Avant Music News

In the Times:

REZ ABBASI GROUP (Thursday) “Things to Come” (Sunnyside) is the strong new statement from Rez Abbasi, a Pakistani-American guitarist with a taste for fluid introspection and slippery fusions. Here he reassembles the album’s superb cast: the alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, the pianist Vijay Iyer, the bassist Johannes Weidenmueller, the drummer Dan Weiss and the vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia. At 9 and 10:30 p.m., Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson Street, at Spring Street, South Village , (212) 242-1063, jazzgallery.org; $15 for the first set, $10 for members; $10 for the second set, $5 for members. (Nate Chinen)20090910

CLAUDIA QUINTET (Sunday) This improvising chamber ensemble pursues texturally oriented and often contrapuntal exploration; John Hollenbeck’s drumming is one color on a palette that also includes Chris Speed’s clarinet and tenor saxophone, Ted Reichman’s accordion, Drew Gress’s bass and Matt Moran’s vibraphone. For this performance, the group becomes a sextet with the addition of Gary Versace on piano. At 9 and 10:30 p.m., Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson Street, at Spring Street, South Village , (212) 242-1063, jazzgallery.org; $15, $10 for members. (Chinen)20090910

? CLEAN FEED FEST (Wednesday and Thursday) Named after a record label based in Lisbon, this festival celebrates the exploratory side of modern jazz. Among the highlights during the event’s first leg: the drummer Harris Eisenstadt, leading the same band as on his fine album “Canada Day,” due out next month (Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.); and the cellist Daniel Levin, with the quartet featured on his new release, “Live at Roulette” (Thursday at 9:30). (Through Sept. 20.) Cornelia Connelly Center, 220A East Fourth Street, East Village , cleanfeed-records.com; $15. (Chinen)20090910

STEPHAN CRUMP’S ROSETTA TRIO (Saturday) An intriguing string-based ensemble, featuring the compositions and bass playing of Mr. Crump and the guitar work of both Liberty Ellman (acoustic) and Jamie Fox (electric). At 9 and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, West Village , (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; cover, $12, with a one-drink minimum. (Chinen)20090910

FUTURE QUEST (Friday) The subtitle of this performance, “Reimagining the Music of Meredith Monk,” partly explains what the quest in the title is about. Ms. Monk has long been a fearlessly multidisciplinary artist, and here she serves as a muse for two of her longtime ensemble members, the vocalist Theo Bleckmann and the percussionist John Hollenbeck. Also on board, in what promises to be a unique proposition: the saxophonists Ellery Eskelin and Tony Malaby, and the pianist Gary Versace. At 9 and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, West Village , (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; cover, $10, with a one-drink minimum. (Chinen)20090910

HENRY GRIMES (Saturday) Mr. Grimes, a bassist and long-lost titan of the avant-garde, performs a benefit concert for Harlem Textile Works alongside such fearless improvisers as the drummer Michael Wimberly and the multireedist Andrew Lamb. At 7 and 9 p.m., Black Box Theater, 308 West 133rd Street, Harlem , loftartsproductions.com; $15, $7.50 for students. (Chinen)20090910

JOHN HÉBERT QUARTET (Wednesday) “Byzantine Monkey” (Firehouse 12) is the engrossing debut from John Hébert, a bassist of deep intuition and extensive experience as a sideman. He draws partly from the album here, in a one-night stand featuring the trumpeter Ralph Alessi, the alto saxophonist Tim Berne and the drummer Satoshi Takeishi. At 8 p.m., Barbès, 376 Ninth Street, at Sixth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn , (347) 422-0248, barbesbrooklyn.com; $10. (Chinen)20090910

INTERPRETATIONS: ADAM RUDOLPH/YUSEF LATEEF (Thursday) Mr. Lateef, 88, a legendarily open-minded multireedist, and Mr. Rudolph, 53, a horizon-scanning percussionist, have been collaborative partners on and off for the last 20 years, with shared investment in the idea of a musical universalism. Here they each present new works, though Mr. Lateef won’t be playing an instrument; in addition to composing much of the music, he reads his own poetry. At 8:30 p.m., Roulette, 20 Greene Street, at Grand Street, SoHo , (212) 219-8242, roulette.org; $15; $10 for students and under 30; free for Roulette members. (Chinen)20090910

? NEW LANGUAGES FESTIVAL (Thursday) Now in its fifth year, this musician-run festival draws a range of left-of-center musicians under its umbrella, including an admirable assembly here: the Respect Sextet, a dynamic collective (at 8:30 p.m.); House of Mirrors, an improvising quartet (at 10); and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, a precision-honed big band (at 11:30). (Through Sept. 26.) McCarren Hall, 98 Bayard Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn , newlanguages.org; $10. (Chinen)20090910

RED HOOK JAZZ FESTIVAL (Sunday) This low-key open-air festival, not far from the docks in Brooklyn, features a handful of indie-minded ensembles, led by venturesome improvisers like the saxophonist Ras Moshe and the trombonist Steve Swell. From 2 to 5:30 p.m., Cabrini Green Urban Meadow, at the corner of President and Van Brunt Streets, Red Hook, Brooklyn , myspace.com/redhookjazzfest; donations accepted. (Chinen)20090910

SEX MOB (Friday) The members of this downtown institution have lately been engaged in various other pursuits, but their sound is as raucous, and their rapport as rambunctious, as ever. Steven Bernstein plays slide trumpet and leads the charge, though equal weight is pulled by Briggan Krauss on alto saxophone, Tony Scherr on bass and guitar, and Kenny Wollesen on drums. At 10 p.m., 55 Bar, 55 Christopher Street, West Village , (212) 929-9883, 55bar.com; cover, $10. (Chinen)

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