Dylan Ryan Sand

You might have caught Dylan Ryan gigging with Herculaneum or Icy Demons. Tonight the Chicago drummer-composer, who excels in both the avant-rock and progressive-jazz realms, hits Joe's with the trio known as Sand, heard on the recent Cuneiform set Sky Bleached. Echoing Ryan's pedigree, the disc pursues an earthy brand of fusion, perched between the rootsy and the abstract, that reminds us in turn of Bill Frisell, Sonny Sharrock and Tortoise. Sharing the July 29 ShapeShifter Lab bill are wired Philly art-punks Split Red and Tanks, an intriguing new trio that teams formidable local avant-gardists Ches Smith, Brandon Seabrook and Toby Driver.