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The show is KTRU's first sponsored concert of 1997 and will bring artists from all over the United States, including New York and New Orleans.

Matthew Shipp and William Parker hail from New York and will form the jazz end of the bill. Additionally, the show will feature Mr. Quintron, who plays a somewhat experimental style of organ music. Quintron has described himself as a "concert and night club organist." His energetic style and unusual choice of instrument place him far from the mainstream, but also make him a KTRU favorite.

Also, Mrs. Pussycat will be performing a puppet show featuring "Flossie and the Unicorns," which involves a puppet band. Both Mr. Quintron and Mrs. Pussycat are from New Orleans.

Rounding out the bill and adding a bit of local flavor will be Rusted Shut with their aggressive style of rock.

Shipp on piano and Parker on upright bass pound out an eccentric brand of jazz that swells and crashes as a ship upon the sea. Parker's walking base line paints a dark background which Shipp plays off continually with his discordant chords and wrenching rhythms.

Because of the differences between the type of music that Shipp and Parker play and that of Quintron, it is not likely that they would be put on the same playbill. Yet that is just what KTRU has done.

"Typically Shipp/Parker play jazz clubs and Quintron plays rock clubs," Andy Campbell, KTRU general manager, said. "It's pretty rare that the two worlds meet. It will be an incredible mix. All the artists involved are very excited about playing on such an eclectic bill."

With the exception of Mrs. Pussycat, all of the artists have been featured on KTRU. Rusted Shut's CD was even partially recorded at KTRU when they performed on the live show.

Although KTRU had wanted to sponsor a show this semester, the prospect of hosting Shipp and Parker came about quite by accident.

The jazz duo had wanted to play in Austin at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival but were not going to be able to make it to Texas unless they had another opportunity to play outside the festival.

"Conveniently enough, a guy called from Austin wanting to know if we wanted to put on Shipp/Parker," Campbell said. "He wanted to bring the duo down for SXSW, but they said they could only come down if they could find another show."

Quintron, who also was scheduled to be in Houston that night, was paired up with them, and thus was born the first KTRU show of the new year.

The non-profit show will cost $5 for those 21 and up and $7 for everyone else. For more information call (713) 869-JANE.

This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the March 14, 1997 issue.