Watching and hearing Dave Brubeck at the Dakota last week, I wondered (not for the first time) if jazz is an elixir. True, Brubeck has outlived two quartets, he needed a bit of help getting on and off the stage, and he used a special chair that was shipped to the club ahead of time (he has had back problems since a diving accident in 1951). But when he puts his hands on the keys, he’s still Brubeck. On Dec. 6, his 89th birthday, he’ll receive Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement in the arts.

Next week, on Nov. 20-21, the great drummer Roy Haynes will bring his appropriately named Fountain of Youth band to the Artists’ Quarter in St. Paul for four fiery sets. Not only is Haynes a blur behind his kit, he’s also a sharp dresser. He turned 84 in March.

Awesome pianist Ahmad Jamal returns to the Dakota next February; at 79, he’s still a relative youngster.

The website jazz.com has a regular feature called OctoJAZZArians that profiles jazz legends still creative and active in their 80s. Like Dr. Billy Taylor, who performed earlier this year with Vocal Essence a few months before turning 88. And Randy Weston, who played the Dakota last February at 81; his autobiography, written with Willard Jenkins, will be published by Duke University Press next year. And Marian McPartland, who celebrated the 30th anniversary of her public radio program, Piano Jazz, in April with two lengthy sets at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. McPartland is 91.

This week’s jazz picks are a bit younger. Long may they gig.

Friday-Sunday: Mary Louise Knutson Duo. Do some shopping, hear some jazz, sample desserts and wine at the Galleria’s eighth annual Holiday Open House. Today, pianist Knutson and bassist Jeff Bailey play from 5 to 8 p.m. in the courtyard near The Good Earth. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Knutson is joined by Gordy Johnson in the courtyard near Kozy’s. On Sunday from noon until 3:00 p.m., Chris Bates is the bassist in the courtyard near Crave. 5 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday, The Galleria (Free).

Saturday: Pat Moriarty and Ellen Lease. Last week’s theme was improvised music, and there was plenty of it: Milo Fine at Studio Z on Sunday and Homewood Studios on Monday, Fat Kid Wednesdays at the Clown Lounge on Monday, the Tuesday series at Art of This Gallery, the Turtle Island String Quartet at the Dakota on Thursday. The party continues with the husband-and-wife team of saxophonist Pat Moriarty and pianist Ellen Lease. To date I have only heard them in a quintet setting; this performance, first in what they’re calling the “Tonight at Noon: New Jazz at Studio Z” series, is a rare opportunity to hear just the two of them. On the program: four saxophone solos, four piano solos, four duets, mostly originals. 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, Studio Z, 275 E. Fourth St. (Northwestern Building), St. Paul ($10 adults/$5 students).

Monday and Tuesday: Evan Christopher and Henry Butler. New Orleans clarinetist Evan Christopher played the Dakota just last month at a party for the club’s members. Lucky for those who were there and those who weren’t, he’s returning for two nights. In October, he played a magical non-stop two-hour set and an encore; the club was full, it was a Sunday night, and nobody left except for a family with young children (it was, after all, a school night). People are still talking about how fine that show was, and how revelatory: Creole music? The clarinet? Who knew it could all be so exciting, so modern? Christopher performed then with a trio of top-notch area musicians; this time he’s paired with New Orleans pianist Henry Butler. Good times will roll. 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dakota ($20).

Pamela Espeland keeps a Twin Cities live jazz calendar and blogs about jazz at Bebopified. She tweets about jazz on Twitter.