Harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret comes to the Garde

We understand. Really.

Years ago, you heard John Popper play harmonica. The flurry of irritating, pointless notes was the aural equivalent of sticking your head in a swarm of flies hovering over the carcass of a horse.

Fair enough - but please consider the greatness of Gregoire Maret, who brings his Quartet Saturday to the Garde's Oasis Room. The Swiss-born harmonica virtuoso finesses a fluid and gorgeous brand of jazz and has performed with the likes of Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, Youssou N'Dour, Herbie Hancock and Sting.

Maret has just released his self-title debut album, and his band, including pianist Federico Gonzales Peña, drummer Clarence Penn and bassist Matt Brewer, is empathetic and intuitive. Tickets include the Lite Bites pre-show dine 'n' greet catered by Two Chefs.

- RICK KOSTER

The Gregoire Maret Quartet, 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. pre-show Lite Bites, Garde Arts Center's Oasis Room, 325 State St., New London; $40; (860) 444-7373, gardearts.org.