly's Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 4; and Robert Schumann's Quintet for Piano and Strings, op.44. For the free 7 pm recital, pianist Anna Polonsky plays a Mozart sonata and intermezzi by Schumann. Overlake School, 20301 NE 108th St, Redmond, 283-8808, 8 pm, $16/$38.
APOSTROPHE
The excellent improvising violinist Tari Nelson-Zagar accompanies dancer Ying Zhou and poet Christine Deavel. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, 8 pm, $5â$15 sliding scale donation.
SATURDAY AUGUST 12
DER ROSENKAVALIER
Richard Strauss helped lay the groundwork for the Neoclassicism of the 1920s with this 1910 opera complete with waltzes, comedic farce, and a sparkling score. Carol Vaness, who recently decamped from the UW School of Music, plays the Marschallin. Runs through Sat Aug 26; see www.seattleopera.org for details. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 389-7676, 7 pm, $49â$135.
SUNDAY AUGUST 13
JIM CUTLER JAZZ ORCHESTRA
This group plays old chestnuts, new charts, and an experimental number or two. Their new disc, In Progress (Pony Boy), teems with uptempo tunes laced with odd touches like the quickie brass chorale in Cutler's "Get in the Game." Tula's, 2214 Second Ave, 443-4221, 8 pm, $5.
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, 9:30â10 pm, free.
MONDAY AUGUST 14
SEATTLE WOMEN'S JAZZ ORCHESTRA
One of the best big-band outfits in town serves up another free lunchtime concert. Bank of America Plaza, Fifth Ave and Marion St, 623-0340, noonâ1:30 pm, free.
