John Cage’s STEPS: A Composition for a Painting to be Performed by Individuals or Groups (1989) receives a rare performance and Seattle premiere thanks to important performance notes provided by Ray Kass and the Mountain Lake Workshop where Cage created the original realization in 1989. This performance of STEPS is a collaboration of Seattle artists Jarrad Powell, Beth Graczyk and Robert Campbell, with assistance from Reilly Sinanan, Danielle Allinice, Matthew Matsuda, and dancers Corrie Befort, Shannon Stewart, Alia Swersky, Mary Margaret Moore.

Fontana Radif, created and performed by Jessika Kenney, is a vocal realization of Cage’s graphic score Fontana Mix. Cage originally used Fontana Mix in 1958 to create a tape piece of the same name, but subsequently used the score to create several other pieces. Here Cage’s score provides a lens through which to experience in a new way the memory and practice of the classical Persian musical system known as radif or “row,” consisting of over a hundred melodic patterns which express and symbolize an ancient tradition of the art of mode and melody.

This evening will feature two intimate solo sets by new music performer/composers Robin Holcomb (piano, voice) and Eric Barber (saxophones and electronics). Robin will perform songs, improvisations, and compositions for piano. Eric will perform solo improvisations and compositions as well as large saxophone compositions for live performer and CD from an upcoming release.

Vocalist Jessika Kenney, electric guitarist Dylan Carlson, percussionist and horn player Greg Campbell, and cellist Lori Goldston perform improvised works about love, longing, unity, wildness, mystery, etc.

A collaboration by two multi-faceted improvisers: Amy Denio is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and international collaborator. Her main instruments are voice, accordion, alto saxophone, clarinet, electric guitar, and bass. Thollem McDonas is a pianist, vocalist, collaborator and facilitator. He is currently touring as a soloist, in collaboration with many other individuals and groups, as well as leading large ensemble free improvisation/collaboration workshops

Triptet returns to Seattle to celebrate the release of their new CD, Figure in the Carpet. Triptet is a meeting of minds and spontaneous electrical impulses between Michael Monhart (saxophones and percussion), Tom Baker (guitars and effects), and Greg Campbell (percussion and cheap electronics). They have released three albums: You Can See The Bottom (Present Sounds Recordings), Imaginary Perspective (Engine Records), and their newest release in 2012, Figure in the Carpet (Engine Records). Ask the Ages opens: Greg Campbell (drums and percussion), Steven Bell (Vibraphone ), Brian Heaney (guitar), Kate Olson (sax/woodwinds) and John Seman (bass).

The composition students at the University of Washington present an evening of new music by Ivan Arteaga, Jeff Bowen, Yiğit Kolat, Doug Niemela, Marcin Pączkowski, Kim Rivera, and Anthony Vine. An eclectic array of aesthetics and approaches will be showcased, including improvisation, electroacoustic music, instrumental music concrète, music for children, and much more.

Many Seattle composers are writing flexible music, a hybrid between composition and improvisation. The ensemble will be performing original works by local composers, each with their own style. Featuring Greg Campbell, Jacob Zimmerman, John Teske, Natalie Mai Hall, Neil Welch, Paul Kikuchi, and a piece by Tom Baker.

In Violin, Viola & Video Virtuosity, each work was created expressly for Karen Bentley Pollick and explores the synergy of video and solo strings: world premieres of Jeffrey Harrington’s Grand Tango for violin with video by the composer; Seattle composer Nat Evans’ and video artist Erin Elyse Burns’ desertscape Heat Whispers; and New York composer Stuart Diamond’s prismatic video created for his 1974 Baroque Fantasy. New York video artist Sheri Wills‘ videos are featured in Sapphire (2010) by New York composer Preston Stahly; Dilemma (1987) by Czech composer Jan Jirásek; The Red Curtain Dance (2003) and Letter to Avigdor (1990) by Israeli American composer Ofer Ben-Amots; and Metaman (2009) by Rome Prize winner Charles Norman Mason.

The Seattle Phonographers Union improvise collectively with unprocessed field recordings gathered in the (so-called) “real world.” Sounds both common and unfamiliar are spontaneously layered to create unexpected juxtapositions, an abstract audio cinema of the mind. Tonight’s line-up consists of Steve Barsotti, Pete Comely, Doug Haire, Susie Kozawa, Steve Peters, and new member Mark Cooper, joined by our relocated comrade Christopher DeLaurenti.

Returning to the Chapel following his 2010 Earshot Jazz Festival appearance, NYC reed player Avram Fefer leads a Seattle trio featuring bassist Evan Flory-Barnes and drummer Greg Campbell.