Surviving members of the Grateful Dead have been busy this year regrouping for some big concerts, but there’re not the only ones swimming in that repertoire. Drummer Joe Russo, who played in Furthur with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, drives one of the most improvisational outfits in Almost Dead with fellow aces such as keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarist Tom Hamilton. And Joe Russo’s Almost Dead will be shaking off the turkey dinner at the Paradise Rock Club both Friday and Saturday, with different sets each night. Meanwhile, on Friday at the Lizard Lounge, bassist Mike Rivard welcomes back guitarist Reeves Gabrels – the former David Bowie virtuoso who’s gracing the Cure these days – to join a Club d’elf crew that includes keyboardist Paul Schultheis, turntablist Mister Rourke and drummer Dean Johnson.

Arturo Sandoval has seemingly done it all. The Cuban-born trumpeter has won 10 Grammy Awards as well as an Emmy and had Andy Garcia play him in a biographic movie for HBO. In 2013, President Obama tapped Sandoval for the Presidential Medal of Freedom — and the 66-year-old trumpeter keeps busy, playing Friday through Sunday at Scullers Jazz Club. Also on Saturday, singer Ed Kowalczyk hits the Brighton Music Hall to satiate fans of his ’90s alt-rock band Live. And up at Beverly’s Cabot Theatre that same night, soul shouter Barrence Whitfield (above) leads his Grits & Groceries Orchestra in the rocking second annual Funk Fest sponsored by the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival, with Henley Douglas (ex-Heavy Metal Horns) and Qwill rounding out the bill.