Clarinet and general reeds virtuoso Don Byron has pursued a bracinglyl ecclectic and original vision of jazz for several decades, celebrating music ranging from the Warner Bros. cartoon soundtracks of Raymond Scott to the funky party tunes of Junior Walker. One of his abiding pleasures is klezmer, the "Jewish jazz" that's kept many a bar mitzvah party hopping. Byron salutes klezmer giant Mickey Katz in an 8 p.m. Wednesday show at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage. Tickets are $22.50 and $24.50
Also happening on the Bay Area jazz scene this week:
- Trombonist Big Sam Williams, formerly of the esteemed Dirty Dozen Brass Band, kicks up a ruckus of New Orleans jazz and funk with Big Sam's Funky Nation, performing 8 p.m. Monday at Yoshi's San Francisco. $15.
- Guitarist Kevin Eubanks, who blends Wes Montgomery-style traditionalism with enough R&B flavor to keep it fresh, performs at 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Yoshi's Oakland. $24, with kid discounts for the Sunday matinee.
- Ecclectic and engaging vocalist Stephanie Bruce performs songs from her new CD, "Whispers from the World Next Door," at 8 p.m. Friday at Berkekely's Jazzschool. $15.
- Trombonist and local icon Wayne Wallace celebrates the release of his new CD, "To Hear From There," with an 8 p.m. Monday performance by his Latin Jazz Quintet at Yoshi's Oakland. $16.
- Scott Hamilton, a tenor sax pro who's been playing with the greats for 40 years, teams up with pianist Larry Vukovich and drummer Vince Laterano for a 7:30 p.m. Friday Palo Alto Jazz Alliance show at First Congregational Church. $15-$35.
- Bassist Ruth Davies, storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki, singer Roberta Donnay and harpist/singer Destiny Muhammad offer a bracingly original take on jazz tradition with "Women in Jazz," a fundraiser for the Jazz Heritage Center happening 7 p.m. Sunday at Yoshi's San Francisco. $20.
- Trumpeter, bandleader and all-around maestro Junius Courtney reminds of us of the glory that is big-band jazz with an 8 p.m. Saturday performance at Freight & Salvage by his 19-piece swing ensemble. $18.50 and $20.50.
- A-list session bassist Pino Palladino teams up with drummer SImon Phillips and keyboardist Philippe Saisse to work up some fusion fervor as PSP, performing at 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Yoshi's Oakland. $16-$24.
- Vibraphonist Dave Samuels teams up with master percussionist Alex Acuna and pianist Bill O'Connell for a 4:30 p.m. Sunday performance at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society near Half Moon Bay. $35
- Drummer Eddie Marshall, a linchpin of the Bay Area jazz scene for ages, takes the spotlight for a turn with his quartet, performing 4 p.m. Sunday at Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland. $15.
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