World-renowned alto saxophonist from Scotland Raymond MacDonald performs with four of Seattle’s finest improvisers: Paul Hoskin, reeds; Tari Nelson-Zagar, violin; Lori Goldston, cello; Greg Campbell, percussion.

Saxophonist/composer Ryan Marsh presents a program showcasing music of the minimalist era, and original new works that share a similar style and approach; music by John Adams, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and the premier of Marsh’s own Death and the Angel. Performers include Nicole Barnes, Jay Easton, Scott Granlund, and Bryan Smith (saxophones); Akiko Iguchi (piano); Mary Ellen Hodges and Pam Moser (marimbas); and live painting by local artist Gail Baker.

Presented by Nonsequitur & Seattle Improvised Music.

Tyler Wilcox, Gust Burns, Mara Sedlins, John Teske, Wilson Shook, and other Seattle improvisers perform selections from Michael Pisaro‘s harmony series.

Michael Pisaro performs the North American premiere of a new composition for solo guitar and sine waves, fields have ears (6). Guitarist/composer Michael Pisaro (born 1961, Buffalo, NY) is currently on the composition faculty at Cal Arts. A member of the Wandelweiser Composers Ensemble, he has composed over 80 works for a great variety of instrumental combinations, including several pieces for variable instrumentation. Most of his music of the last several years is published by Edition Wandelweiser (Germany).

Pran celebrates the release of their new CD, Traveler’s Todi. This unique brass duo performs the East Indian style of Dhrupad. Greg Powers is a pioneer in adapting Indian music to the trombone, and is the only trombonist in the world performing this ancient style of music. Stuart Dempster provides the centering drone on his big brass didjeridu. While the instruments are western, they remain true to the Dagarbhani School of Dhrupad.

Presented by Nonsequitur as part of a nation-wide celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Improvisor magazine, the international journal of free improvisation. Free jazz saxophone/trumpet legend Joe McPhee plays a very rare Seattle solo show dedicated to the memory of two recently departed giants of the music, Bill Dixon and Fred Anderson.

Gift Tapes presents SYNTH NIGHT 3, an evening of meditative music showcasing distinct minimalist synth works by three NW artists: Pulse Emitter is the synthesizer music of Portland’s Daryl Groetsch. Seattle-based Cristin Miller Stella Haze uses vocals as a central element in her sound, weaving thick fields of synthesizer and effects to create dreamy, minimalist soundworlds. Spare Death Icon is one of several solo projects by Seattle’s Jason E. Anderson, recalling the atmospheric zones of early new age pioneers and early 80’s underground tape music.

French horn ace Tom Varner and his four top guests — Chris Fagan, alto sax, Eric Barber, tenor sax, Phil Sparks, bass, Byron Vannoy, drums — present an evening of summer sound meditations, new works, selections from Tom’s new tentet CD Heaven and Hell, and at least two works — Heaps and TVTV — from Tom’s very first recording.

Ask the Ages brings together new and old friends from several worlds: Greg Campbell, drums; John Seman, bass; Matt Reid, trumpet & electronics; and Brian Heaney, electric guitar and compositions. Joining the quartet are trombonist Stuart Dempster, classical harpist Melissa Walsh, and Indian karnatic singer Archana Bennur. They’ll perform music drawn from the edges of jazz and new music with sights set for drone und drang. Opening the show is the guitar trio of Dennis Rea, Stephen Parris and Brian Heaney.

Presented by Earshot Jazz as part of their Jazz: the 2nd Century series. Helix is an ensemble with an unusual lineup: two saxophones and two percussionists. Eric Barber and Greg Sinibaldi perform on tenor saxophones, while Paul Kikuchi and Greg Campbell play drumsets and other percussion instruments. Trio Illogic consists of three relative newcomers to the Seattle jazz scene: trumpeter Riley Mulherkar, pianist Julian Garvue, and trombonist Willem de Koch, who make sense of the New Orleans traditional jazz approach by pulling it apart and putting it back together for modern times.