Fri. Jan. 24 -- From his 1970 "Bitches Brew" spotlight to his days with Return to Forever and beyond, drummer Lenny White has collected some mighty powerful fusionistic Friends, tonight including bassists Victor Bailey & Foley, Miles/Headhunters windman Benny Maupin, and Phil Woods-Gary Bartz keyboardist George Colligan. An intriguing ensemble. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $20-$25; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Fri. Jan. 24 -- Tripfunky keyboardist Joshua White teams with sax smartguy Dave Binney, bassist Hamilton Price and universal drummer Mark Ferber for moderno-melodic excursions. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Jan. 26 -- Trevor Anderies and Aubre Hill curate tonight's music-dance version of Creative Underground, featuring Lumina Dance, windman Brian Walsh's Walsh Set Trio, River Song Quintet and brandnew compositions for the last two groups, who combine in RiverWalsh. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Jan. 26 -- Relapse Records stays rad with blastbeat frenzy from Portland's Toxic Holocaust and for-realsville death from San Jose vets Exhumed (pictured, turning a bit more melodic-riffy lately), plus Ramming Speed, Mammothgrindel, Mania, Velocity. At the Joint, 8771 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 90035; 7pm; $15; (310) 275-2619; www.thejointlive.com.
Mon. Jan. 27 -- Unusual beauty blooms visually & musically when Kaoru Mansour's exhibit of her delicate, colorfully subtle art opens tonight (it closes March 14). Providing apt sonic complement is Kaoru's own band, Acre Foot (Kaoru vox, Brad Dutz perc, Carey Fosse guit, Darryl Tewes bass), whose distinctive new "Expanding" teeters delightfully between spacious pop poetics and textural abstraction; plus the coolly challenging chamber modernism of the Brad Dutz Quartet, with Brian Walsh, Chris Sherman, Paul Vottek, guest John Fumo and visualist Kio Griffith. Come early (the opening starts at 7), stay late. 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; music 9pm-midnight; $10; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. Jan. 29 -- Tuff to choose between saxist Dave Binney's two Whale appearances this week, tonight with his elegant all-star group: master drummer Peter Erskine, classically tinged pianist Vardan Ovsepian and Kneebody bassist Kaveh Rastegar. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. Jan. 29 -- Crazytech drummer Virgil Donati assembles all-stars to jam with his trio featuring keysman Dennis Hamm and bassist Anthony Crawford: Brazilian guitar prodigy Andre Nieri, guitarist Irwin Thomas and guitarist Kiko Loureiro. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Jan. 29 -- One guess what kind of music Weedeater plays. With Pins of Light. At the Satellite, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; 9pm; cheap; 21+; (323) 661-4380; www.thesatellitela.com.
Thurs.-Fri. Jan. 30-Feb. 1 -- Return to Forever bass monster Stanley Clarke gets down with his trio (electric I bet), and goes acoustic-classical with his Harlem String Quartet. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $30-$40; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.