Fri. Feb. 25 -- Trombonist Phil Ranelin has the experience to bring the true feel of bop-soul-Latin; he celebrates the release of his aptly named new "Perseverance" with a monster ensemble featuring trumpeter Marcus Belgrave (fellow Detroiter and mentor of Geri Allen), strong younger saxist Kamasi Washington, wild-chordin' pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, bassist James Leary and drummer Don Littleton. Go git it in the rising artistic environs of Culver City. At the Culver's Club for Jazz in the Radisson Los Angeles Westside Hotel, 6161 W. Centinela Blvd., Culver City 90230; 7:30 & 9:30pm; $15 cover plus $15 minimum; (310) 649-1776 x4137; reservations recommended; validated parking.
Fri.-Sat. Feb. 25-26 -- Joey DeFrancesco just lays his fingers on the Hammond and he's got me, but he goes a lot of fun places after that. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 & 10pm; $20-$25; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Feb. 26 -- The new literary-art mag Slake celebrates issue 2 with readings by Elizabeth Banicki, Ben Ehrenreich, Yxta Maya Murray, Harry Shannon/Joe Donnelly, Sam Slovick and Justin Warfield. Read my report on the last Slake reading here. at Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 5pm; free (but shell out $20 for a Slake if you feel like it). Space is limited; RSVP here.
Sat. Feb. 26 -- Veteran rad conceptualist Wadada Leo Smith celebrates sequoias, Africa and the Prophet with three new compositions for classical ensembles sponsored by Southwest Chamber Music; open up and lose your map. At the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; talk 7:30pm, concert 8pm; $38, $28 seniors, $10 students; (800) 726-7147; www.swmusic.org.
Sat. Feb. 26 -- Multi-instrumentalist David Ornette Cherry (son o' Don) resurfaces with his grooving post-psychedelic world ensemble featuring flutist Dawn Norfleet, bassist Reggie Carson, drummer Don Littleton (busy dude) and hand drummer Jahian. Africa in your socks. At the World Stage, 4344 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 8:30 & 10:15pm; $10; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. Feb. 26 -- SASSAS's outlandish Ad Hoc series presents bagpiper David Watson and multiman David Grubbs, along with beloved local sound-stretchers Steve Roden, William Roper and Joe Potts. At Beacon Arts, 808 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood 90302 (not Hollywood; I was confused too cuz of Inglewood's bizarro street numbers); 8pm; FREE; www.sassas.org.
Sat. Feb. 26 -- The youth-targeted "Jazz and the Orchestra" concludes with rising pianist John Beasley hosting explanations and demonstrations; his ace jazz ensemble includes drummer Roy McCurdy, bassist Carlos del Puerto, saxist Benn Clatworthy and trumpeter Bijon Watson. The L.A. Phil steps up too, in a program that includes compositions by Dvorak, Horace Silver, Leonard Bernstein and Duke Ellington as well as, yes, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." At Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 11am; $28; (323) 850-2000; www.laphil.org.
Sat. Feb. 26 -- Old friends will be glad to know that DJs Phast Phreddie & Don Waller are swapping vintage soul sets all night as Phred tags his annual L.A. base. In the bar at El Chavo Restaurant, 4437 Sunset Blvd., 8pm-1am; free 'cept for your booze & beans; limited parking in back.
Sun. Feb. 27 -- Metta Quintet puts an intellectual spin on pushy urban jazz. That's saxist Dayna Stephens, saxist Greg Ward, pianist Robert Rodriguez, bassist Chris Smith, drummer Hans Schuman and special guest trumpeter Keyon Harold. At Café Metropol, 923 E. Third St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $10 cover, $10 minimum; reservations recommended; (213) 613-1537; www.cafemetropol.com.
Wed. March 2 -- Brad Dutz, striker of plates & drums, leads an uncanny chamber quartet with windmen Jim Sullivan & Paul Sherman, plus cellist Chris Votek. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $10; $5 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Thurs. March 3 -- Pianist Gerald Clayton not only learned at the feet of the jazz masters, he's pushed things along with his personalized compositions and impressive technique. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Thurs. March 3 -- Dan Durkin's outa control 15-member Industrial Jazz Group pulls out a world of eclectic mash-up from its 10-year career. Great vets of the action include Damon Zick, Brian Walsh, Dan Rosenboom, Kris Tiner, Cory Wright and Dan Schnelle. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $10; $5 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Read Brick Wahl’s jazz picks in LA Weekly here, Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.