A lively weekend in Chicago jazz:
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Eddie Palmieri. Pianist-bandleader Palmieri has been touring the world to celebrate his 80th birthday — which occurred last December — and the festivities now arrive in Chicago. The NEA Jazz Master addresses his instrument as if it were an orchestra, his free-flowing virtuosity spanning the full breadth of the keyboard. He’ll lead his Latin Jazz Band, so listeners can expect a surge of pulsing, Afro-Caribbean music, which Palmieri has been helping to define and redefine since the 1950s. Don’t be surprised if listeners get up to dance — it’s hard not to. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Old Town School of Folk Music’s Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; $50; 773-728-6000 or www.oldtownschool.org.
Irma Thomas, The Blind Boys of Alabama and the Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet. Symphony Center’s jazz series stretches out a bit with a triple bill steeped in Southern musical culture. Each attraction represents a different facet of American roots music, with Thomas often called the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” the Blind Boys of Alabama representing gospel music traditions dating to the 1930s and the Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet drawing upon repertoire and musical practices that predate jazz. 8 p.m. Friday in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $28-$89; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org.
Tom Harrell Quartet. A profoundly lyrical player on trumpet and fluegelhorn and a composer-arranger of consistent sophistication, Harrell commands attention in various musical contexts. This time he’ll lead his quartet with pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Adam Cruz. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; $25-$45; 312-360-0234 or www.jazzshowcase.com.
Erwin Helfer and Lluis Coloma. Blues-and-boogie piano players from two continents and two generations converge on the same stage. Helfer, of course, is a Chicago institution revered for his devotion to vintage keyboard techniques and repertory. Coloma represents these age-old blues, boogie-woogie and early jazz idioms in his native Spain. How does this music sound when viewed from opposite sides of the Atlantic? Only one way to find out. 7 p.m. Friday in the Old Town School of Folk Music’s Szold Music & Dance Hall, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave.; $20; 773-728-6000 or www.oldtownschool.org.
Dave Liebman. A leonine saxophonist who has made the Green Mill Jazz Club his venue of choice in Chicago, Liebman will collaborate with three seasoned Chicagoans: pianist Jim Trompeter, bassist Kelly Sill and drummer Joel Spencer. Expect to hear galvanic music-making from Liebman, an NEA Jazz Master with a resume rich in collaborations with Miles Davis, Elvin Jones and John Scofield and steeped in the questing manner of John Coltrane. 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; $15; 773-878-5552 or www.greenmilljazz.com.
“Rose Colella Sings the Music of ‘La La Land.’” Performing the music of Damien Chazelle’s retro musical has become something of a specialty for Chicago vocalist Colella, and it’s not difficult to understand way. The score is rich in tuneful, jazz-tinged songs, and Colella’s keep-it-sweet-and-simple manner evoke Emma Stone’s lovely, straightforward singing in the film. Colella will be joined by bassist John Sims, pianist Dan Murphy, drummer Jon Deitemyer and guitarist-vocalist Andy Pratt. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday at Winter’s Jazz Club, 465 N. McClurg Court (on the promenade); $20-$25; 312-344-1270 or www.wintersjazzclub.com.
Ben Lewis. Last year the Chicago pianist fell from a ladder and endured long months of rehab and recovery. He has returned to the stage, and he bills this concert as occasion “to celebrate a year of healing,” as he puts it on his website. Lewis will feature his own scores, which he’ll play with bassist Patrick Mulcahy and drummer Jon Deitemyer. The venue — Studio5 — offers a warmth of sound and intimacy of setting well-suited to jazz in general, piano trios in particular. 8 p.m. Friday at Studio5 in Dance Center Evanston, 1934-38 Dempster St., Evanston; $20-$25; 847-328-6683 or www.studio5.dance.
Typhanie Monique. The closer Monique clings to her jazz roots, the more persuasive she sounds. That’s apparent on her recent album, “Call It Magic,” which at times sounds overproduced but has its moments. When unencumbered by heavy instrumentals and too-generous vibrato, Monique soars, which one hopes she’ll do on this occasion. 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St.; $10-$15; 312-642-6805 or www.andysjazzclub.com.
“No One Is an Island,” Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief Fundraiser. Skokie Theatre owner Wendy Kaplan was stranded in Puerto Rico for 10 days after Hurricane Maria slammed the island. Her episodic Facebook posts at that time underscored the desperation of a situation playing out in news reports to this day. Fortunately, Kaplan returned safely home and, with the help of Chicago’s cabaret community, has organized this performance to benefit people suffering from the effects of Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The lineup will include Judy Rossignuolo-Rice, Bernard Rice, Carla Gordon, Russ Goeltenbodt, Jan Slavin and Denise McGowan Tracy, with musical direction by Mark Burnell. 8 p.m. Friday at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie; $50 minimum donation; 847-677-7761 or www.skokietheater.org.
Howard Reich is a Tribune critic.
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