Bang One Out

To kick off its "What's the Big Idea Day" open house, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts couldn't have enlisted a better combo of adventurous musicians than the Bang on a Can All-Stars. Founded in 1987 by composers Julia Wolfe, David Lang, and Michael Gordon, the Bang on a Can concept seeks to establish connections between the typically divided contemporary classical and pop music worlds. These connections begin with the All-Stars' instrumental lineup (clarinet, cello, keyboards, electric guitar, bass, and drums), which serves as a flexible foundation from which to explore cross-cultural immersion. For tonight's Bang on a Can All-Stars Concert, the ensemble welcomes Iva Bittová, an irrepressible violinist and vocalist from the Czech Republic whose solo performances evoke the power of a full band, and Don Byron, a New York clarinetist versed in klezmer, hip-hop, and a century of jazz tradition. Earlier in the day, at the six-hour Bang on a Can Marathon, the group presents a number of aural adventurers, including the provocative bass clarinet quartet Edmund Welles and local club favorite DJ Cheb i Sabbah, who will premiere tunes from his forthcoming album, Devotion, a promising collaboration with Pakistani singer Riffat Sultana.

The marathon starts at noon and the concert starts at 8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 9, 12 & 8 p.m., 2008