Jazz Beat: Steve Lambert Quartet, at the Blue Room and at Green Lady Lounge

Tenor saxophonist and flutist Steve Lambert is one of the most in-demand musicians among Kansas City’s new jazz generation. His soaring solos explore new directions with unrestrained imagination, or they might lightly float with impeccable tone over the rhythm. Thursday night, Lambert leads a quartet in the Blue Room with pianist Andrew Ouellette, bassist Ben Leifer and drummer John Kizilarmut. Sunday at Green Lady Lounge, he heads up the Mutual Musicians Foundation’s big band. Then, Monday and Tuesday nights, he returns to Green Lady to record a live album with Ouellette, Dominique Sanders on bass and Ryan Lee on drums. It’s a good week for KC jazz.