Yoko Suzuki Trio

Alphabet City welcomes the Yoko Suzuki Trio back to North Side for another of their semi-regular appearances. But that's no reason to sleep on this one: these three phenomenal Pittsburgh-based(ish) musicians walk a tight rope of improvisation and structure, slamming into new sections on a dime or railing on a groove for five minutes at a time. The stuff is loose, but shouldn't scare away listeners averse to the really "out there" stuff. Suzuki plays alto sax, Clifford Barnes is on organ, and James Johnson III keeps the screws tight on percussion. There are a few videos of past Alphabet City performances on YouTube, so you can sample before you go. Free with RSVP.