Fri. Jan. 12 – Timbres t' make ya tremble: the trumpet-violin-bassoon trio of Chris Williams, Nigel Deane & Cody Putman. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 9pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Sat. Jan. 13 – Nobody has biochemistry like the guitar & drums duo of twins Nels Cline & Alex Cline, who've been in each other's heads since birth and onstage together almost since then. I wonder if as babies they cried at the same time. Bountiful imagination will flow in this very special event. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8pm; $35 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Jan. 13 – Vibraphonist Nick Mancini has been aching to bust out some of his new ventures into beauty, swing and abstract storytelling, and he's glad to have the help of clarinetist John Tegmeyer, bassist Jordan Richards and percussionist James Yoshizawa. At Miles Theater, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica 90403; 8 & 9pm; $10; bevs & snax available; free parking at 808 Wilshire Blvd.
Sat. Jan. 13 – Mainstream jazz gets fiery and gutsy when it flies from the trumpet of veteran Nolan Shaheed and his quintet mates Kevin Toney (piano), Keith Fiddmont (sax), James Leary (bass) and Quentin Dennard (drums). At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. Jan. 13 – Trumpeter Elliott Caine and his ensemble give you those unexpected slices of jazz history, and his own compatible creations. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sun. Jan. 14 – Get way up in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as singer Dwight Trible, windman Pablo Calogero, bassist John B. Williams, percussionist Derf Reklaw, percussionist Christopher Garcia and drummer Breeze Smith pay tribute. One hell of a band for sure. 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; $20; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Jan. 14 – Bop meets the Caribbean and other colorful destinations in the fingers of pianist Monty Alexander. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 7:30pm; $40 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Mon. Jan. 15 – Nothing like a world climate of guns & hatred to make Marilyn Manson hot again. Read my review of his current "Heaven Upside Down" here. At Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7pm; $180 (yeah, "resales," a.k.a. institutionalized scalping); www.livenation.com; (323) 962-7600.
Tues. Jan. 16 – Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry likes to make solo records now & again; this time (release Jan. 19) he's made the wise choice to use singers other than himself, including Robin Zander, David Johansen and Terry Reid, all three of whom will be onstage tonight. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; sold out of course, unless you get Vito to intercede; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Wed. Jan. 17 – Percussionist Nathan Hubbard, a mainstay of the SoCal avant forever, pulls strings to draw a fantasmo bano with violinist Jeff Gauthier, guitarist Max Kutner and bassist Steuart Liebig. There will be electronified abstraction. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Thurs. Jan. 18 – Hey, didn't Franklin Bruno used to write about adventuresome music for the Weekly, the Voice, etc.? He also plays guitar and piano, here with the finest allies, trumpeter Dan Clucas and drummer Corey Fogel. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.