Imani Winds with vibraphonist Stefon Harris in concert October 4, 2009

San Francisco Performances presents culturally eclectic ensemble Imani Winds, teaming with vibraphone wizard Stefon Harris for the local premiere of a new work, "Anatomy of a Box (A Sonic Painting in Wood, Metal and Wind)," an SFP co-commission.

A former San Francisco Performances Artist-in-Residence (2001-2005), 35-year-old vibraphonist, composer and bandleader Stefon Harris has degrees in both classical music and jazz and is a member of the SFJAZZ Collective. In addition to touring the new work, he recently issued a CD "Urbanus," on the Concord Records label, his seventh disc as a band leader.

First introduced at a San Francisco Performances Gift Concert in 2006, the Imani Winds returned that fall with a special project, "Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot!" Ensemble members are Valerie Coleman, flute; Toyin Spellman-Diaz, oboe; Miriam Adam, clarinet; Jeff Scott, French horn; and Monica Ellis, bassoon. The five accomplished musicians joined forces in 1997 to expand the boundaries of the traditional wind quintet and explore the links between European, African and American music traditions. The name "Imani" comes from the Swahili word for "faith."

"Anatomy of a Box (A Sonic Painting in Wood, Metal and Wind)" was commissioned by Music Accord, a consortium of US presenters that includes San Francisco Performances, as well as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Tanglewood in Massachusetts and others.

"This work is a live demonstration of a sonic painting in which we experiment with blending the textures of our instruments," says Harris. "We will blur the lines between improvisation and composition, and in turn, between classical and jazz, by introducing improvisation to the woodwind quintet."

In addition to the Harris piece, the program includes "Red Clay" by Coleman; "Homage to Duke" by Jeff Scott; and "Quintette" by Jean Francaix.

$39/$27.

Official Website: http://www.performances.org