Steve Wilson Quartet

Ask Steve Wilson for a characterization of jazz and he’ll defer to the late Billy Higgins, who defined this music as "sanctified intelligence." One could hardly ask for a better way to describe Wilson’s own work; the 40-year-old saxophonist approaches his art with a combination of thoughtful rigor and deep-rooted soul. These qualities, along with his sure-footed rhythmic sense and sharp melodic instinct, made Wilson the quintessential sideman (with the likes of Ralph Peterson, Dave Holland and Chick Corea) for a number of years. These days he mostly fronts his own group, a versatile quartet with particular expertise in Afro-Cuban and pan-Caribbean grooves. Like Wilson, this unit is thoroughly modern in conception but admittedly indebted to the past; Passages (Stretch), their latest album, pays homage to jazz’s dearly departed heroes. What separates this tribute from countless others is the repertoire, consisting almost entirely of original compositions. And while it’s true that Wilson’s writing has yet to match his playing, there are promising signs. For now, he’ll be recognized primarily as a peerless improviser and a confident leader. Hear him — with pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Daryl Hall and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts — and judge for yourself.

—Nate Chinen

Fri., Jan. 25, 5-8:45 p.m., free with museum admission, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and the Parkway, 215-763-8100, www.philamuseum.org.