UNTITLED
Iole Alessandrini's marvelous sound and light installation Untitled is a compact, all-white anteroom bisected and trisected by luminous planes of green lasers. Dancer Juerg Koch has choreographed movement for this unsettling space, aimed at exploring and exploiting Untitled's light, sound, and sensory triggers. The space is cozy and at most fits 10; unless you're a voyeur, call ahead and make a reservation so you're not consigned to another room watching the performance on closed-circuit TV. Also Fri Sept 24, Thurs Sept 30, and Fri Oct 1. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919, 6:30, 7, 7:30, and 8 pm, free.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Legendary conductor Stanislaw Skrowaczewski stops by to lead the band in Wagner's presciently pan-tonal Prelude from Tristan und Isolde, Charles Ives' mostly solemn yet brashly bumptious Decoration Day, Elgar's regal Cello Concerto (oh wait, all of Elgar's music is regal, right?), and Polish composer Witold Lutoslawki's Concerto for Orchestra. I'm definitely in the seats for this one. Also Sat Sept 25 at 8 pm. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $15-$85.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24
SEATTLE COMPOSERS SALON
A monthly, informal presentation of new music by Seattle composers, the Salon features finished works, previews, and works-in-progress. To kick off the Salon's sixth season, emcee Tom Baker has corralled fellow composers Keith Eisenbrey, Jay Hamilton, David Paul Mesler, Doug Palmer, and Clement Reid. Soundbridge at Benaroya Hall, Second Ave and Union St, 215-4747, 8 pm, $5.
JAY CLAYTON
This boundary-crossing vocalist and former Cornish professor reunites with an all-star cast of Cornish jazz musicians: trombonist Julian Priester, bandleader Jim Knapp, pianist Randy Halberstadt, bassist Chuck Deardorf, and drummer Mark Ivester. Expect standards as well as Clayton's trademark avant vocal explorations. Kerry Hall at Cornish College, 710 E Roy St, 325-6500, 8 pm, $7.50/$15.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26
DELUCA & SCHENKMAN
Here's my nominee for sleeper gig of the week. Seattle Chamber Players clarinetist Laura DeLuca teams up with Seattle Baroque's resident keyboardist Byron Schenkman to tackle music for clarinet and piano by Saint-Saëns, Martinu, Poulenc, and Messiaen. Call ahead for reservations. Sherman-Clay Piano & Organ, 1624 Fourth Ave, 622-7580, 7 pm, $10/$15.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27
SOUND OF THE UNDERBRUSH
Two sets of improvised music, the first with an unpredictable quartet of Sam Boshnack (trumpet), Paul Rucker (cello), Bill Horist (guitar sabotage), and Greg Campbell (percussion/French horn), who has the best collection of resonant pot lids in town. The second set is a mix 'n' match open to all comers. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 329-4224, 8 pm, donation requested.
MATT JORGENSEN+451
This sleek quartet, propelled by Seattle drummer Matt Jorgensen and Ryan Burns on Fender Rhodes electric piano, were great at Bumbershoot. They bested the Bad Plus with fine solos (especially from bassist Phil Sparks and saxophonist Mark Taylor) and marvelously varied tunes (including their now-signature cover of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter"). The Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333, 9 pm, free.
