FRIDAY

Of all of Anthony Braxton’s recordings, bands, and compositions (there are enough of each to exhaust even the most obsessive discographer), his 1985 quartet and the numerous albums that document its British tour are, for many fans, the pinnacle of his achievements. While the chances for a reunion of the long-broken-up group are slim, local diehards can put the band back together in their minds: The Library of Congress recently hosted Braxton, and now Transparent Productions welcomes two more members of the ’85 quartet, drummer Gerry Hemingway and bassist Mark Dresser. (It only remains for someone to kidnap former quartet pianist Marilyn Crispell and drag her down here in time for the show.) Hemingway’s compositions are unsurprisingly rhythmic and dense, but his drum technique is based less on bombast than on sophistication. With a light but prolific stick touch, Hemingway dares his sidemen to fit inside his percussion patterns, forcing focused and refined improvisations. Hemingway’s quartet, which also includes tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin and trumpeter Herb Robertson, is winding down a lengthy North American tour. See this well-oiled machine fire up at 8 p.m. at George Washington University’s Phillips Hall, 801 22nd St. NW. $10. (202) 994-6245. (Christopher Porter)