Tribune critic Howard Reich gives his top 10 in a hot Chicago jazz season.
The most promising jazz events of the winter season:
Mike Reed’s People, Places & Things. Drummer-composer-impresario Reed takes the stage at his indispensable club, Constellation, a nexus for new music in Chicago. He’ll lead his acclaimed People, Places & Things band, which tours the world steadily but hasn’t played Chicago in two years. Reed will share the bandstand with alto saxophonist Greg Ward, tenor saxophonist Tim Haldeman and bassist Jason Roebke. 8:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave.; $15; www. constellation-chicago.com
Howard Levy. The brilliant harmonica player is in such constant demand internationally that he rarely gets to play here at home. Here’s a chance to hear him with the Joe Policastro Trio, staffed by bassist Policastro with guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Patrick Avery. 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18; at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St.; $15; 312-642-6805 or www.andysjazzclub.com
“Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah.” Can 15 years have passed since this life-affirming production first set down roots in Chicago? Apparently so, but the show hasn’t worn out its welcome, its transformation of Handel’s “Messiah” a rousing, all-American tribute to a landmark work. Singers Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke and Karen Marie Richardson front a massive ensemble featuring orchestra, choir, and jazz band. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and 3 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr.; $29-$68; 312-341-2300 or www.auditoriumtheatre.org
Christopher Madsen. In the coldest months of the year, when audiences typically are at their smallest, the Jazz Showcase casts its spotlight on Chicago musicians. This gives local musicians the opportunity to play a national room and the Showcase a chance to vary its lineup. Chicago saxophonist Madsen proffers a hefty sound and a scholarly sensibility. For this engagement, he’ll collaborate with trombonist Michael Dease to revive the Dease-Madsen Quintet they co-led in New York long ago. This will mark the ensemble’s first reemergence in 15 years. 8 and 10 p.m. Jan. 23-25; 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 26; at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; $20-$35; 312-360-0234 or www.jazzshowcase.com
Amir ElSaffar. The former Chicago multi-instrumentalist/composer stands at the forefront of intertwining jazz techniques with Arabic musical practices. The result is a music of shimmering beauty and unmistakable originality, with ElSaffar playing trumpet and santur and contributing vocal lines, as he leads his singular Two Rivers Ensemble. This performance is part of the Harris Theater’s Mix at Six series, which has been quite effective in a developing a new, open-eared audience for one-hour, after-work performances. 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.; $15; 312-334-7777 or www.harristheaterchicago.org
Makaya McCraven. Chicago drummer McCraven makes his Symphony Center debut performing an original work, “In These Times.” The piece features McCraven with guitarist Matt Gold, trumpeter Marquis Hill, bassist Junius Paul, saxophonist Greg Ward and harpist Brandee
Younger and “embraces sociopolitical themes, accompanied by historical footage and spoken-word passages,” according to Symphony Center. 8 p.m. Jan. 31 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $24-$76; 312-294-3000 or www.cso .org
Jean-Michel Pilc. A pianist of considerable technique and consistent sensitivity, Pilc long has made the Green Mill his venue of choice in Chicago. In this intimate environment, listeners can savor the energy, virtuosity and creativity of a pianist who’s also a noted educator, teaching at McGill University in Montreal since 2015. He’ll lead a trio. 9 p.m. Feb. 7 and 8 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; $15; 773-878-5552 or www.greenmilljazz.com
Igor Butman. The last time I heard tenor saxophonist Butman, he was thundering before a capacity audience at a Moscow jazz club nearly two decades ago. Chicagoans won’t have to go quite that far to hear the Russian master, who makes a rare stopover here. 8 p.m. Feb. 9 at The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Avenue West; $20$38; 312-801-2100 or www. promontorychicago.com
“The Piano Soul of Nat King Cole.” To mark last year’s Nat King Cole centennial, the Symphony Center jazz series will spotlight a facet of the musician’s art that’s overshadowed by his immensely popular vocals: his pianism. Pianists Kenny Barron and Benny Green will do the honors, in the company of guitarist Russell Malone, bassist David Wong and the Chicago
Jazz Orchestra, led by Jeff Lindberg. 8 p.m. Feb. 14 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $28-$89; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org
Aaron Diehl and Warren Wolf. Pianist Diehl leads his trio plus vibraphonist Warren Wolf to pay homage to the Modern Jazz Quartet, a justly revered ensemble that elegantly transcended artificial barriers separating jazz and classical music. In this concert, on the Jazz at the Logan series, the musicians will revisit and update MJQ’s signature works. 7:30 p.m. Feb 21 in the University of Chicago’s Logan Center Performance Hall, 915 E. 60th St.; $10$38; 773-702-2787 or arts .uchicago.edu
Howard Reich is a Tribune critic. hreich@chicagotribune.com