Dreamy Chris Potter

A big reason why Chris Potter is one of the 10 best tenor saxophonists in jazz is because he plays with such purpose, always appearing to be on a quest. His latest quartet — pianist David Virelles, with Joe Martin on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums — stretches out and snaps back with marvelous elasticity on his latest ECM release, "The Dreamer Is the Dream," featuring Potter on bass clarinet and soprano as well as tenor. (7 and 9 p.m., Wed., Dakota, Mpls.; $20-$30, dakotacooks.com)

Hoaxer is legit

Four of the best young jazz players born in Minnesota are home from college and united in the quartet Hoaxer. Bassist Charlie Lincoln, drummer Edmund Catlin, saxophonist Peter Goggin and pianist Will Kjeer have pooled their precocious talents for their all-originals debut disc, "Crash Test." This is the CD release party. (9 p.m. Fri., Vieux Carre, St. Paul; $8 cash only, vieux-carre.com)

Jazz meets classical

It's a big deal when a composer of Kenny Werner's stature delivers a world premiere of new work. The Chamber Music Society of Minnesota is the host for Werner's latest "Third Stream" works for String Quartet and Jazz Piano Trio, as well as songs for standard jazz trio. Werner is the author of the influential book "Effortless Mastery — Liberating the Master Musician Within." He'll appear with Anthony Cox and Frederick Harris in the rhythm section and a string quartet including CMSM Artistic Director Young-Nam Kim. (4 p.m. Sun., Sundin Hall, St. Paul; $25, chambermusicmn.org )

'Big Alpaca' makes a splash

A midyear contender for the best local jazz disc of 2017 is "Big Alpaca" by the Bill Simenson Orchestra. Mixing splash and sophistication in a manner akin to '50s swing-bop ensembles, Simenson canvasses a dynamic range of moods and textures over the course of a dozen original songs with his 17-piece. This CD release party also serves as a fifth-anniversary celebration of the Simenson Orchestra's monthly gigs at Jazz Central, where much of the "Big Alpaca" material was honed. (8:30 p.m. Tue., Jazz Central, Mpls.; $10, jazzcentralstudios.org)

BRITT ROBSON