Steve Lacy and Danilo Perezat

On the touring jazz circuit, exciting collaborations occur with some regularity, as instrumental specialists note a mutual open date and make plans to pool their talents. Saturday night’s show at the Folly offers a particularly intriguing pairing, with soprano saxophonist and Paris resident Steve Lacy making a rare appearance in America to join Panama-born pianist Danilo Perez. In 1958, Lacy, along with pianist Mal Waldron, released Reflections, the first album to be filled with interpretations of Thelonious Monk’s work. An impressed Monk asked the young saxophonist to join his ensemble, and during a “Battle of the Bands” event, Lacy introduced the soprano sax to John Coltrane. Though Perez never shared a stage with Monk, he paid the legend a knowing tribute with his album Panamonk. Remaining true to his roots, Perez injects a fascinating blend of Latin American musical styles into his songs. During his stint with Wynton Marsalis’ band, Perez displayed his versatility by switching seamlessly from Cuban rhythms to classic jazz, a skill that should serve him well during a performance with an unfamiliar partner. Given both players’ flair for improvisation, this once-in-a-lifetime event should supply plenty of satisfying surprises.