Solo sets by three strong, quirky, and carefully realized voices that travel freely across stylistic borders: Dylan Carlson, electric guitar; Lori Goldston, amplified cello; KnotPineBox (Karen Hancock), electric guitar and voice.

Presented by the Gallery 1412 collective with funding from 4Culture and the King County Lodging Tax.

This heretofore unnamed vessel (pronounced Bee Ess Tee See Arrrrgh) comprises a core trio of Ben Bennett (drumheads), Ryan Jewell (snare drum), and Wilson Shook (alto saxophone). With guests Paul Hoskin (reeds), Mara Sedlins (viola), Tyler Wilcox (reeds, synthesizer), Mark Collins (bass) and, from Portland, Kelvin Pittman (tenor saxophone).

Presented by Earshot Jazz Festival.

Swiss reedman Hans Koch, one of the most fearless improvisers in music, performs solo on bass clarinet. Koch left his career as a classical clarinetist and has worked since with Fred Frith, Cecil Taylor, and Andrew Cyrille. Seattle-based percussionist and composer Paul Kikuchi follows with his quartet – trombone maestro Stuart Dempster and fellow percussionist-instrument makers Alexander Vittum and Jesse Olsen.

The Seattle Composers’ Salon fosters the development, performance and appreciation of new music by regional composers and performers. At bi-monthly, informal presentations, the Salon features finished works, previews, and works in progress. Composers, performers, and audience members gather in a casual setting that allows for experimentation and discussion. This month’s composers: Keith Eisenbrey, Emily Doolittle, Cole Bratcher, Tom Baker

Presented by WA Composers Forum as part of their Transport Series.

The Nu:BC Collective, ensemble-in-residence at the University of British Columbia, presents a program of works by Canadian, French and American composers, written for chamber ensemble and tape: Christopher Sivak: A Perfect Focus (2008); Dorothy Chang: Miniatures (1998); Kamran Ince: MKG Variations for solo cello (1998) Chris Paul Harman: Doubling (2007); Jacob TerVeldhuis: The Body of Your Dreams (2004) Phillipe Leroux: ppp (1993); Marc Mellits: Fruity Pebbles (1997)

Presented by Earshot Jazz Festival & Polestar.

The astounding trio of Achim Kaufmann (piano), Frank Gratkowski (alto saxophone & clarinets), and Wilbert de Joode (bass) incorporates aspects of contemporary classical music, free improvisation, and the jazz tradition with enormous sympathy, dexterity, and power. The ensemble can create sparse, tense music from the bristling details of quiet interaction, while later firing through heated group improvisations as fast as the ear can follow.

Presented by Earshot Jazz Festival.

The French horn has a rather short list of jazz masters, usually led by Julius Watkins. One of Watkins’s foremost proponents, Tom Varner presents his tentet performing their new CD, Heaven and Hell. The new work showcases the orchestration of Varner’s elastic harmonics, his use of the ensemble as an instrument, and his Ellingtonian ability to animate against the instruments’ limitations.

Sjenka is young trombonist Andy Clausen’s ambient electronic trio, which synthesizes diverse musical styles into dynamic layered soundscapes filled with striking juxtapositions.

Presented by Nonsequitur and Earshot Jazz Festival.

Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz, and Tom Varner lead this adventurous 15-piece ensemble featuring top-flight Seattle improvisers and composers including Mark Taylor, Thomas Marriott, Eric Barber, Byron Vannoy, and Phil Sparks. Tonight, WACO features four extended compositions by Holcomb, Horvitz’s concerto for clarinet River of Whiskey, Chris Stover’s The Murderess, and the Seattle premier of Holcomb’s Laredo, commissioned by the Rova Saxophone Quartet.

Presented by Nonsequitur and Earshot Jazz Festival.

Long-time collaborators at the forefront of the Downtown NYC avant garde, electronic percussionist Ikue Mori and electronic/acoustic harpist Zeena Parkins (aka PHANTOM ORCHARD) weave a mix of beauty and noise amidst live video projections in a musical partnership that borders on the telepathic. The esteemed duo of Vancouver cellist Peggy Lee and the astonishing Central Asian vocalist Saadet Türköz combine free improvisation with the Kazakh and Turkish forms of Türköz’s childhood.

Presented by Nonsequitur.

Co-founder of Louisville indie chamber group Rachel’s, pianist Rachel Grimes performs her new solo album of lyrical piano compositions, Book of Leaves, along with music by Erik Satie. Seattle cellist Gretchen Yanover combines her classical chops and gorgeous tone with layered electronic loops in a hybrid of minimalism and romanticism.