Ah, the many-splendored possibilities of jazz musician E.J. Strickland!

Consider:

The Busy Factor - Strickland, 36, is one of the most-recorded drummers in the 21st century, with over 300 session dates under his belt.

The Live Resume - He's much-sought-after by touring musicians and has played with The Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Cassandra Wilson and The Russell Malone Quartet, just to mention a representative few.

Leadership and Vision - Strickland also has his own band, the E.J. Strickland Quintet, and is a renowned composer/arranger. He's celebrating the release of their new CD, "The Undying Spirit," with a performance Friday in the Side Door Jazz Club in the Old Lyme Inn.

Downbeat Really Said That?! - The illustrious jazz periodical described the album as boasting "... fields of cumulative energy, clouds of feather-touch and heavy-handed syncopations, latent with power like an oncoming storm."

Strike Up the Band! - Along with Strickland, quintet members include Jaleel Shaw (sax), twin brother Marcus Strickland (sax) Luis Perdomo (piano) and Linda Oh (bass).

- RICK KOSTER

E.J. Strickland Quintet, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Side Door Jazz Club, 85 Lyme St., Old Lyme; $38.50; (860) 434-0886.