EQlateral Ensemble

Featuring sublime to frenetic strings, ethereal voxings and hypnotic rhythms enhanced by experimental/electronic soundings and of-the-moment inspiration, EQlateral's dramatic soundscapes range from the sensual to the cosmic and back again. With John Ames (cello), Sebastian Lange (violin and laptop), Peter Toms (bass and ambient noise) and Susan Dumett (“vox vespertinus”), this unique ensemble of electro-classical musicians is not to be missed. Joining EQ is the incomparable video artistry of VJ Ephemeral.

Eric Glick Rieman & Lung Tree

Nonsequitur presents Lung Tree, a trio of Bay Area composer/improviser Eric Glick Rieman (prepared Rhodes Electric Piano and piano) and Seattle musicians Lesli Dalaba (trumpet), and Stuart Dempster (trombone.) Brought together by Glick Rieman in 2004, the trio explores the subtle edges of post-modern jazz and new music. They have released one CD on the ReR Megacorp label.

Affinity Chamber Players

Washington Composers Forum presents Affinity, performing new works received in response to a call for scores for a reading, rehearsal and inclusive conversation on the compositional and collaborative process. Composers Matthew Fields, Christopher Gainey, and Helena Michelson will discuss their work with audience members in a workshop style.

Is That Jazz?: Elliott Sharp + Triptet

The Seattle Composers' Salon presents the first annual IS THAT JAZZ? festival. Elliott Sharp has been for the past 20 years one of New York's most influential and prolific musicians. His performances are visceral and powerful, raw and full of urban energy. Don't miss this chance to see a true genius and pioneer of 21st century experimentalism in a rare Seattle appearance. Triptet (Seattle/NYC) bring a sense of composition and organic form to their improvisations. Saxophonist Michael Monhart recently re-located to NYC, but returns to Seattle for this set with guitarist Tom Baker and percussionist Greg Campbell.

Seattle Improv Fest Benefit: 1-Minute Solos

8:00 PM; suggested donation $10 or more.

Seattle Improvised Music presents its annual benefit concert to raise funds for the 24th annual Seattle Improvised Music Festival. This year's festival (February 13, 14, 15 and 20, 21, 22) will feature performers from France, Berlin, Beirut, the east and west coasts of the US, and Seattle. And this year's fundraiser will again feature many, many Seattle area musicians, poets, and dancers performing one-minute solos. It's a chance to hear a diverse spattering of local performers and contribute generously to the support the longest-running festival of free improvisation in the country.

Transport: MAD Trio

Washington Composers' Forum's ongoing Transport Series features MAD Trio, an ensemble that stretches the line between composed and improvised music. Alan Lechusza (multi-woodwinds), Christopher Adler (piano), and Colin McCallister (electric guitar), present high energy performances of Lechusza's compositions.

Is That Jazz?: Krispen Hartung + RadioSonde

The Seattle Composers' Salon presents the first annual IS THAT JAZZ? festival. Krispen Hartung (Boise) focuses on the tonal character of the guitar as a basis for random electro-acoustic manipulation. He'll be playing a new miniature jazz archtop guitar built by San Juan Island luthier Bobby Warren. RadioSonde (Seattle) is a company of five dancers and four improvising musicians. Choreographer Beth Graczyk and composer Tom Baker have constructed a new structured dance/music improvisation for this performance.

Ong Ong #5 Imaginary Release Party

((((((((((((COMET OVER THE LAND OF FUZZ )))))))))))

Ong Ong Magazine celebrates the release of Issue #5. Mr. Rogers' Bubbleland Opera! Tom Carroll jumps through a wall! The Sisters Carnahan shadow play! Stefan Gruber draws your spiritual incarnation! Clyde Peterson trips the light effect fandango! Queen Shmooquan hosts! Lucy M. and Willow Fox do something! Reesey tap dances! Intermission! Sing-a-long!

Dale Speicher, solo percussion

The Seattle Percussion Collective presents Dale Speicher in a concert of contemporary music for mallet instruments, featuring the Washington premiere of Cenk Ergun's Headless Bodies, for vibraphone, crotales, and orchestra bells, and Keiko Abe's Memories of the Seashore.

Is That Jazz? Fest: Christian Asplund + Cipher

The Seattle Composers' Salon presents the first annual IS THAT JAZZ? festival. Christian Asplund (Provo, UT) performs works from his recent CD of solo viola music. It is stunning music, and his style and presence are worth the price of admission. Cipher (Seattle/Brooklyn) features some of the finest improvisers this fair city has to offer: violinists Tom Swafford and Tari Nelson-Zagar, and reed players Jesse Canterbury and Greg Sinibaldi.

Kristen Loree & Jack Ox: Schwitters' Ur Sonata

Presented by Subtext Reading Series and Nonsequitur.

The Dada intermedia artist Kurt Schwitters' Ur Sonata is an epic Dada sound poem structured in classic four-movement sonata form (plus introduction, finale, and cadenza). This performance of the Ur Sonata merges two distinct approaches to the material. Actress and vocalist Kristen Loree gives a tour de force performance of the complete text, set against a backdrop of projections by visual artist Jack Ox. The images are derived from Ox's translation of the poem into a series of paintings that run continuously for 800 feet. Loree will also perform By Language Embellished: I, a work for solo actor/percussionist by composer Stuart Saunders Smith.

Seattle Composers' Salon Holiday Office Party

Seattle Composers' Salon kicks off its 10th season with a New Year's New Music Holiday Office Party with DJ Snoopy Santa, door prizes, etc. This is a potluck, so please bring some snack or favorite holiday treat to share. We will have eggnog and other non-alcoholic beverages.