Avant Music News

FRI. 3/25, 8 PM – Two improvisational trios: Chad McCullough (trumpet)/Wayne Horvitz (keyboards)/ Ron Samworth (guitar) and Kris Hartung (guitar)/Brent Jensen (saxophone)/Bill Anschell (piano)

SAT. 3/26, 8 PM – Rik Wright’s Fundamental Forces + Iron Kim Style

WED. 3/30, 8 PM – Beth Fleenor and friends play music for a blindfolded ensemble

FRI. 4/1, 8 PM – Seattle Percussion Collective performs music of Paul Kikuchi, Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Nat Evans, Scelsi, Polanski, and Babbitt

SAT. 4/2, 8 PM – Ask the Ages, “Harp & Horns” with Stuart Dempster, Dale Speicher, Archana Bennur and Melissa Walsh

FRI. 4/8, 8 PM – Garrett Fisher Ensemble, new opera “Kocho”

SAT. 4/8, 8 PM – Garrett Fisher Ensemble, new opera “Kocho”

FRI. 4/15 – Neil Welch, adventurous young saxophonist with electronics

SAT. 4/16 – Danse Perdue, butoh performance

FRI. 4/22, 8 PM – Nonsequitur presents Steve Barsotti. homemade instruments, electronics, and field recordings

SAT. 4/23 – Melanie Sehman, commissioned pieces for percussion with/without electronics, inspired by Feldman’s “King of Denmark”

THU. 4/28 – Splash! Janna Wachter, mezzo-soprano, and Roger Nelson, piano

FRI. 4/29 – James Knapp & Scrape, large ensemble of improvising strings

SAT. 4/30 – Splash! Janna Wachter, mezzo-soprano, and Roger Nelson, piano

JACK Quartet (Sunday) The excellent JACK Quartet plays a typically adventurous program at Le Poisson Rouge, with work by the composer and saxophonist Steve Lehman; Ligeti’s String Quartet No. 2; and the New York premiere of “Before the Universe Was Born” (Quartet No. 5), by the Romanian-French composer Horatiu Radulescu, who died in 2008. At 6:30 p.m., Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village , (212) 505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com; $15. (Tommasini)

New York Philharmonic (Friday, Saturday, Thursday) Esa-Pekka Salonen continues his “Hungarian Echoes” series with a program that includes Haydn’s Symphony No. 8 (“Le Soir”); Ligeti’s “Clocks and Clouds”; and, with the pianist Olli Mustonen, Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 1. On Thursday the violinist Anne-Sofie Mutter resumes her expansive series of Philharmonic appearances this season. With Michael Tilson-Thomas on the podium, Ms. Mutter will play the New York premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina’s “In Tempus Praesens.” Also on the all-Russian program: Prokofiev’s “American” Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2. Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m.; $39 to $79. Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center , (212) 875-5656, nyphil.org; $32 to $122. (Kozinn)

Dave Douglas and Brass Ecstasy (Friday through Sunday) Mr. Douglas, the indefatigable trumpeter, cornetist and composer, introduced his aptly named Brass Ecstasy a few years ago, most notably on his 2009 album, “Spirit Moves” (Greenleaf). The band — with tuba, French horn, trombone and drums alongside its leader’s trumpet — tackles originals and pop songs with equal bluster and flair. At 9 and 11 p.m., Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village , (212) 255-4037, villagevanguard.com; $25 cover, with a one-drink minimum. (Chinen)

Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (Thursday) The name of this Dutch ensemble, often abbreviated to ICP Orchestra, conveys both the immediacy and the integrity of its mission. A 10-piece group with more than 40 years of history, it also happens to include some of the finest improvisers in Europe, like the pianist Misha Mengelberg, the drummer Han Bennink and the multireedist Michael Moore. This concert will also feature a set by the American accordionist Will Holshouser, with his trio. At 7:30 p.m., Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village , (212) 505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com; $18, day of show $15. (Chinen)

Jon Irabagon Trio (Friday) When the ingenious young saxophonist Jon Irabagon convenes a trio, you can usually settle in for the long haul: his most recent album, “Foxy” (Hot Cup), had him crashing through a single tune for more than an hour. Here he seeks to emphasize something other than stamina, with the bassist John Hébert and the drummer Mike Pride. At 9 and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, West Village, (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; $15, with a $10 minimum (Chinen)

Odean Pope Saxophone Choir with James Carter (Friday through Sunday) Led by Mr. Pope, a tenor saxophonist and composer from Philadelphia, this band features nine saxophones and a rhythm section and produces an unmistakable, vibrant sound. As on “Odean’s List” (In and Out), an album released last year, this engagement will feature yet another saxophonist as a guest soloist: Mr. Carter, a longtime admirer and fellow traveler of the band. At 8 and 10:30 p.m., Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village , (212) 475-8592, bluenote.net; $35 at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 cover. (Chinen)

John Zorn’s Masada Marathon (Wednesday) Coming in the middle of a busy stretch for Mr. Zorn — Friday sees the premiere of his “Machine de l’Être,” and Sunday has him presiding over his first of several all-star benefits for Japanese disaster relief — this concert features music from the Masada canon, inspired by his Jewish heritage. In addition to several Masada ensembles, it will feature the cellist Erik Friedlander in a solo set; Secret Chiefs 3; the pianist Uri Caine; Medeski, Martin and Dunn; and Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits, among others. At 8 p.m., David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center , (212) 721-6500, nycopera.com; $12 to $65. (Chinen)