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Burning--by drummer/composer/electric bargain princess Laura Cromwell, is a meditation on human imperfection and the strange and wonderful transformations which compassion can bring in it's myriad and sometimes incongruous forms. Inspired by Brenda Hillman's poem Bright Existence, and based on the concept of an aural mandala, this premiere features Zeena Parkins, Chris Cochrane, Ted Reichman and Jim Pugliese. This piece was commissioned by Roulette with funds provided by the Jerome Foundation.

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Sweden's Mats Gufstafsson, Dutch vocalist and sound poet Jaap Blonk and the Assyrian-Chicagoan percussionist Michael Zerang continue their explorations/improvisations for a third straight year. Their debut recording, Imp-Rovi-Sors (Kontrans 143), was released in 1996.

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Composer/pianist "Blue" Gene Tyranny presents the premiere of The Driver's Son (Five Acts) for voice and electronics, an audio-story board for an ensemble of four, including narrator, electronic mixer, singer and instrumentalist Commissioned by Roulette with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.

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Composer, bassoonist, instrument maker, Leslie Ross will present (Offering)?, the first showing of excerpted 'entries' from an ongoing musical journal attempting, among other things, to explore the nexus of music and everyday life. There will also be extemporizing upon grounds (a common baroque practice) for the late 20th C played on period instruments with Jay Elfenbein (viols & bass) plus a new piece for tape, MIDI, electronics and bassoon.

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Ikue Mori, percussion machinery; Zeena Parkins, string machinery; Jim Staley, wind machinery. Vagrant--variations, intentions, time and The Derby.

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Jonathan Hart Makwaia will present a solo performance of his new work for voice and piano. Hart Makwaia's unique extended vocal techniques and Afro-European roots combine in a fresh and individual style and sounds.

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Two works by the composer and torch singer -- The Faith Of Whores and You're So Beautiful. Three classical and three freely improvising musicians tell the story of an impoverished prostitute who lives long enough (199 years) to become educated and wealthy. Lenore Von Stein, soprano; Michael Rabinowitz, bassoon; Leroy Jenkins and Timothy Hsu, violins; Maria Illic, piano; Alan Gordon Smulen, baritone. Surreal and uninhibited.

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The Climax Band is Larry Rivers, Howard Brofsky, Peter Calandra, Stomu and Earl Williams. Originally known as the East 13th Street Band, such notable musicians as Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Legere, Don Cherry, Winton Marsalis and Jerry Mulligan have performed with them over the years.

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Sephirot--Assif Tsahar's Brass-Reeds Ensemble blends brass band music from New Orleans marching bands, twentieth century classical music, jazz, folk and free improvisation. The ten Sephirot expounded upon in the Cabala represent different aspects/realms of the universe. With musicians Herb Robertson, Coung Vu, Joe Daley, Vincent Chancy, Rob Brown, Chris Jonas, Susie Ibarra, Assif Tsahar. This work was commission by Roulette with funds from the Jerome Foundation.

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Night of Radiance--duets with Vernon Reid and Laraaji Venus. Music for acoustic, electric and electronic guitars and autoharp.

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Phoebe Legere, pianistpoet, accordionactivist, composersinger, performs excerpts from her Sci-Fi opera Planet Boob; the first in a three part Boobian Cycle. This trans-genre electronic soundscape spectacle was inspired by U.F.O. sightings in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey.

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Utgard Revisited--a new piece by German composer-performer Ulrich Krieger, which brings together a teutonic approach of drum 'n bass, dub, heavy metal, free improv and new music. Sound 'n rhythm - freedom 'n structure - energy 'n quietness. AOS is an ongoing series for solo sax which researches a world of acoustic music which sounds electronic.

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The Ratchets--Composer Jens Brand, ratchets and 8 computer-controlled ratchets with Seth Josel, tenor banjo and electric guitar. Ratchets belong to the family of ancient instruments. They belong to the "noisemakers" category of musical instruments. So does this band. The music is percussive drone music. Think volume and speed in relation to density, yet it seems to move slowly.

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In The Spirit, encompassing the secular and the sacred, the sassy, the visual, the rhythm and blues of people who, through the expression of their hopes and aspirations, made it possible for us to realize our dreams. Michael Bisio, bass; Dominic Duval, bass; Joe Giardullo, reeds and flute; Joe McPhee, reeds and brass.

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Vocalist/composer/performer Shelley Hirsch will perform her new piece, In The Field, At The Table and improvise with surprise guests. Fascinating, clever and extreme.

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Tales and Mosaics--An evening of voice, winds and electronics, composed and performed by Joan La Barbara (voice) and Peter Gordon (winds). From a breath to a scream, from simple unison melodic ideas, the lines diverge, intersect and grow in intensity and density, compounded by electronics and pre-recorded material, until a richly textured, sonic mosaic is achieved.

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Happy Birthday Christian Wolff! The Barton Workshop has been studying and performing the works of Christian Wolff for several years. Their work has included a close collaboration with the composer. Marking the occasion of his 65th birthday on March 8, Christian Wolff has composed a new work for the Workshop, commissioned by the Fromm Foundation.

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A little Alice Coltrane, a little Steve Gorn, a little Max Roach? Maybe. More like an extrapolation. Solo compositions by Eve Beglarian, Kitty Brazelton, Eleanor Hovda, Gustavo Matamoros, and Richard Einhorn, as well as improvisations. Harpist Elizabeth Panzer will be joined by fellow band members of Talking Harp to celebrate her upcoming solo CD New Pages. Cacophony. Subtle trance. Spontaneous composition. Bruce Gremo on flute, shakuachi, bansuri and xun, and Edward Ware on drums.

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Borah Bergman, piano; Thomas Buckner, voice; and Roscoe Mitchell, sax; plus a special first time appearance with drummer/percussionist, Thurman Barker. Gentle, centered, transcendent and riveting.

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Three pioneers in the art of free improvisation make a rare New York appearance -- Greg Goodman, piano; Henry Kaiser, guitar; and John Oswald, alto sax have co-generated extemporaneous music for more than twenty years.