With the reflexes of a mongoose and the swagger of a leftist John Wayne, Crystal Beth* (aka: Beth Fleenor) spins her own brand of posicore purge-pop-punk-hop: a sweaty trance psychedelic ritual. Expect intense currents of bethnic chanting, propelled by the ferocious beating of the Boom Boom…

*Crystal Beth is a psychoactive stimulant that increases alertness, concentration, and energy, and in high doses, can induce euphoria, enhance self-esteem, and increase libido.


Crystal Beth & the Boom Boom Band
with Matt Owen and The Eclectic Tuba / Wiscon

Since 1997, 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival has challenged Seattle’s most daring theatre artists to write, design, score, rehearse, and perform 14 world premiere plays in 48 hours, and dazzles audiences every time. Each weekend, artists gather on Thursday night. Writers are given a theme and write a play on that theme by the next morning. Directors are chosen at random, the plays are cast at random, musicians arrive and form a brand new band. Friday night, we present seven world premiere plays—never seen before, never seen again, impossible to forget—and then ask the audience for a new theme so we can start the whole process again in what The Stranger describes as “a punishing artistic exercise in speed and endurance."

Since 1997, 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival has challenged Seattle’s most daring theatre artists to write, design, score, rehearse, and perform 14 world premiere plays in 48 hours, and dazzles audiences every time. Each weekend, artists gather on Thursday night. Writers are given a theme and write a play on that theme by the next morning. Directors are chosen at random, the plays are cast at random, musicians arrive and form a brand new band. Friday night, we present seven world premiere plays—never seen before, never seen again, impossible to forget—and then ask the audience for a new theme so we can start the whole process again in what The Stranger describes as “a punishing artistic exercise in speed and endurance."

Michael will be playing in the band with these fabulous folks.

The SJCE 4 playing music by local cats at the Musiquarium! With Brian Bermudez-sax, Nate Omdal-bass, Jacque Willis-drums, and Michael Owcharuk-keys. Coming atcha with a wide world of swing, bop, funk, and rock.

Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble, with support from 4culture, presents the first annual SJCE New Works concert this December. Premiering eight new works for 10-piece ensemble, the performance will feature commissions by Wayne Horvitz, Samantha Boshnack, Beth Fleenor, David Marriot, Michael Owcharuk, Andy Clausen, Thomas Marriott, and Nate Omdal.
A hotbed of creative scenes and aesthetics, Seattle has one of the most vibrant jazz and im- provised music communities in the world. With activities happening concurrently in circles around the city, there are few events that bring together and celebrate the entire range of these scenes and respective composers working actively in large ensemble material. With New Works 2013 SJCE will present a dynamic array of scores by Seattle jazz composers.

The band: Beth Fleenor (clarinet); Kate Olson, Brian Bermudez, Mike Dodge (woodwinds); Al Keith, Tom Marriott (trumpets); David Marriott (trombone), Michael Owcharuk (piano) Nate Omdal (bass), and Jacques Willis (drums).

All ages, $5-15 sliding scale.