The critic ventured into new territory at an old venue March 10, taking in curator Bonnie Wright’s Fresh Sound, a monthly series at Sushi, a Center for the Urban Arts, presented at Sushi’s former location in the former ReinCarnation Building. It’s amazing how the old neighborhood has changed! March’s Fresh Sound was an unusual and unusually pleasing fusion of live and recorded music, video and dance. The live performer was Aiyun Huang; the dancer with her on video, Liam Clancy; and the composer of the evening’s astonishing “Eagle Claw Wu Tsaio Chen Wins,” Sean Griffin. Huang, Griffin and Wright hold graduate degrees from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and Clancy teaches at UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance. Aiyun Huang currently chairs the percussion area and directs the percussion Ensemble at Schulich School of Music at McGill University, where she is assistant professor. As “Eagle Claw” unfolded, Huang read and vocalized from a musical score, synchronized via laptop with the same video the audience saw, which comprises a composed fable based by Griffin on early kung fu films and their use of Chinese percussion instruments to punctuate attack moves. The maiden didn’t have a chance against the forces presented by the evil Wu Tsaio Chen. The experience was awesome, filled with ritualized flying, chops, kicks and blood. Using her voice alone, Huang vocalized (in French) Georges Aperghis’s composition titled “Conversation (version 1)” as well as Stuart Saunders Smith’s charming vibe solo, accompanied by recorded bells ranging from wee tinkling to clangorous. Most fascinating was Javier Alvarez’s maracas solo “Temazcal,” performed brilliantly with said instruments and played with the stereophonic pickup range of two microphones. The venue is acoustically fine and the entire evening delighted both eyes and ears. For many years, Wright presented a contemporary music series at her former gallery, Spruce Street Forum. Long associated with Sushi, a Center for the Urban Arts, she now curates this Fresh Sound series at Sushi’s new space (in its former location) at 390 11th Ave., downtown San Diego. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, Fresh Sound presents Pamela Z & Lisle Ellis. All events are pay what you can. For information, visit www.sushiart.org or call (619) 235-8466.   At the other end of the sonic spectrum, the critic attended the Mainly Mozart Spotlight Series presentation of the Mandelring Quartet, which is composed of three Schmidt siblings who’ve played together since childhood, plus Roland Glassi, viola. Wouldn’t you know the viola is the odd one out? In excellent English, violinist Sebastian Schmidt said the three Schmidts had played the first piece, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17 in B flat (“The Hunt”), as children and that Glassi, who joined the quartet ten years ago and who hails from Bavaria, plays on a viola made by his father. Sebastian’s sister, Nanette Schmidt, plays second violin, and brother Bernhard Schmidt is the cellist. It was an evening filled with fervency and melody. One hopes for the return of this marvelous quartet, celebrating its 25th anniversary this season. The four play with such economy of movement and precision yet are capable of the large, sweeping statements as well. Their program also included a rarity: Friedrich Gernsheim’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 31, and Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2. The Mozart showcased the quartet’s refinement and lush beauty of tone. Gernsheim (1839-1916) was a contemporary and friend of Brahms. His quartet presents a seemingly boundless arsenal of melodic outpouring and was enjoyed immensely by the audience gathered in the acoustically superior auditorium of the Neurosciences Institute. And the Mendelssohn, as played by Mandelring, reminded the listener of that composer’s delicacy and joy. The next Spotlight Series concerts, March 20-21 at the Neurosciences Institute, feature violinist Jennifer Frautschi, cellist Ronald Thomas and pianist Prejda Muzijevic in performance of Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and Mendelssohn. For information, go to www.mainlymozart.org or call (619) 239-0100.