From NYTimes.com:
Lucian Ban and Tony Malaby (Saturday) Lucian Ban, a Romanian pianist, and Tony Malaby, an American tenor saxophonist, first crossed paths on “Enesco Re-Imagined” (Sunnyside), a 2010 album released under the joint leadership of Mr. Ban and the bassist John Hébert. For this concert, part of the Sound It Out series, the two musicians interact with no other accompaniment, interpreting a range of material. At 8 p.m., Greenwich House Music School, 46 Barrow Street, (212) 242-4770, greenwichhouse.org; $15, $12 for students. (Chinen)
Peter Bernstein Quartet (Tuesday through Feb. 24) Peter Bernstein, a guitarist with a clean tone and unwavering technique, leads a postbop combo with the pianist Harold Mabern, the bassist John Webber and the master drummer Jimmy Cobb. At 9 and 11 p.m., Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village, (212) 255-4037, villagevanguard.com; $25 cover, with a one-drink minimum. (Chinen)
Endangered Blood (Saturday) Organized but not necessarily led by the multireedist Chris Speed, Endangered Blood draws strength from a collective sense of headlong commitment. In addition to Mr. Speed, its roster includes the alto saxophonist Oscar Noriega, the drummer Jim Black and for this engagement the bassist Michael Formanek. They’ll be drawing partly from a self-titled album on Mr. Speed’s label, Skirl, which has sold out its initial run. At 9 and 10:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, Greenwich Village, (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; $10 cover, with a $10 minimum. (Chinen)
40Twenty/Jesse Stacken Quartet (Thursday) 40Twenty, a smartly rugged composing collective — Jacob Garchik on trombone, Jacob Sacks on piano, Dave Ambrosio on bass and Vinnie Sperrazza on drums — recently released its self-titled debut on the Yeah Yeah label, exploring an intersection of buoyant swing rhythm and complex harmonic coloration. The band plays at 10 p.m. In an earlier set, at 8:30 p.m., the pianist Jesse Stacken leads a quartet with Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone, Sean Conly on bass and Tom Rainey on drums. At Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, West Village, (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; cover, $10 per set, with a $10 minimum. (Chinen)
William Hooker Project (Wednesday) William Hooker, a drummer of combustible energies, leads his trio, the Gift — featuring Roy Campbell on trumpet and David Soldier on violin and guitar — in a piece titled “Heart of the Sun.” Also performing at this concert are Duology, a joint effort of the saxophonist Michael Marcus and the trumpeter Ted Daniel, and the Michaël Attias Trio, led by Mr. Attias, a saxophonist, and featuring the bassist John Hébert and the drummer Satoshi Takeishi. At 8 p.m., Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue, near Third Avenue, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, (917) 267-0363, roulette.org; $15, $10 for students, 65+ and members. (Chinen)
9 Volt (Tuesday) On its new album, “Open Circuit” (OutNow), the collective known as 9 Volt — with Rick Parker on trombone, Eyal Maoz on guitar and Yonadav Halevy on drums — thrashes toward an expressive new-breed fusion, informed by a few generations of downtown experimentation. Serving as a guest of honor on the album, and in this performance, is the alto saxophonist and composer Tim Berne. At 9 p.m., Korzo, 667 Fifth Avenue, at 20th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, myspace.com/konceptions, 9voltmusic.com; suggested donation, $10. (Chinen)
William Parker (Friday and Saturday) Mr. Parker is known as a bassist best suited to combustible free-form settings, but he’s also a composer unafraid of pursuing ambitious ideas. He’s wrapping up a three-night residency, with something different each night. On Friday he plays duets with the drummer Milford Graves, interacting with recordings of their own heart beats, and a dance performance by Patricia Nicholson. On Saturday he leads his Essential Orchestra in the premiere of a piece dedicated to Cecil Taylor; in the ranks are commanding improvisers like the pianist Dave Burrell, the trumpeter Roy Campbell and the alto saxophonist Darius Jones. At 8 p.m., Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue, near Third Avenue, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, (917) 267-0363, roulette.org; $15, $10 students, 65+ and members. (Chinen)
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