Parham's power group

Unique instrumentation and quality veterans across the board are two features of the Solomon Parham Quintet. The leader/trumpeter is joined by more brass, trombonist Dave Graf, on the front line, with ever-inventive guitarist Dean Magraw in place of piano. The rock-solid rhythm section is bassist Chris Bates and Eric Kamau Gravatt on drums. Parham is a teacher, a jam session organizer and a supple stylist. His reputation is bruited by the quality of his cohorts here. (8:30 p.m. Sat., Black Dog, St. Paul; free, saturdaynightjazzattheblackdog.info)

Syrian exchange

In the summer of 2006, Issam Rafea conducted the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music in collaboration with the all-star hip-hop and rock band Gorillaz. Now the Syria native is playing oud with Minneapolis pianist Steven Hobert in a duo called Oudyano. What unites these two very different projects? It's the melding of musical scholarship with an open mind, evident in the delicate dance — from spare pluck-and-pecks to swirling gusts in call-and-response — in Oudyano's interplay. (7 p.m. Sat., Studio Z, St. Paul; $10-$12, studiozstpaul.com)

Hot jazz for cold nights

The Vikings are finished and the weather is freezing, perfect circumstances to head over to Icehouse and let Charanga Tropical warm your spirits with the plush strings and beats of the Cuban danzon on a Sunday afternoon. Doug Little's diverse band can boast of being the first American group ever to perform at the International Danzon Festival in Havana. No cover charge and specials on rum drinks — hot toddy, anyone? — furthers the enticement. (3 p.m. Sunday, Icehouse, Mpls.; free, icehousempls.com)

McCandless special

Through his tenure in the influential bands Oregon and the Paul Winter Consort, multi-reedist Paul McCandless helped break down barriers between fusion jazz, world music, bebop and chamber music. In the mid-90s he won a Grammy with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Nowadays he is still wending his way through sweet melodies, primarily on straight horns like the oboe and soprano saxophone, invoking beatific serenity or setting toes tapping via silky grooves. Recently he joined forces with the Bay Area trio Charged Particles, a bass-drums-keyboard ensemble that can play acoustic or electric. The material is all McCandless originals from throughout his career. (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, Mpls.; $25, dakotacooks.com)

BRITT ROBSON