One of New York’s most sacred jazz destinations is the Village Vanguard, a surprisingly small basement jazz club down alarmingly steep stairs in Greenwich Village. Opened in 1935 by Max Gordon and still run by his wife, Lorraine, the “Carnegie Hall of jazz clubs” is full of history, ghosts and up-to-the-minute music.

I’m going to the Vanguard after I finish writing this — not literally, but thanks to National Public Radio, I’ll hear a concert recorded live there on Wednesday night, featuring trumpeter Tom Harrell and his quintet. Minnesota Public Radio no longer thinks jazz is worth airtime, but NPR offers a wealth of jazz programming. See for yourself here and sign up for the Jazz Notes newsletter. Then head down the stairs to the Vanguard.  

Here’s what’s happening in jazz closer to home this Easter weekend and beyond.

Saturday, April 11: Reynold Philipsek Quartet CD Release. The enormously prolific guitarist Philipsek (30-plus recordings and counting) is best known for his Hot Club stylings. His latest CD, “East Side,” is a departure, blending hints of Piazzolla and Miles Davis with originals, improvisation and the distinctive sounds of Clint Hoover’s chromatic harmonica. With Matt Senjem on acoustic bass, Michael Bissonnette on percussion. The quartet appeared on KARE 11’s “Showcase Minnesota” earlier this month; here’s the clip. The cover charge includes a copy of the new CD. 8 p.m. Saturday, 318 Café in Excelsior,  ($12).

Saturday, April 11: Marco Benevento Trio. It’s a cruel night when you have to choose between Andrew Bird (with our own Michael Lewis) and the fresh, fascinating, playful pianist Marco Benevento. Bird’s show at the State is sold out, so if you have a taste for indie/jam-band/experimental rock/circuit-bending/sound-sculpting with melody at its core (plus jazz), go to Benevento. Listen on his website or MySpace page. Watch a brief promo video here. Stick around for New York “stomprovisors” Gutbucket at the late-night show. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dakota ($20).

Tuesday, April 14: Lionel Loueke. Growing up in the small West African country of Benin, Loueke had a chance encounter with a George Benson recording that made him a jazz musician. He studied in Paris and at the Berklee College of Music, then moved to Los Angeles and met Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard. You may have heard him on Hancock’s Grammy-winning “River: The Joni Letters.” I heard him at the Monterey Jazz Festival last September and he knocked me out. Rooted in African folk tunes and modern jazz, his music is intricate, rhythmically complex, and spellbinding. His trio includes fellow Berklee alums Massimo Biolcati on bass and Ferenc Nemeth on drums. (Biolcati is Italian, Nemeth Hungarian. Jazz is a global musical language.) Listen on Loueke’s website or MySpace page. See him solo here. This group deserves a full house. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dakota ($15/$20).

Find Twin Cities jazz calendars and more jazz news online at Jazz Police. In the Main Menu at the left, click on Twin Cities. Jazz radio station KBEM 88.5FM posts a live music calendar each week; view it online in the Events menu.