At last year’s Taste of D.C., Puerto Rico-born pianist Eddie Palmieri joyously showed off his ongoing love for both salsa and jazz by alternating quick-fingered ivory-pushing rhythms and Monklike pounding cacophony, all with the aid of his adept horn-and-percussion-filled ensemble. While the atmosphere at Blues Alley may be a little more sedate, don’t expect this charismatic music veteran and his top-notch octet to hold back tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Blues Alley, 1073 Rear Wisconsin Ave. NW. $26.25. (202) 337-4141. (Steve Kiviat)