The week's best Twin Cities jazz: All Originals Jazz Series kicks off in St. Paul

Saxophonist Donald Washington and his regular bassist Dick Studer recently invited younger drummer Steve Hirsh to start playing with them for Washington's regular gig at the Black Dog. Their trio now has a name — Le Voyage — and will engage in "spontaneous improvisations" for this concert at Jazz Central. Washington is listed as playing both "reeds and percussion." It all sounds very promising. (8:30 p.m. Wed., Jazz Central, Mpls.; $10, jazzcentralstudios.com)

The Khyber's "pool party" concept means tossing random musicians together for a night of improvisation. And this week's grouping almost guarantees serendipity: Jelloslave cellist Jacqueline Ultan, intrepid guitarist Chris Cunningham and redoubtable drummer J.T. Bates. (9 p.m. Thu., Khyber Pass Café, St. Paul; $5, khyberpasscafe.com)

The summer's All Originals Jazz Series kicks off with the multi-composer crew the Illicit Sextet. Steve Kenny curates the series and heads up the ensemble on flumpet (a flugelhorn-trumpet conflation in both wood and brass), with Chris Lomheim on piano, Paul Harper on saxophones, Dave Roos on guitar and a core rhythm section of bassist Tom Pieper and Nathan Norman on drums. (8 p.m. Fri., Studio Z, St. Paul; $10, originaljazz.org)

Saxophonist Don Norton is known primarily as an educator at both Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State Mankato. He's studied under some renowned teachers, including Jerry Bergonzi at the New England Conservatory. And he's heading up an impressive local quartet that includes Cory Healey on drums, Joe Strachan on piano and Ted Olsen on bass. Expect straight-ahead jazz with plenty of vigor. (8 p.m. Fri., Jazz Central, Mpls.; $10, jazzcentralstudios.com)