Casey O'Brien

9:30 p.m. • Icehouse • $8

Best known as the hard-driving bassist of Sonny Knight & the Lakers, Casey O'Brien is an improvising jazz man at heart. He proves it on a spare and beautiful trio album, "Ghost Dance," co-starring simpatico drummer Davu Seru and Fantastic Merlins saxophonist Nathan Hanson. The often folksy-sounding, accessible disc truly seduces the listener. It should find favor with fans of world-jazz heroes Don Cherry, David Bond and Yusef Lateef, also with older listeners hip to the Jimmy Giuffre 3, and with hometown fans of Happy Apple's gentler, more contemplative tracks. At a concert to celebrate the release of this gem, another fine brainy saxophonist, Chris Thomson, will join the band as a "special guest," hopefully not upsetting their discreet chemistry. Tom Surowicz