A Sound It Out favorite returns: Saxophonist-composer Michaël Attias leads his ultra-dynamic quartet featuring pianist Aruan Ortiz, bassist John Hébert and drummer extraordinaire Nasheet Waits. They will be performing music from the band’s great album of 2017, Nerve Dance, and more. In a glowing review of the album, All About Jazz said: “This may be the most pliable, self-assured quartet to emerge in recent times. It’s certainly one of the most creative. Nerve Dance manages to operate equally well on visceral and cerebral planes. It’s a musical live wire that provides joy to the ears and a jolt to the system.” A recent DownBeat profile pointed out the inspiration Michaël draws from the great lineage of alto saxophonists from Charlie Parker to Ornette Coleman to Anthony Braxton, along with declaring Nerve Dance both the “most adventurous and satisfying” of his nine albums as a leader so far. About his quartet, Michaël says: “There was a particular chemistry I was looking for that I can only describe as a fiery mathematics. Everyone has in common a deep lyricism and a very personal way of bringing design to the turbulence, as well as turbulence to the design. We all share a commitment to every moment of the music, to making it breathe and dance – balancing the yins and yangs, fire and receptivity, mystery and clarity.”