Elijah Jamal Balbed.

>> Guitarist Sanjay Mishra leads a group through 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Blues Alley. $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge. See our full preview here. Given the expected inclement weather, it’s probably worth calling the club tonight to make sure the show is still happening.

>> Local sextet Major 6th performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Twins Jazz. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> It’s always a pleasure to let you know about local musicians celebrating big milestones. Saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed is one of the city’s promising young musicians, leading a group every Saturday at U-topia, playing with The Funk Ark and as a member of DCist fave, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra. But get this: he’s turning 21 this week, and is marking the big occasion by leading a quintet at Bohemian Caverns on Thursday in a tribute to trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard. So stop by the club and get that young man a beer. But make sure it’s just one, ’cause after all, he still has to play. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 in advance/$15 at the door.

>> Chinese vocalist Le Zhang puts arrangements of her native music, poetry and Buddhist Sutras in a modern jazz context, and has gained critical notice on both sides of the Pacific. She’ll be at Twins Jazz on Thursday, playing 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> Vibist Roy Ayers is one of the most sampled musicians of all time, and his 50-year career has seen him go from straight-ahead jazz, to R&B, to what would come to be called neo-soul. Ayers will lead his group through a four-night stand of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley, beginning on Thursday. $37.75 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.