One look back at some the Magic Triangle's past performers - Yusef Lateef, Lester Bowie, Clifford Jordan - and it is hard not to walk away with the feeling that the series has developed an impressive legacy of showcasing performers whose work is often visionary yet reflects the rich history of jazz.

This year's lineup of performers is a fine expression of that ideal. Leading the Magic Triangle Concert Series is the Uri Caine Ensemble performing Bach's "Goldberg Variations". Caine's new interpretations of Bach's seminal work feature traditional and non-traditional styles and instrumentation. About Caine's 1999 release "Goldberg Variations" Jim Macnie of Downbeat writes "Roll over Glenn Gould and tell Gunther Schuller the news... On what has got to be one of the year's best records, expanse, authority and imagination are in full alignment. Drinking songs, poetry, klezmer, chamber, freebop, turntablism, gorgeous chorales and David Moss' tongue-twisted blather are all part of Caine's grand scheme." The Uri Caine Ensemble comes to the Buckley Recital Hall at Amherst College on Sunday, February 17 at 8 pm. (click here to read our interview with Uri Caine)

Caine's performance is followed by Brew on Thursday, March 7. Brew's use of the traditional harp-like Japanese instrument, the koto, in conjunction with bass and percussion, is anything but traditional. Composed of koto-playing Miya Masaoka, Magic Triangle alums Reggie Workman on bass and Gerry Hemmingway on percussion, the trio utilizes a unique, Eastern-tinged sense of time and space to create an innovative breed of jazz. Brew performs on Thursday, March 7 at 8 pm in the Buckley Recital Hall at Amherst College. This program is sponsored by the Everywoman's Center.

The series concludes with a performance by the William Parker Ensemble entitled "The Curtis Mayfield Project" on Wednesday, April 3 at 8 pm at the Buckley Recital Hall. The performance features musical reinterpretations of the compositions of vocalist and soul music legend, Curtis Mayfield.

The Magic Triangle Concert Series is the collaborative effort of WMUA FM91 and the Residential Arts Program of the Fine Arts Center. Under the direction of WMUA advisor, Glenn Siegel, and Director of Residential Arts, Bob Antil, the Magic Triangle Concert Series has established itself as a venue for presenting artists that expand the boundaries of jazz music. "Magic Triangle attempts to keep jazz as a living, vibrant, relevant art form," says Siegel. "As a result, even I don't always know what the outcome is going to be."