Fri. Nov. 30 -- Peter Erskine and Dr. Um is the delicate but swinging Weather Report drummer with a remarkable band featuring keyboardist John Beasley, saxist Bob Sheppard and bassist Benjamin J. Shepherd. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25-$30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. Nov. 30 -- Massachusetts modern-metal monsters Unearth celebrate their jumpin' 20th anniversary. With Fit for an Autopsy, The Agony Scene. At Union, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 90019; 7pm; $20; all ages; www.unionclubla.com.
Sat. Dec. 1 -- Most exciting young jazz band of the year: Black Nile, bringing unstoppable African rhythm and inspired harmonic challenge. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. Dec. 1 -- Albert Lee entrances guitar geeks and lovers of blues, folk, jazz, rock and everything else he's been pluckin' for half a century. His band is keyboardist J.T. Thomas, bassist Will MacGregor and drummer Jason Smith, and they all sing. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30-$35; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat.-Sun. Dec. 1-2 -- Decibel Metal & Beer Fest -- can't beat that combination, especially with Bay Area thrash originators Testament and the ambitious progressive drama of Black Dahlia Murder (Sat.), plus Celtic Frost spinoff Tryptikon and Brit industrial vets Godflesh (Sun.). And lots more bands, of course. And the beer. At the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90010; 4pm; $25-$35; (213) 388-1400; info here.
Sun. Dec. 2 -- Hindustani singing plus Delta slide plucking? Why, sure; welcome Sacramento's Jay Nair & Ross Hammond (pictured). Violinist Jeff Gauthier and cellist Maggie Parkins open with a classically inflected improv duo that the two longtime L.A. new-music explorers are calling The Smudges. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. Dec. 2 -- Nonstandard composers Fahad Siadat and Stephanie Cheng Smith go all electro-acoustic on yer ass. A SASSAS presentation at Kings Road Park Pavilion, 1000 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood 90069; 3pm; $15; www.sassas.org.
Tues. Dec. 4 -- Guitar mutator G.E. Stinson assembles six extra-experienced avanteers for various recombinant adventures: windman Vinny Golia, bassist Steuart Liebig, drummer Brian Christopherson, cellist Tal Katz and bassist Miller Wrenn. At Coaxial Arts Foundation, 1815 S. Main St., downtown 90015; 8pm; $5; www.coaxialarts.com.
Tues. Dec. 4 -- "Grinding Sounds, Repeating Patterns and Sonorous Incantations" -- the title is enough to intrigue me, and it's all executed by bassist Scott Worthington and the vocal sextet Hex. At Monk Space, 4414 W. Second St. near Western, Los Angeles 90004; 8pm; $25 ($20 students) tix here.
Thurs. Dec. 6 -- Trombonist Michael Vlatkovich employs the bestest improvizers to realize his individualiztic compozitions: drummer Garth Powell and bassist Steuart Liebig. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.