Twin Cities jazz this week: Larry McDonough doubles down, Jay Young gets funky

Larry McDonough is a veteran pianist, singer and conceptualist on the local jazz scene who will showcase two very different performances this week. Thursday's is devoted to original tunes by McDonough and bassist Greg Stinson, plus the poetry and music of saxophonist Richard Terrill. Drummer Dean White rounds out the quartet. Then on Tuesday, mindful of the success of his Chet Baker and Miles Davis shows, McDonough, in a trio with Stinson and White, will celebrate the mid-'70s collaboration of Bill Evans and Tony Bennett. (9 p.m. Thu., Khyber Pass, St. Paul. $5. khyberpasscafe.com; 7 p.m. Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls. $7. dakotacooks.com)

In-vogue drummer Rodney Ruckus has a distinctive trio with electric cellist Greg Byers and young pianist Javier Santiago. They'll play the second set of a piquant double bill, following the hip-hop-infused jazz of a sextet featuring drummer Arthur "LA" Buckner, guitarist Omid Huttar, Russell Evans on piano and Rob Coleman on keys, the MC Excel, and CJ Pitts on vocals. (9 p.m. Thu., Reverie, Mpls. Free. thursdaynightjazzatreverie.info)

Jay Young initially got his rep as a rock-solid accompanist for vocalists like Debbie Duncan and Moore by Four. But when it came time to build his own band, the piccolo bassist indulged his love of jazz-funk. His Lyric Factory — five musicians, three vocalists — has plumbed the catalogs of Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock and Earth, Wind & Fire. Expect more of the same on their first outing of 2017. (7 p.m. Sat., Dakota, Mpls. $15. dakotacooks.com)

Cory Healey's Beautiful Sunshine Band released one of the most durably enjoyable jazz CDs of 2016 — nine Healey originals plus songs by Bob Dylan and St. Vincent capture a wide swatch of styles, from mainstream bop to ambient mood music and rock-inflected electronics. The well-balanced quintet includes the aggressive dual horns of Brandon Wozniak on tenor and Jake Baldwin on trumpet, Healey working the drums and electronics alongside electric bassist Erik Fratzke and Zacc Harris on guitar. (7 p.m. Sat., Studio Z, St. Paul. $10-$15. studiozstpaul.com)

BRITT ROBSON