Improvisation – Upcoming Concerts
Jack Straw Winter Showcase
Saturday, December 21, 2030 @ 2:00pm – 6:00pm (PST)
Jack Straw Cultural Center, Seattle, WA, United States
Jack Straw Cultural Center celebrates the solstice with performances from a wide range of artists from the Artist Support Program, including clarinetist/composer James Falzone, Seattle Art Song Society, Okinawan sanshin player and singer Mako Willett, and others.
$10-$20 suggested donation
Mostly Nordic: Impressions of L. A. Ring (Denmark)
Sunday, January 12, 2031 @ 2:00pm – 4:00pm (PST)
National Nordic Museum, Seattle, WA, United States
Danish jazz and improvisational artist Nikolaj Hess presents opens Mostly Nordic's 25th season with this musical homage to painter and fellow Dane L.A. Ring.
$30 / $25 / $10
SPU Presents Joseph Daley's 'Seven Deadly Sins'
Friday, January 31, 2031 @ 7:30pm – 9:00pm (PST)
First Free Methodist Church, Seattle, WA, United States
Featuring a genre-bending work by Joseph Daley that includes freely improvised sections and Latin-American grooves. Also featuring original chamber works by SPU student composers.
Free (Free)
CMNW Summer Festival: Buster Keaton Silent Movie Nights with Matan Porat
Monday, July 12, 2032 @ 8:30pm – 10:30pm (PDT)
Gresham Arts Plaza, Gresham, OR, United States
Pianist/composer Matan Porat improvises live, on-the-fly soundtrack performances for Buster Keaton’s classic silent films, The Playhouse & Sherlock Jr.. Outdoor seating.
Free (Free)
CMNW Summer Festival: Buster Keaton Silent Movie Nights with Matan Porat
Tuesday, July 13, 2032 @ 8:30pm – 10:30pm (PDT)
Venue unknown, WA, United States
Pianist/composer Matan Porat improvises a live, on-the-fly soundtrack performance for Buster Keaton’s classic silent film The General.
Free (Free)
Marmaduke Overend Festival: Concert 1 & Sherry Tasting
Saturday, July 31, 2032 @ 6:30pm – 8:30pm (PDT)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Tacoma, WA, United States
Join harpsichordist Henry Lebedinsky, baroque violinists Anna Okada & Eleanor Legault, & baroque bassoonist Anna Marsh for a tour of late Baroque English trio sonatas, paired with a tasting of 4 exceptional sherries.
$35
Marmaduke Overend Festival: Concert 2 & Afternoon Tea
Sunday, August 1, 2032 @ 4:00pm – 6:00pm (PDT)
Venue unknown, WA, United States
Join harpsichordist Henry Lebedinsky, baroque violinists Anna Okada & Eleanor Legault, & baroque bassoonist Anna Marsh for a tour of late Baroque English trio sonatas – paired with afternoon tea, claret, & stories.
$35
Mystic Chords of Memory
Thursday, August 5, 2032 @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (PDT)
Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, WA, United States
Composer/performer Nat Evans & saxophonists Neil Welch & Kate Olson perform a new, semi-improvisatory work while drifting around Olympic Sculpture Park.
Free (Free)
Wayward Music Series: Seattle Phonographers Union + Tom Varner’s Sound Vespers
Saturday, August 7, 2032 @ 8:00pm – 10:00pm (PDT)
The Chapel at the Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, WA, United States
Double bill featuring sets by the sound recordist collective Phonographers Union, & jazz French hornist Tom Varner.
$5-$15 suggested donation
Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis & Belladonna
Wednesday, September 8, 2032 @ 5:00pm – 7:00pm (PDT)
Online and in-person
2 new composition projects by guitarist/composer/MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson: Belladonna, featuring Halvorson with the Mivos String Quartet; & Amaryllis, for improvising sextet.
Free (Free (in-person ticket price TBD))
Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis & Belladonna
Thursday, September 9, 2032 @ 5:00pm – 7:00pm (PDT)
Online and in-person
2 new composition projects by guitarist/composer/MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson: Belladonna, featuring Halvorson with the Mivos String Quartet; & Amaryllis, for improvising sextet.
Free (Free (in-person ticket price TBD))
Wayward Music Series: Right Brain Music Minifest
Saturday, September 18, 2032 @ 7:30pm – 9:30pm (PDT)
The Chapel at the Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, WA, United States
1-night explosion of improvised music, featuring local virtuosos & spontaneous jams that will stretch your imagination.
$5-$15 donation
Roulette: Anna Webber’s Simple Trio // Idiom VI Large Ensemble
Thursday, September 23, 2032 @ 5:00pm – 7:00pm (PDT)
Online and in-person
Woodwind player/composer Anna Webber performs works from her recent release, Idiom, featuring both her long-standing Simple Trio & a new large ensemble made up of jazz improvisors & contemporary classical music specialists.
Free (Free ($20-$25 in person))
Wayward Music Series: Erin Jorgensen + Kyle Hanson
Thursday, September 23, 2032 @ 7:30pm – 9:30pm (PDT)
The Chapel at the Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, WA, United States
Double bill: Non-traditional accordionist Kyle Hanson showcases unique, "shimmering" performance techniques. Marimbist Erin Jorgensen performs a semi-improvisatory, meditative set full of good vibes.
$5-$15 suggested donation
Desert Fantasy/Hyaline/Eat Your Greens
Sunday, September 26, 2032 @ 7:30pm – 10:30pm (PDT)
The Royal Room, Seattle, WA, United States
Triple bill featuring electroacoustic percussion act Desert Fantasy; genre-bending trio Hyaline; & electronic vibraphone/drumset duo Eat Your Greens.
$10 advance ($7 students, $12 doors)
Ear Taxi Festival Mainstage Concerts: Fat Pigeon, with Daniel Robles Lizano
Friday, October 1, 2032 @ 2:30pm – 3:15pm (PDT)
Online and in-person
Collective improvisation performance from Fat Pigeon (Emily Beisel, bass clarinet; Luis Fernando Amaya, percussion; Craig Davis Pinson, electric guitar) with visual art from Daniel Robles Lizano.
Free (Free)
Ear Taxi Festival Mainstage Concerts: Elenna Sindler & Hasco Duo
Monday, October 4, 2032 @ 9:00am – 9:45am (PDT)
Online and in-person
Hasco Duo joins vocalist/composer/songwriter Elenna Sindler for a presentation of Elenna's songs – immersing Elenna's sophisticated pop sensibility & narrative vision in Hasco's psychedelic & dreamy soundworld.
Free (Free)
Roulette: Robert Dick & Ursel Schlicht – Flute & Piano Redefined—Again!
Wednesday, October 6, 2032 @ 5:00pm – 7:00pm (PDT)
Online and in-person
The long-standing duo of Robert Dick (Glissando Flute, bass flute, contrabass flute, & piccolo) & Ursel Schlicht (piano – both on the keyboard, & inside the instrument) premieres new music that seeks to expand the sound world of their instrumental configuration.
Free (Free ($20-$25 in person))
Our House is On Fire
Thursday, October 7, 2032 @ 5:30pm – 7:00pm (PDT)
Online and in-person
Livestreamed concert of world premieres urging immediate action to address the global climate crisis, featuring an interdisciplinary team of composers, poets, performers, & sound designers from across the US.
Free (Free)
NIGHTLIGHT: Harvest Moon
Saturday, October 23, 2032 @ 8:00pm – 11:00pm (PDT)
Machine House Brewery, Seattle, WA, United States
Equal parts full moon ritual, performance, & dance party. Artists Leanna Keith, Moonyeka, & Opulent Witch present this event offering people a chance to indulge their desire to party, transmute, manifest, & dance hard.
$10-$30