Like soup for the soul

The Chris Lomheim Trio remains one of more durably illuminating ensembles in the Twin Cities and the leader-pianist's warm, impressionistic compositions are like soup for the soul. Lomheim and his rhythm section of bassist Gordy Johnson and drummer Jay Epstein will lean on cuts from their exquisite "Timeline" disc from 2015. (8 p.m. Wed., Vieux Carre, St. Paul; $5, vieux-carre.com)

Surprises ahead

Mercy Button is exactly the sort of hyper-experimental ensemble that finds a cozy home at the Khyber Pass Cafe. The quartet includes clarinetist Pat O'Keefe, a co-artistic director of the St. Paul quartet Zeitgeist; saxophonist Nathan Hanson, fresh off a gig with Wayne Horvitz the night before; the redoubtable drummer and Khyber vet Nick Zielinski; and electronic-oriented composer Brett Wartchow. Odds are the musicians themselves don't know what to expect. (9 p.m. Thu., Khyber Pass Cafe, St. Paul; $5 khyberpasscafe.com/music)

Ready for some tropical sway?

If you like your smooth jazz dappled with spunky guitar and a little tropical sway, Acoustic Alchemy brings a whiff of the islands and some folksy clean pickin' to the "Adult Contemporary" genre. They've been around since the late '80s and have endured the passing of co-founder Nick Webb and just recently longtime manager Stewart Coxhead, but the current quintet keeps the music light on its feet with a dexterous groove. (7 and 9 p.m., Fri. Dakota, Mpls.; $20-$40, dakotacooks.com)

Get comfy with Evingson

Twin Cities singer Connie Evingson has found a home at the Jungle Theater, where folks who prefer not to indulge in the club scene can sit back and watch her command the stage. Her versatility will be tested as "American Songbook" promises forays into blues, ragtime, spirituals, Tin Pan Alley, country and jazz, with an impressive backup band. (4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jungle Theater, Mpls.; $30, jungletheater.com/junglejazz)

BRITT ROBSON