DeJohnette & sons

Drummer Jack DeJohnette has reached that enviable stage in his career where he can pull off groundbreaking projects while retaining a direct lineage to venerable traditions and figures in jazz. His trio with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and electric bassist and effects wizard Matthew Garrison — the sons of two members of John Coltrane's iconic quartet — covers the Coltrane ensemble as well as Miles Davis. It's an august band pursuing a bold, broad agenda. (8 p.m. Sat., Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins; $12-$49, hopkinsartcenter.com)

Mentorship and metaphor

Pianists Todd Harper and Carei Thomas have known each other since 1978. Thomas mentored Harper, turning him on to Buddhism and giving him the confidence to play idiosyncratic free jazz. Over the decades, their talents have become more closely aligned and their collaboration enriched. On Friday, Harper will lead an adventuresome quartet playing some of Thomas' music and his own work inspired by Thomas' guidance. On Saturday, Harper will start with a trio and then showcase tunes from his cleverly titled new solo CD, "Metaphorsisis." (8 p.m., Fri.-Sat., Studio Z, St. Paul; $12 each or $20 for both nights, studiozstpaul.com)

Pick your keyboard

For a sample of Davell Crawford's magic, head to facebook.com/ davellcrawford for a 40-minute clip of the musician name-checking his New Orleans roots and show-and-telling the beauty and versatility of the B-3 Hammond organ, which he calls "the king of all instruments." On Friday Crawford plays with his organ trio, an ear-opening experience even for those wowed by his piano work. On Saturday, he goes back to the ivories for a program called "Deep in the Heart of New Orleans." (7 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dakota, Mpls.; $30-$40, dakotacooks.com)

Big deal at the Black Dog

Ben Allison is a bassist-composer who thinks outside the box. Founder of the Jazz Composers Collective in New York, he's adept at integrating pop stylings into an improvisational context and doesn't shy away from politics. He'll bring a trio that includes his longtime cohort Steve Cardenas on guitar and innovative kindred spirit Allison Miller on drums. It's a rare and welcome appearance of a national-caliber act at the Black Dog. (8:30 p.m. Sat., Black Dog, St. Paul; free, suggested donation $10, saturdaynightjazz attheblackdog.info)

Crawford

Accomplished piano trio

Bruce Barth is not a household name, but die-hard jazz fans know him as a comprehensive bop and post-bop stylist who's equally capable of rousing arpeggios, infectious swing rhythms and dulcet ballads. He heads a trio that includes his longtime drummer Montez Coleman (formerly with Roy Hargrove) and young bassist and Ron Carter protégé Dave Baron. Expect an equal mix of wide-ranging standards and Barth originals. (7 p.m. Mon., the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge, Mpls., $25, croonersloungemn.com)

BRITT ROBSON