If you’re reading this on Sunday, you may still have time to make it over to the Ardmore Music Hall for The Bad Plus, whose show slipped through the cracks when we were compiling Moment’s Notice last week. (If you go, you’ll probably see me there. Say hello!) If this is reaching you too late, don’t fret — we’ve got plenty more where that came from, beginning with a Monday-night show by a band we don’t often see in these parts. Enjoy! — Nate Chinen
New Masada Quartet — March 2, Solar Myth
The prolific, iconoclastic composer John Zorn began his Masada project more than 30 years ago, composing a body of short-form pieces inspired both by the keening Jewish klezmer tradition and the renegade musical language of Ornette Coleman. His primary vehicle, for some time, was a quartet with the Colemanesque instrumentation of alto saxophone, trumpet, bass and drums. That band released nearly a dozen studio albums and roughly as many live recordings, mostly from a feverishly busy stretch in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Zorn, now 71, has since expanded Masada to an entire musical universe, spanning well over 500 compositions and a range of ensembles, from an elegant Masada String Trio to an overdriven Electric Masada band. But the group that best evokes the original spirit of the enterprise is his New Masada Quartet, featuring Julian Lage on guitar, Jorge Roeder on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums.
This band has released a studio album and a couple of live sequels, the most recent of which was released last year. It captures the live-wire spirit and joyous kineticism that will surely distinguish these two sets at Solar Myth, part of Ars Nova Workshop’s 25th-anniversary season. (Both shows are sold out, but you can join a wait list — or simply hang out in the bar area and hope to catch a vibe.)
March 2 at 4 and 7 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street, sold out; more information.
Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin — Monday, City Winery Philadelphia
Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch refers to the music of Ronin as “zen-funk,” which gets at the heart of its serene yet hyperkinetic style. Drawing from an energetic recent album, SPIN, Bärtsch will marshal the full resources of his fellow Ronin: Sha on bass clarinet and alto saxophone, Jeremias Keller on electric bass, and Kaspar Rast on drums. (Opening the show is Odyssey Lab, a jazz-funk unit led by saxophonist Mike LaBombard.)
Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street, $25-$38; tickets and information.
Luke Carlos O’Reilly Trio — Thursday, Cellar Dog
Pianist Luke Carlos O’Reilly has long been a key fixture in the Philly jazz scene, and with his recent trio album, Leave the Gate Open, he’s making some noise beyond his hometown. He leads a trio at Cellar Dog, a new club around the corner from the Kimmel Center; the rhythmic clatter from pool and ping pong tables will add to the atmosphere.
Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., Cellar Dog Philly, 258 South 15th Street, $5-$10, tickets and information.
Lafayette Gilchrist Sextet — Friday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
Rhythm is a whole-body experience in Lafayette Gilchrist’s music, whether it’s expressed in hard-bop or head-nod terms. A pianist rooted in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., he packs a lot of knockabout groove into his new album Undaunted, drawing on go-go and gospel music alike. The album has received generous acclaim, and Gilchrist is now taking its message on the road.
Feb. 28 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $25, $95 and $115, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
Webb Thomas & The Superband — Friday, South Jazz Kitchen
A drummer of broad experience and a strong foothold in the traditions of jazz and funk, Webb Thomas can generally be trusted to put together a good small band. His Superband typically features trumpeter Patrick “Face” Rickman, saxophonist Robert Landham, pianist Neil Podgurski and bassist Lee Smith; for this weekend stand, they’ll have an opening band led by guitarist Wali Ali.
Feb. 28 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., South Jazz Kitchen, 600 North Broad Street, $30; tickets and information.
