KBCS

This eclectic program begins with a survey of new improvised tracks by Gordon Grdina, Christian Lillinger, Satoko Fujii and Adam Rudolph. James Weeks and the Ekmeles vocal ensemble revisit Italian madrigals using 31-tone equal temperament, while Osnat Netzer does the same with Beckett and Herbie Mann. Ches Smith attempts a meeting of minds between disco, hip-hop and Beethoven string quartets, while Sam Rivers tackles atonal bebop using a big band (via our 50 years ago in the avant-garde feature). We preview harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani’s upcoming appearance at Town Hall Seattle with a look at an Anahita Abbasi composition that will receive its US premiere, accompanied by a conversation between Anahita and host Michael Schell. Finally, a cherishingly selected closing set offers chill music by the late Phill Niblock (featuring what may be his most beautiful drone ever, created just months before his death), Éliane Radigue (a work that she premiered at Niblock’s loft half a century ago), Rhys Chatham (a 2014 duet with Z'EV that’s just gotten its premiere release) and Ewa Trebacz (a fixed-media piece straddling the worlds of dark ambient and acousmatic music). Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world.