Welcome to First Set, a rundown of the best live jazz to be heard this weekend across the region, as well as a look at the week ahead.
THURSDAY
Paula West: If you haven’t yet, make a point to see the veteran Bay Area vocalist as she continues her eight-week winter run at the Rrazz Room withGeorge Mesterhazy (piano), Ed Cherry (guitar), Barak Mori (bass) and Jerome Jennings (drums). 8 p.m.; also 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St., San Francisco. $40-$45.
Bill Frisell and Vinicius Cantuaria: Jazz guitar meets a variety of influences whenever these two six-string masters share the stage. 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s, Jack London Square, Oakland. $16-$24.
Benny Green Quartet: The pianist comes to Northern California fronting a group featuring Donald Harrison (alto saxophone), Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums). The ensemble will spotlight the best of Thelonious Monk in “Monk’s Dream: 50 Years Fresh and the Expanding Universe of Bebop.” 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $22-$25.
FRIDAY
"The Deconstruction of What You Know”: Josh Allen (saxophone), Henry Kaiser (guitar), Timothy Orr (percussion) and William Winant (percussion) collaborate here, creating “new and striking collisions of sound through spontaneous composition.” 8 p.m. Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., Berkeley. $12.
SATURDAY
Ronnie Laws: The renowned jazz-blues saxman marks the release of his album, “Voices in the Water,” withJason Rebello (keyboards), Nick Cook (bass) and Troy Miller (drums). 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s, 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. $16-$25.
Harley White Jr. Trio: Bassist White has cut quite the eclectic swath through the Sacramento music scene. He comes to Berkeley fronting a trio know for its “fresh, swinging and sometimes soulful but always stylish take on jazz standards.” 8 p.m. Jupiter, 2181 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
SUNDAY
Josh Nelson Trio: Head to beach to catch this group with special guest tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society. 4:30 p.m. Douglas Beach House, Miramar Beach, Half Moon Bay. $30.
And pencil these in…
Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Mon., Yoshi’s, Oakland
Bob James and Howard Paul: Mon, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz
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