Creative blocks can make anyone angry, but Stefon Harris found the inspiration for a composition after taking that anger out on an unsuspecting wooden box.

The commissioned piece, appropriately titled "The Anatomy of a Box: a Sonic Painting in Wood, Metal, and Wind," will be performed by Harris and chamber music ensemble Imani Winds at 7:30 tonight at the Schwab Auditorium.

Harris, a jazz musician, said the mix of jazz and chamber music creates what he calls "modern-day American chamber music." He doesn't see much of a difference between chamber music and jazz -- both are unpredictable and give a sense of musical freedom for the composer. Part of this freedom is shown through the fact that every member of the group has the power to reject or accept the improvisation of another member, he said.

"Jazz is the ultimate expression of democracy," he said.

Harris defined music as the "science" of arranging sound and silence into emotion. He expects students will experience a broad spectrum of feeling at the concert. Also in the program for the evening are two productions by members of Imani Winds -- "Red Clay Mississippi Delta" and "Homage to Duke," followed by a performance of French composer Jean Francaix's "Quintette."

"Imani Winds is doing something rather different -- expanding the repertoire of wind quintets," said Daryl Durran, an associate professor of music.

Originally from Albany, N.Y., Harris received a degree in classical music as well as a graduate degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Imani Winds has been together for 13 years, Harris said, and though he hasn't performed with any of the members before, he did attend school with some of them. The quintet was created to explore connections between European, African and American music, according to the Center for Performing Arts, the sponsor of the show.

A personal master class will be provided for School of Music students, and Alyssa Olivo (freshman-musical education) is looking forward to the lesson. "Imani Winds is a really good woodwind quintet ... it's going to be a really great experience," Olivio said.