Tony Malaby

As a sideman supporting big names in premier clubs—you can catch him in drum maverick Paul Motian’s band at the Village Vanguard through Sunday 29—and as an itinerant bandleader in spots spanning the Village and on to Park Slope, Malaby is always working: pushing against boundaries, extending his range, stoking his horn’s hearty warmth. Here Malaby will be rotating three bands, including two he’s already documented: Apparitions, an airy quartet in which bassist Drew Gress anchors volatile drummers Tom Rainey and John Hollenbeck; and Paloma Recio, Malaby’s soaring combo with guitarist Ben Monder, bassist Eivind Opsvik and drummer Nasheet Waits. The wild card is Novela, a free-ranging tentet copiloted by pianist Kris Davis. (Apparitions appears Thu 2 at 8:30pm and Fri 3 at 9pm; Paloma Recio plays Thu 2 at 10pm, Sat 4 at 9pm and Sun 5 at 10pm; and Novela performs Fri 3 at 10:30pm, Sat 4 at 10:30pm and Sun 5 at 8:30pm.)