Fri. Jan. 9 -- Fluidly percolating Diz-Wynton drummer Ignacio Berroa puts together a friendly quartet with saxist Chip McNeil, melodic pianist Josh Nelson and imaginative bassist Edwin Livingston. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Jan. 10 -- If you wanna do a Clifford Brown Project to honor the legendary trumeter-composer (who died in 1956 at age 25), better round up some musicians with worn shoes and long memories, like saxists Gary Foster & Pete Christlieb, bassist Putter Smith, drummer Kendall Kay and others, all arranged by Mark Masters, who's put charts to everything from Duke to Steely Dan. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Jan. 10 -- Listen for the ancient Egyptian wisdom in the sax of Azar Lawrence, shaking the constellations with his star ensemble: vocalist Jeffrey Robinson, drummer Alphonse Mouzon, pianist Theo Saunders and bassist Jeff Littleton. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $15; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. Jan. 10 -- Stretch out with trumpeter Elliott Caine's post-bop excursions and buy me a martini (which is made with gin, it should go without saying). At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat. Jan. 10 -- Never thought I'd see a reunion of The Flesh Eaters, a jazzy, artpunky ad hoc crew fronted by poet-rasper Chris D and hard to assemble because of its members' other commitments: bassist John Doe and vibesman D.J. Bonebrake to X, guitarist Dave Alvin and drummer Bill Bateman to the Blasters, and saxist Steve Berlin to Los Lobos. But the group's 1981 "A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die" is getting reissued, and the guys had a minute to play, so they're doing a few shows. I remember digging their loose live confabulation cuz it had so few obvious models. Read an article by Don Waller here. With Skating Polly, Small Wigs. This one could sell out, so I'd advise grabbing advance tix. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 8:30pm; $19; 18+; www.attheecho.com.
Sun. Jan. 11 -- Soundshoppe is your monthly opportunity to jam electromorphously or sit down and watch the way other free spirits tangle cords. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; free; www.sassas.org.
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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.