January 20-26, 2005

musicpicks

Tyrone Brown String Sextet

jazz

Having spent some time backing up musical explorer Max Roach (alongside fellow Philadelphian Odean Pope), it's no wonder bassist Tyrone Brown doesn't settle for conventional notions of jazz. But where Roach's music became increasingly abstract as he moved from be-bop to free jazz, Brown adopts the rigor of 20th-century classical on the sole recording with his string sextet, 2000's Song of the Sun (Naxos). He usually opts to play fairly traditional jazz bass, providing a swinging spine for the polyphonic bowing of his multi-disciplinary chamber group. The sextet tends to serve as a showcase for Brown and versatile violinist John Blake, whose output ranges from modern classical to avant-jazz to R&B. A second recording has been mentioned since 2001 yet remains unreleased, so this show will provide a unique opportunity to hear an already stellar group with four extra years under their collective belt.

Sat., Jan. 22, 8 p.m., $20, Science Center Theater, Montgomery County Community College, Rt. 202 and Morris Rd., 215-641-6518.

—Shaun Brady