Don't let the brand names of his collaborators—El-P on Love & Hate, Philly's own cut-n-paste chemist RJD2 for Magnificent City—fool you into thinking that Aceyalone ain't his own man. Since A Book of Human Language, the throaty West Coast rapper has eschewed all manner of gangsta silliness to create a serious, thought-provoking, literate language that isn't afraid to have fun with semantics and stereotypes, as he does on Magnificent's "Supahero." Together, though, Ace and RJ make a helluva team, one that never fails to create diverse soulful sounds from song to City's song.

--A.D. Amorosi

Tue., Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $15, with RJD2 and Busdriver, Beyond Nightclub, Eighth and Callowhill sts., 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

Since tendering Wynton Marsalis his resignation from the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Camden pianist Eric Lewis has pulled a number of stunts—from performing at a NASCAR race to landing a role in DeNiro's next film—to raise his profile as a solo artist. But his best piece of self-promotion is his debut CD, Hopscotch, a slow-burner that highlights Lewis' unassuming versatility.

--Shaun Brady

Sat., Feb. 25, 8 p.m., $25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, www.paintedbride.org.

Stars makes synth-pop you already know—dancey beats, sticky-sweet boy-girl vocals—but at least the Montreal-based four-piece (which shares members with Broken Social Scene) borrows from solid sources. Their clubby cover of "This Charming Man" goes down easy, as does lead singer Torquil Campbell lasciviously eyeing the audience like he's auditioning for the role of Morrissey. It's all his.

--Tami Fertig

Thu., Feb. 23, 8:30 p.m., $12, with Magnet, Beyond Nightclub, Eighth and Callowhill sts., 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

He's only 23, but Jonathan Biss plays the piano like an artist wise beyond his years, with an enthralling combination of insight and sinew. He was a student of the great Leon Fleisher at Curtis, and the teacher's worldly and inquisitive nature is reflected in his programs. For his Philadelphia Chamber Music Society recital on Tuesday, Biss will play two sonatas of Beethoven, the revolutionary Fantasy in C of Schumann, the equally groundbreaking Opus 19 of Schoenberg, and a local premiere by one L. Spratlan.

--Peter Burwasser

Tue., Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $26-$36, Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St., 215-569-8080, www.kimmelcenter.org.

Chick Corea may not have convinced him to trade his Torah for a copy of Dianetics, but Israeli-born bassist Avishai Cohen follows his ex-boss's lead in other ways. Cohen's pianistic bass anchors the same sort of globe-trotting fusion that Corea pioneered, leaning naturally toward Middle Eastern melodies but just as prone to Latin rhythms, African folk tunes or urban U.S. funk.

--Shaun Brady

Fri., Feb. 24, 5:45 and 7:15 p.m., $12, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and the Parkway, 215-763-8100.