Sylvia Cuenca, a San Jose native who’s been a first call drummer on the jazz scene in New York City now for several decades, is passing through town and will play Bird & Beckett twice this week — tonight in a quartet with New York organ player Jared Gold and local icons Joe Cohen on sax and Jack Riordan on guitar.

Friday, she’s back — in a quartet co-led by Bay Area saxophone legend Harvey Wainapel. with Adam Shulman on piano and Peter Barshay on bass.

Sylvia got her start here in San Francisco before heading for New York City and putting in long, productive years touring in the quartets of saxophone titan Joe Henderson and legendary trumpet player Clark Terry, two substantial associations that speak for her talent and the high regard it’s brought her in a fiercely competitive environment.

Organist Jared Gold was named a “Rising Star” in Downbeat’s 2013 poll, and is a top draw in New York City, with a reputation for harmonic sophistication and a uniquely individual talent for creating an irresistible groove.

The quartet features top Bay Area players Joe Cohen on sax and Jack Tone Riordan on guitar.

Joe is a giant on sax, one of the best you’ll hear. Jack has played some very memorable shows at Bird & Beckett in the past, including a recent recording session with Wil Blades on organ and the legendary Mike Davis on drums — soon to be released on cd. Over the past ten years, Jack has become a first call guitarist for organists passing through the Bay Area. He has performed with organ legends such as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chester Thompson (Santana), Rhoda Scott, Larry Goldings, and Tony Monaco, and will soon be heard on a new recording with Wil Blades on organ and legendary drummer Mike Clark. Their encounter tonight with organist Jared Gold, with Sylvia Cuenca driving the band on drums, will be one for the books!