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An excerpt from Miya Masaoka's "For Birds, Planes and Cello"

Until recently, it could be said that our fair city had little in common with the European culture capitals of Venice, Geneva, Florence, Munich and Graz. But that promises to change this week, with the upcoming visit of world-renowned musicians Miya Masaoka (koto), Peggy Lee (cello) and Larry Ochs (tenor and soprano saxophones). The trio, whose only other group performances to date have been scattered across Europe, visits Hallwalls this Thursday for a unique evening of jazz and experimental music. As a musician, Masaoka plays the koto (for which she’s developed an electronic interface), a 13-stringed traditional Japanese instrument. As a composer, she works in the varied worlds of jazz, Western classical music, traditional Japanese music and free improvisation to investigate the interactive, collaborative aspects of sound, improvisation, nature and society. Cellist Lee has made a big name for herself in Canada as an adventurous and diverse composer and improviser. Buffalonians may recall Ochs, who visited the Albright-Knox in March as part of the Rova Saxophone Quartet. In addition to his long tenure with that influential group, he’s composed two dozen works for sax quartet and many others for mixed ensembles. While all three musicians lead their own bands, they also collaborate extensively across musical genres. Thursday’s show will be a rare treat.

Thursday, September 7 at 8pm. Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave. (854-1694). $12/$8