Trombonist Shannon Gunn and her sextet pay tribute to Wayne Shorter and Curtis Fuller on Thursday at Twins Jazz. >> Saxophonist Tim Berne has been at the forefront of the avant-garde scene since the 1970s. He sets himself apart by his ability to bring melody and and mood into an experimental setting. Berne will lead his group, Snakeoil, tonight at the Atlas. 8 p.m. tickets $20 to $33.50.
>> Veteran area pianist Wayne Wilentz recruited vocalists Stephanie Lebow, Jerry Overman and James Zimmerman to form Cloudburst an ensemble focused around vocalese, or wordless jazz. The quartet will perform tonight at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Trumpeter Roy Hargrove continues his run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley through Sunday. Tickets $40 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Featuring guitarists Jeff Stein, John Storie and Perry Smith, New West is a group that is rooted in classic jazz, but which occasionally ventures out into the unknown. The band will perform a 7:30 p.m. set on Thursday at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Jazz icon Wayne Shorter recently celebrated his 80th birthday. To commemorate this milestone, area trombonist Shannon Gunn has assembled a sextet to pay tribute to Shorter’s celebrated collaborations with trombonist Curtis Fuller. Gunn’s ensemble includes excellent local players like saxophonist Elijah Balbed, trumpeter Joe Herrera and bassist Eliot Seppa. They will perform 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $12 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Vocalist Kristine Key leads a group of area veterans on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Three of the most accomplished women in jazz will join forces on Friday at the Kennedy Center. Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and pianist Geri Allen have a musical partnership that extends over 30 years. Add the young and brilliant bassist Esperanza Spalding to the mix and who’s to say what will unfold. Stay tuned for DCist’s full preview. Tickets are sold out, but it’s worth contacting the box office for last minute availability. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets.
>> Son of the esteemed Malian guitarist/songwriter, Ali Farka Touré, Vieux Farka Touré has set out on his own and is building a career that has taken him out of that long shadow. He will be at the Atlas on Friday to lead his band for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets $20 to $31.50.
>> India Music Week began on October 6 and runs through the 13th. On Friday, Bloombars will host a concert featuring sarod player, Soumya Chakraverty, tabla player, Debu Nayak, and sitar player, Craig Phillips. 8 p.m. Tickets $15.
>> Vocalist Lavay Smith cites divas like Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith and Little Esther Phillips as her influences. Backed by her 8-piece band, the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, she adds a modern, feminist twist to her classic style. Smith & Co. perform at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. Tickets $25 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Mickey Bass is best known for playing his namesake instrument with drumming legend Art Blakey for much of the ’60s into the early ’70s. He is also an accomplished composer and arranger who has worked with a number of luminaries in that capacity. Bass will lead his Manhattan Burn Unit on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 online/$25 at the door.
>> Vocalist Alison Crockett draws from both jazz and neo-soul influences to forge a truly contemporary sound. She leads a group on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $16 plus food and drink minimum.
>> HR-57 hosts regulars Antonio Parker (Friday) and Mark Saltman (Saturday). 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $15.
>> Saxophonist Bobby Muncy leads his band on Sunday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts vocalist Queen Aisha. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Kenny G pretty much personifies smooth jazz. He’ll be at The Birchmere next Tuesday and Wednesday. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $65.
>> Mike Clark‘s distinctive drumming came to the forefront in the ’70s when he played with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters. He will co-lead a band on Tuesday at Blues Alley with pianist Michael Wolff, who has played with Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins and a number of other greats. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
