THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN
4/21 at 7 and 9:30 It’s hard to imagine that the group’s self-titled debut, which came out last May, was the trio and jazz saxophonist’s first collaboration. Laced in the lovely album is the cheeky playfulness of maestros who’ve been working together for years. $38–$40. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln. oldtownschool.org
DAWN OF MIDI
4/7 at 8:30 This trio stands out for its use of acoustic instruments, African folk traditions, and near-industrial levels of drumming. Calling the band eclectic would be an understatement. $18–$22. Constellation, 3111 N. Western. ticketfly.com
HANAMI QUARTET
4/22 at 8:30 What began as guitarist Andrew Trim’s aural brainchild has expanded in recent years to a quartet. Using the filter of modern jazz, the group reinterprets classic Japanese songs with a wonky and abstract charm that’s nevertheless palatable. $10. Constellation, 3111 N. Western. ticketfly.com
HANGING HEARTS
4/4 at 9 Formed in 2013, this trio, led by saxophonist and composer Chris Weller, traffics in what it calls “punk jazz”—a pulsating, amped-up version of the avant-jazz driving Chicago’s new-music community. Free. Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee. whistlerchicago.com