Special EFX goes deep

"Contemporary jazz" is a moniker meant to convey "smooth jazz" with some dappled "fusion jazz" fireworks thrown in. The contemporary jazz label perfectly suits Special EFX, a band founded by guitarist Chieli Minucci more than 30 years ago. Other leading components of the group on this tour include full-toned multi-saxophonist Nelson Rangell and young keyboardist Lao Tizer. They'll be showcasing Special EFX's month-old release, "Deep as the Night." (7 and 9 p.m. Thu., Dakota, Mpls.; $30-$37, dakotacooks.com)

Sergeant brings guest

Talk about a ringer. Buzzed-about NYC singer Kristen Lee Sergeant is bringing ace saxophonist and arranger Ted Nash (her partner on and off stage) to her Twin Cities debut. Nash released some of the finest postbop recordings of the 1990s and the aughts before becoming a Grammy-winning composer/arranger on his own and with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. For her part, Sergeant will reprise '80s hits — "Every Breath You Take," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" — that she stretched and reshaped on her recent recording "Inside Out." (8 p.m. Thu., Vieux Carre, St. Paul; $15-$18, vieux-carre.com)

Open mic for Lewis

Michael Lewis was a founding member of two internationally acclaimed Twin Cities ensembles — Happy Apple and Fat Kid Wednesdays — and has lent considerable talent to the work of artists ranging from Bon Iver to Mark Guiliana's Beat Music. The underrated saxophonist/bassist has been given a night at Khyber's improvised Thursday gatherings to do as he pleases, whether as a soloist or with some of his extensive, top-caliber local connections. (9 p.m. Thu., Khyber Pass Café, St. Paul; $5, khyberpasscafe.com)

Fearless pianist

Pianist Angelica Sanchez composes and plays music capable of captivating jazz lovers along the entire continuum, from staunch traditionalists to lovers of "free jazz." That's because Sanchez is grounded in scholarship and jazz history. Yet she's fearless in spooling out tunes that are at once taut and unpredictable, well conceived and willfully exercised. Her discs on the Portuguese Clean Feed label are gems. She'll play in a trio with bassist Chris Bates and drummer Pete Hennig. (7 p.m. Sat., Black Dog, St. Paul; $10 suggested donation, blackdogstpaul.com)