Valery Ponomarev

>> Unbuckled alum Matt Grason leads his live house band, House of Soul, tonight at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. The group features Three Stars alum Charles Ostle on drums and monster keyboardist Jon Ozment. 10 p.m. $3

>> Trombonist Bobby Felder assembles a big band on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest, for the first of several chances to see jazz orchestras over the next few days. The ensemble is pretty much a who’s who of veteran local talent. 6 to 9 p.m. $5

>> Smooth jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon starts a three night stand at Blues Alley on Friday. Tickets to the nightly 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $27.50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Saxophonist Anthony Parker will make his regular appearance on Friday at HR-57. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $12.

>> On Friday,Three Stars alum Will Rast leads his Afrobeat band, Funk Ark at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. The band will swap sets with DJ Underdog. 10 p.m. $5

>> Inspired by the jazz program on Voice of America, trumpeter Valery Ponomarev grew up in the Soviet Union with dreams of playing with Art Blakey‘s famous Jazz Messengers. Ponomarev defected to the States in the 1970s, and eventually fulfilled his ambitions, spending several years with the legendary drummer. He will be leading his own group on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz, where he will also be signing his autobiography, The Flip Side of Sound. Tickets to the 9 and 11 p.m. sets are $15 + $12 minimum/surcharge.