NNENNA FREELON
Sultry chanteuse Nnenna Freelon joins the Clayton Brothers Quintet for some soulful straight-ahead jazz. Freelon, touring in support of her Stevie Wonder tribute disc, Tales of Wonder, will quite likely sing several Wonder songs, too. Also Fri-Sat June 27-28 with sets at 8 and 10 pm as well as Sun Jun 29 with sets at 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, sets at 8 and 10 pm, $19.50/$23.50.
FRIDAY JUNE 27
SUSIE IBARRA TRIO
A staple of the New York out-jazz scene, drummer Susie Ibarra brings her trio to town for a rare Seattle appearance. Joining the fiery Ibarra is pianist Craig Taborn and violinist Jennifer Choi. As all three's instruments are also processed electronically, expect strange and sublime textures. Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E Prospect St, Volunteer Park, 547-6763, 8 pm, $12.
SATURDAY JUNE 28
SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Concerts of "Light Classics" typically make me twitch, but this one presents an interesting mixture of Russian hits and rarities. The hits include Rimsky-Korsakov's pounding Russian Easter Overture and two by Prokofiev, the Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Lieutenant Kijé Suite. Connoisseurs of short, atmospheric 19th-century orchestral works will enjoy mystical morsels by the lesser-known Liadov: Kikimora, The Enchanted Lake, and Baba-Yaga. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 215-4747, 7 pm, $16-$55. SUNDAY JUNE 29
ARONOFF CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
Not only is this series a bargain but it breathes fresh air into the mustier corners of the chamber music repertory. Assorted musicians tackle Max Reger's Serenade in G, the Elegie of Vieuxtemps, and Mozart's Divertimento in E-flat. Also on the bill is the Fantastic Variations of William Bergsma, who directed the UW School of Music in the 1960s. Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, 253-474-6922, 8 pm, $5/$10.
MONDAY JUNE 30
SOUND OF THE BRUSH
Devoted to presenting new work by improvisers, this installment features drummer Tim DuRoche, guitarist Doug Theriault, and trumpeter Jim Knodle. Theriault, one-half of the awesome Portland duo Office Products, is not to be missed; his feral, spiky approach is a splendid tonic to the legions of million-notes-a-minute guitar players. CoCA, 1420 11th Ave, 728-1980, 8:30 pm, donation requested.
TUESDAY JULY 1
ARONOFF CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
This festival serves up more unpredictable pieces. On the program: two world premieres, Dell Wade's Sextet and Christopher Fraley's Trio (dubbed "The Fish"), as well as Chopin's Sonata for Cello and Piano, Heitor Villa-Lobos' Assobio a Jato ("The Jet Whistle"), and Hindemith's Der Schwanendreher. Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, 253-474-6922, 8 pm, $5/$10.
WEDNESDAY JULY 2
DIGITAL LOUNGE
This weekly night at ToST assembles three local jazz luminaries: keyboardist Wayne Horvitz of Zony Mash, bassist PK, and drummer Kevin Sawka of Siamese who melds jazz drumming with stutterstep drum 'n' bass rhythms. ToST, 513 N 36th St, 547-0240, 9 pm, $5.
