JAMES CARTER (Tuesday through Thursday) Mr. Carter is a saxophonist of rampaging energies, and he does his best work when backed by toughened stalwarts. That should be the case in this run, which will be recorded for a live album: his blue-chip quintet, partly inspired by soul jazz, features John Medeski on organ and keyboards, Adam Rogers on guitar, Christian McBride on bass and Joey Baron on drums. (Through May 10). At 8 and 10:30 p.m., Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, West Village, (212) 475-8592, bluenote.net; cover, $27.50 at tables, $15 at the bar, with a $5 minimum. (Chinen)20090430
CYMINOLOGY/THEO BLECKMANN AND BEN MONDER (Thursday) Cyminology is a chamberlike ensemble led by Cymin Samawatie, a German vocalist of Iranian descent. On a reflective new album, “As Ney” (ECM), the group explores jazzlike sonic terrain, but with Ms. Samawatie singing poetic texts in Persian. This album-release performance will include an opening set by Mr. Bleckmann, a vocalist, and Mr. Monder, a guitarist, who have released their own hauntingly ethereal albums together, most recently “At Night” (Songlines). At 8:30 p.m., Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, West Village, (212) 989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com; cover, $10, with a one-drink minimum. (Chinen)20090430
JOE MCPHEE (Monday and Thursday) Mr. McPhee is a saxophonist with deep history in free jazz, though his instincts as a performer can hardly be restricted by idiom. On Monday he performs in a solo format (at 7:30 p.m.), and then conducts a large-scale group improvisation (at 9). His set on Thursday will feature a percussive partner, Jay Rosen. Monday at the Local 269, 269 East Houston Street, at Suffolk Street, Lower East Side, (212) 254-5420, myspace.com/rucmanyc; $10 per set, or $15 for the night; students $7 per set, or $12 for the night. Thursday at 8 p.m., the Stone, Avenue C and Second Street, East Village, thestonenyc.com; $5. (Chinen)20090430
DAVID MURRAY QUARTET (Wednesday and Thursday) The indefatigable tenor saxophonist David Murray has lately been touring with “The Sisyphus Revue: A Bop Opera,” his sanctified collaboration with the poet Amiri Baraka. Mr. Murray leads a more conventional quartet here, but it stands to reason that he’ll be at least partly inspired by his recent efforts, arriving with a fresh head of steam. (Through May 9.) At 8:30 and 11 p.m., Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton, (212) 581-3080, birdlandjazz.com; cover, $30 and $40, with a $10 minimum. (Chinen)20090430
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