World Saxophone Quartet, Rialto Center, Feb. 23

Programmers at the Rialto Center on the Georgia State campus made a bold choice in bringing the World Saxophone Quartet to town Saturday night. Taking into account the climate of jazz in the clubs and university venues around Atlanta, the quartet — baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett, tenor David Murray and alto saxophonists Oliver Lake and James Carter — seemed out of place. In a city more dedicated to a smooth jazz sentiment, free jazz, a music loaded with shrieks and squawks and squeals, is usually relegated to the most out-of-the-way places.

The most startling thing about seeing the quartet live was not the wall of sound created by collective improvisation, nor the impressive musicianship on display; it was shocking to see the pure force behind the music. Making each instrument speak in an unconventional way is hard work, and the strains of playing too high for too long showed on the instruments. Carter, the newcomer to the group, shed saxophone reeds — worn out from biting his way to ever-higher pitches — like a rock drummer banging his way through drumstick after drumstick. At one point in the concert, as if to underscore the music's physicality, Bluiett started hitting his saxophone keys. But the audience adored the strange noises coming from these familiar instrument; these onlookers, thirsty for something different, awarded every melodic contortion and angry growl with riotous applause.