Matt Otto Quintet with Walter Smith III, at the Blue Room

Houston native Walter Smith III is part of a fresh generation of jazz musicians gaining national acclaim. On his 2014 album, Still Casual, saxophone solos pull you in with crisp vigor wrapped in unexpected elegance. Smith is in Lawrence this weekend for the KU Jazz Festival. But Thursday night, Matt Otto, whose own saxophone solos match ideal tone with imagination, pairs Smith with some of Kansas City’s best young jazz stars at the Blue Room. Joining Otto and Smith are Peter Schlamb on vibraphone, Karl McComas-Reichl on bass, Brian Steever on drums and singer Kelley Gant. Otto’s original compositions are often laced with adventurous sounds, sometimes using the singer’s voice as an instrument. Expect a night of surprises.