He's the son of Gerry Niewood, who emerged from Rochester in the early 1970s as the versatile reed player in Chuck Mangione's quartet. But don't expect Adam Niewood to be a chip off the old block. There's no question that Niewood shares his dad's mastery of the saxophone, but his playing takes a decidedly avant-garde direction. His own tunes are dynamic compositions ripe for free-form group improvisations. Even when he tackles a standard like "Monk's Dream," Niewood toys with the time and re-imagines the tune. Since attending the Manhattan School of Music, Niewood has shared the stage with Bill Charlap, Rufus Reed, Vic Juris, and Gene Bertoncini. He'll be bringing his own group to the Bop Shop this week to stake a claim in his dad's old stomping ground.

Adam Niewood Quartet plays Friday, March 16, at the Bop Shop Atrium, 274 North Goodman Street, 8 p.m., $8 donation requested.