Will Connell Memorial Week

Will Connell, a veteran free-jazz multi-instrumentalist known for his work in the early-’80s quartet Commitment, was scheduled to begin a Stone residency on Dec 23, but sadly, the LES mainstay passed away last month. Here, friends and associates realize Connell's vision for the run, kicking off with a promising Dec 23 bill, featuring music by and inspired by the late L.A. pianist-composer Horace Tapscott, a key collaborator of the honoree. Other highlights include Connell's former ensemble Sadhana (Dec 26), with French-horn player Vincent Chancey subbing in; and saxist Jorge Sylvester's ACE Collective (Dec 28).