Fri. Sept. 7 -- Bassist Michael Feinberg (Jean-Michel Pilc, John Scofield, Ralph Alessi, Ambrose Akinmusire) celebrates the release of his new record, a tribute to Elvin Jones, whose influence can be heard in Feinberg's loose-limbed, sometimes polyrhythmic and often hard-swinging approach. I'm getting conflicting reports about the personnel, but I'm going with the most recent: saxist Walter Smith III, guitarist Larry Koonse, trombonist Ryan Dragonn and virtual house drummer Dan Schnelle. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. Sept. 7 -- Electronified SoCal trombonist Michael Dessen fronts a coloristic trio with NYC mates Christopher Tordini (bass) and Jason Nazary (drums). At the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A. 90024; 7:30pm; FREE; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu.
Fri.-Sun. Sept. 7-9 -- The Jacaranda music series ain't stopped celebrating the hell out of minimalist-conceptualist composer John Cage's 100th birthday at various Westside venues, night & day. Check here for details.
Fri. Sept. 7 -- The Anthony Wilson Nonet plays the music of his dad, the great bandleader Gerald Wilson, who'll be accepting the L.A. Jazz Treasure Award this evening and telling a tale or two, I bet. Opening is Max Lesser, winner of the L.A. Jazz Society's Shelly Manne New Talent Award. Read my recent review of the Gerald Wilson Orchestra here. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- The Anthony Wilson Nonet rides again, most likely slanting more toward the Diana Krall guitarist's swinging yet adventurously modern originals. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- Bottoms up with the rootsiest lysergic country band in the land, I See Hawks in L.A., tonight featuring bassist Marc Doten and drummer Kevin Jarvis in addition to lead Hawks Rob Waller (vox) and Paul Lacques (guitar). At Cinema Bar, 3967 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City 90036; 10pm; no cover; (310) 390-1328; thecinemabar.com.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- Strapping Young Lad guitarist Devin Townsend, tyrannical producer of Lamb of God, Darkest Hour, Rammstein et al., leads his own melodic-metal outfit. With Katatonia, Paradist Lost, Stolen Babies. At El Rey Theater, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; doors 6pm; $25; www.ticketmaster.com.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- You could consider this the smallest possible version of the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra: universal pianist Billy Childs plus bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton. At Vitello's Restaurant, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City 91604; 8 &10 pm; $25 cover plus $13 minimum; (818) 769-0905; www.vitellosrestaurant.com.
Sun. Sept. 9 -- Cosmic Afro-vocalist Dwight Trible leads the Cosmic Band (pianist Mark de Clive-Lowe, violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, bassist Trevor Ware and drummer Dexter Story) in a cosmic location. At Agape International Spiritual Center, 5700 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City 90230; 3pm; $25 ($20 advance); www.agapelive.com.
Sun. Sept. 9 -- Accompanied by guitarist Cliff Wagner, singer Julie Christensen sings the folky bluesy realness and relates the saga of her unlikely transition from Iowa cornfields to the punk clubs of '80s Los Angeles; buy her great new "Weeds Like Us." Also hear the music & words of perennial L.A. gutter musician Zander Schloss (Circle Jerks, Thelonious Monster), and opener Mason Summit. At the Ruskin Group Theater, 3000 Airport Ave., Santa Monica 90405, 7pm; $8; (310) 397-3244.
Sun. Sept. 9 -- Joeless Shoe play an attractive brand of original melodic post-mainstream jazz. From the L.A. Jazz Collective, that's saxist Matt Otto, guitarist Jamie Rosenn, drummer Jason Harnell and special guest trombonist Alan Ferber. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Sept. 12 -- The vet reggae vocal trio The Abyssinians bring back the lilt; the superrhythmic East L.A. Afrobeat 12-piece Mexico 68 opens; and the house Echodelic DJs spin the vintage vinyl. Red Stripe beer at the bar, of course. Best reggae in the west. Dub Club at the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 9pm; $15 ($10 before 10pm); www.attheecho.com.
Wed. Sept. 12 -- The electro beats. The sweaty dance. The live string ensemble??!! Yup, only former Stereotaxic Device leader George Sarah does that. Bunch of other rhythm units in two rooms, too. Club Alt!at Los Globos, 3040 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 9pm; $10; www.clublosglobos.com; (323) 207-6686.
Wed. Sept. 12 -- On their tour poster, Finnish pagan-metal kings Korpiklaani depict a bearded, helmeted warrior offering a plume to a swan. Nuff said. With fellow wassailers Tyr, Moonsorrow, Reciful, Helsott. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 6pm; $22; all ages; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Wed. Sept. 5 -- More back-to-back postmodern swing from Nick Mancini this week. Tonight the force-of-nature vibraphonist brings trumpeter John Daversa, bassist Dave Robaire, drummer Dan Schnelle and special guest vocalist/guitarist Celia Chavez. Super music, and Mancini also touts the food at the venue, which is a Knitting Factory offshoot. At the Federal Bar, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 91601; 8pm; free; www.thefederalbar.com.
Thurs. Sept. 6 -- And Nick Mancini performs this week (though not every week) at the "Elastic Hour" concert series he curates, doing a Brazilian thing tonight with guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento and cellist Artyom Manukyan. At Curve Line Space Gallery, 1577 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 8pm; $10 donation includes adult refreshments (sorry not lap dances); (323) 478-9874.
Thurs.-Sat. Sept. 13-14 -- New-gen trumpeter Christian Scott, the man with the whisper tone and the open rhythm, leads a quintet. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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You know Z'ev, the metallic percussionist and electronic file cruncher who's made such rad noises for John Zorn's Tzadik label etc.? He wants to make another record, and he's raising funds through Kickstarter. Contribute here.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.