Anthony Braxton

Fri., Oct. 10, 8 p.m., $35 (includes free admission to Sat. concert), Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St.; Sat., Oct. 11, 8 p.m., $10, St. Mark's Church, 1625 Locust St, 866-468-7619, arsnovaworkshop.com.

by Shaun Brady

jazz

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Perhaps no one embodies the continuum and contrasts between composition and improvisation quite as well as Anthony Braxton, so it's fitting that the saxophonist/composer be the first subject of Ars Nova Workshop's Composer Portrait series. The series' title, "Free/Form" sums up the dichotomy of avant-garde jazz writing, but no description that pat and brief can hope to capture the structured invention that Braxton's monumental writing evokes. Over two nights, Braxton will present several of his works, showcasing the expansive reach of his musical philosophizing. On Friday, the composer leads his new Falling River Quartet, a violin/piano/bassoon/saxophones ensemble formed to work within his new "music system that will seek to explore image logic construct 'paintings' as the score's extract music notation." On Saturday, a gathering of young brass innovators will gather for two of Braxton's pieces: one composition for seven costumed trumpeters composed in 1983 but not premiered until '05, and a work for brass quintet.

Fri., Oct. 10, 8 p.m., $35 (includes free admission to Sat. concert), Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St.; Sat., Oct. 11, 8 p.m., $10, St. Mark's Church, 1625 Locust St, 866-468-7619, arsnovaworkshop.com.