Best of the week: Chick Corea, the Pixies, 'The Boor,' Malpaso Dance Company

All that jazz

It's always a special occasion to see a jazz giant of Chick Corea's stature in the intimacy of the Dakota Jazz Club. The 22-time Grammy winning pianist is making this visit extraordinary by joining forces with legendary drummer Steve Gadd, who has played with everyone from Paul Simon and Eric Clapton to Chet Baker and Grover Washington Jr. Their all-star group also will feature guitarist Lionel Loueke (last seen with Herbie Hancock this summer at the Minnesota Zoo), saxophonist Steve Wilson, bassist Carlitos del Puerto and percussionist Luisito Quintero. JON BREAM

7 & 9 p.m. Tue.-Wed. Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls, $65-$100, dakotacooks.com

The Pixies, Boston's alt-rock heroes that disbanded in 1993, have been carrying on strong since they played their first-ever reunion show in Minneapolis in 2004. The departure of bassist Kim Deal in 2013 didn't derail them; Paz Lenchantin of A Perfect Circle notoriety has settled in as Deal's replacement. Bandleader Black Francis has been looking and sounding strong of late, and last year's album "Head Carrier" offered some wild new howlers to add to the set lists.

chris riemenschneider

7:30 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Palace Theatre, St. Paul, $50, eTix.com

Playwright Alice Birch's "Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again" delights in setting up expectations and then flaying them in savage detail. In one scene, a man presents a ring to a woman. He anticipates a heart and flowers moment; she sees a business negotiation. Frank Theatre's challenging, subversive and compelling production is a series of such scenes that dissect the role of language and cultural norms in shaping women's roles, perceptions and psyches.

lisa brock

Ends Oct. 22, Gremlin Theatre, St. Paul, $25, revolt.brownpapertickets.com

Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra marks Minnesota composer Dominick Argento's 90th birthday with a semi-staged performance of his Chekhov-inspired one-act comic opera, "The Boor." Soprano Maria Jette sings the part of a young widow accosted by the uncouth title character. Also on the program is the orchestral suite from Leonard Bernstein's "Candide."

TERRY BLAIN

4 p.m. Sun. St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, free, msomn.org

One of the more exciting young international acts to grace the worldly Cedar stage this year, Australian singer/songwriter Tash Sultana went from being a one-woman-band playing street corners to a Spotify and YouTube star by the age of 22. She's an impressive guitarist who loops percussion and horns during her performances and sings and writes dramatic, atmospheric tunes, part Kaki King and part Grimes. This is her local debut.

chris riemenschneider

8 p.m. Tue., Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls., sold out

The Minnesota debut of Havana's Malpaso Dance Company might feel somewhat familiar. The Cuban company will perform a piece by Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton, who presented at Northrop last fall; a work by New York's Ronald K. Brown, whose performance was the highlight of TU Dance's spring concert; and "Coming Home," a baseball-themed collaboration between Malpaso artistic director Osnel Delgado and Zenon Dance Company performed here in 2014.

sheila regan

7:30 p.m. Tue. Northrop, Mpls., $21-$46, northrop.umn.edu

Several years ago, artist Chris Larson burned down a house for art. In his latest exhibition, "Axonometric/Threshold," he showcases sketches for imagined, otherworldly structures. In this collection of pencil drawings on vellum created over a 10-year period, he creates surprising combinations of structures that look like a mesh of industrial workspaces, rural architectural structures and aeronautic machine. This show inaugurates the stellar new Topo Gallery in Northrup King.

Alicia eler

Ends Oct. 31, Topo Gallery, Mpls., topo.gallery

Not content with being the composer of the trumpet concerto "American Nomad," Minnesota's Steve Heitzeg will play a tantalizing variety of instruments — electric guitar, stones, Joshua tree branches, California fan palms, subway track spikes and a crystal singing bowl — in a version of his piece for small combo. Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Charles Lazarus is the soloist, with Tom Linker on piano.

TERRY BLAIN

7 p.m. Tue. Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, $10-$20, charleslazarus.com

St. Paul's downtown Central Library celebrates its centennial with a Victorian-to-steam­punk costume party. Cinch into a bustled gown or put on a piece of historical or science-fiction fashion for an afternoon of lawn games and trivia. Make costume crafts and enjoy lemonade and Victorian cake. The Alexander Ramsey House will provide a display of Victorian-era costumes. Steampunk props made in the Innovation Lab will be on display.

melissa walker

1-4 p.m. next Sun. George Latimer Central Library, St. Paul, free, sppl.org