Two musicians known for their compelling eclecticism and flair for invention, pianist Myra Melford and clarinetist Ben Goldberg, showcase their original compositions in tonight's quartet performance. Joined by Lisa Mezzacappa on bass and Scott Amendola on drums, Myra and Ben's improvised, based on avant-jazz and folk forms, is, by turns. deeply grooving and earthy or sublimely ethereal. Myra's rangy, colorful compositions touch upon jazz influences like Ornette Coleman, Henry Threadgill, and Don Pullen, but her themes are also informed by sources as far afield as klezmer, tango, and chamber music. Ben's work with New Klezmer Trio and Junk Genius attests to the stunning vitality of this performer, who refers to the clarinet as "the narrow  prism that refracts the spectrum of my music."

Showcasing the beautiful compositions of pianist Wayne Horvitz, the quartet Sweeter Than the Day, in the words of The Wire magazines, provides "an irresistible antidote to gray days." Formed in 1999 as the acoustic incarnation of Wayne's Seattle-based jazz/blues/psychedelia band Zony Mash, the quartet includes bassist Keith Lowe, guitarist Timothy Young, and Andy Roth on drums. Laid-back and a bit melancholy, the music of Sweeter Than the Day features memorable melodies, layered folk-rock eclecticism, and Wayne's distinctively angular chord progressions. Wayne's wide-ranging musical history includes leadership of numerous bands, collaborations with folks like Bill Frisell and John Zorn, work with choreographers, and film soundtracks.