Guillermo E. Brown has been a drummer in a host of progressive jazz scenarios, most famously with improvising titans David S. Ware and Matthew Shipp. Hes one of those players who gravitates toward anything that splits boundaries and flees categories. His new project, with a group perplexingly known as BILLLL$, is called Shuffle Mode, and promises to make real the experience of a broken iPod, featuring sounds, rhythms, noises with vocalizing and psychedelic video. The synthy, twitchy texture of what Ive heard so far, along with the shiny costumes, seems retro-space-age in the tradition of Sun Ra, with a herky-jerk style from hip-hop. His flow is not smooth. Presented by CD Forum (with second show on Saturday), this is one of those shows where youll probably want to stay for the question-and-answer session. MARK D. FEFER
Fri., Jan. 30, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 31, 8 p.m., 2009
