Since his debut with The Tony Williams Lifetime at the age of 18, bassist Michael Formanek has enhanced the music of greats like Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, and Freddie Hubbard. He's one of the most in-demand sidemen on the contemporary scene but, when he performs at Bernunzio this week, Formanek will be the leader of an all-star quartet featuring Tim Berne on alto saxophone, Craig Taborn on piano, and Gerald Cleaver on drums. They'll be playing selections from Formanek's wonderfully adventurous new ECM album, "Small Places."

Michael Formanek Quartet performs Friday, June 7, 10:30 p.m. at Bernunzio Uptown Music, 122 East Ave. $10. 473-6140, bernunzio.com.