‘Alternative Guitar Summit’

Guitar polymath Joel Harrison’s always-intriguing annual party kicks off tonight with bands led by Will Bernard, Miles Okazaki, and David Gilmore. It continue stomorrow with a trio led by Dave Tronzo and (highlight alert!) the first meeting of improvisation legend Fred Frith and Wilco’s Nels Cline. The summit wraps up Sunday with a spectacular series of duo tributes to drummer-bandleader-composer Paul Motian by Steve Cardenas and pianist Jacob Sacks, Bon Monder with trumpeter Bill McHenry, Brandon Ross with bassist Stomu Takeishi, Mary Halvorson with Vic Juris, Nels Cline with Julian Lage, and Harrison himself with drummer Tyshawn Sorey.

Fri., Jan. 17, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 18, 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 19, 8 p.m., 2014