Fri. July 12 -- Elevate avantwise with a record-release celebration for Borasisi, featuring saxist Patrick Shiroishi, windman Vinny Golia, drummer Dylan Fujioka and drummer Alex Cline. LA Fog opens. At Human Resources, 410 Cottage Home St., Chinatown 90012; 8:30pm; $7; www.humanresourcesla.com.
Fri. July 12 -- Trumpeter Steve Smith gets an "Acknowledgment" from his friends, including saxist Fuasi, drummer Ishmael Hunter, bassist Jeff Littleton, saxist Michael Session, pianist Bobby West and guitarist Rick Zunigar. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. July 12 -- Darek Oles, just about the world's most holistic and musical bassist, forms a trio with pianist Qba and drummer Tina Raymond. 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.
Fri.-Sat. July 12-13 -- Catch up with a legion of rising heavies at the Sound and Fury festival, featuring Power Trip, Abuse of Power, Dominant Force (do we sense a theme?) and many more. At the Belasco Theater, 1050 S. Hill St., downtown 90015; 1:30pm until late; cheap or free, which is why most of it is sold out unless you're sneaky or rich; sketchy details here.
Sat. July 13 -- Vibraphonist Nick Mancini always has the most inviting compositions and the finest teammates, this time pianist John Beasley, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Abe Lagrimas Jr. 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.
Sat. July 13 -- Elliott Caine pours liquid trumpet over his bounding mainstream quartet. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sun. July 14 -- Lauren Baba matches her deep, thoughtful compositions with the subtle textures she can draw from a 17-member orchestra, including the talents of trombonist Joey Sellers, windman Brian Walsh and guitarist Alex Noice. 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. July 14 -- Darek Oles Trio. (See Fri.) At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $20 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.
Sun. July 14 -- LAFMS co-founder Joe Potts leads "Soundshoppe," SASSAS's monthly open electronic jam. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; free; www.sassas.org.
Sun. July 14 -- New York's Club 57 (1977-1983) was a "neo-Dada" performance and art space. Some of its alumni are "resurrecting its spirit" with "Yesterday's Tomorrowland Today," a show of photocopy art; scene vets Ann Magnuson & Kristian Hoffman are performing at the opening. At Winslow Garage, 3540 Winslow Dr., Silver Lake 90026; 3-6pm; free; www.winslowgarage.com.
Wed. July 17 -- Chicago's formative avant revives with the sax-piano duo of Roscoe Mitchell & Brett Carson (9:40) in "Black Fire Sessions," a music program accompanying the Broad's black-power art exhibit. The music (on multiple floors) also includes Busdriver (9:55), Georgia Anne Muldrow (8:45), Teebs (8:30) and Interventions: Mecca Vazie Andrews (8-11). At the Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; $25 but both this event and Aug. 14's Anthony Braxton event are sold out unless you know the pope; www.thebroad.org.
Wed. July 17 -- Celebrate invaluable cornetist Bobby Bradford's 85th birthday with Purple Gums, his spacious & spontaneous improvising trio also featuring tuba player William Roper and saxist Francis Wong. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 6:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Wed. July 17 -- You won't hear anyone approach the keyboard with the same kind of subliminal logic and conceptual innovation as Thollem McDonas, who finds his ideal duo foil in drummer Alex Cline. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Wed. July 17 -- Bassist Dave Tranchina plays with everybody, so they play with him too. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.