Fri. Feb. 7 -- Finland's Reptile Womb exhume the spirit of black metal with one-finger synth, random bass and subterranean noise; underground as hell. With Baphomancia, Sarin Snow. At the Lexington, 129 E. Third St., downtown 90013; doors 8pm; $10; 21+; (213) 291-5723; lexbarla.com.
Fri. Feb. 7 -- Vibraphonist Nick Mancini's Collective makes the modern inventiveness go down easy with clarinetist John Tegmeyer, windman Katisse Buckingham, bassist Cooper Appelt and drummer James Yoshizawa. 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.
Sat. Feb. 8 -- "Funk the Influence: A Symposium with George Clinton, Flea and Friends." I guess that means the Parliament godfather and the Peppers bassfather are gonna talk, not perform, which is fine, but expensive. At the Lodge Room, 104 N. Ave. 56, Highland Park 90042; noon; $100; all ages; full bar; (323) 509-2861; www.lodgeroomhlp.com.
Sat. Feb. 8 -- Explosive Latin-fusion keyboardist Otmaro Ruiz puts together a premier quartet with elegant guitarist Larry Koonse, feelworthy drummer Mark Ferber and bassist Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu. 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. Feb. 8 -- George Sarah has composed a new score for Carl Dreyer's 1928 silent "The Passion of Joan of Arc," and he'll be directing his ensemble of electronic music, string quartet and a four-voice chanting choir, right before your unbelieving ears. At West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 5pm; FREE.
Sun. Feb. 9 -- Keyboardist Doug Carn celebrates the 50th anniversary of Oakland's Black Jazz Records, for which he recorded several albums in the turbulent early 1970s; he's tapping a primo ensemble with major bassist Henry Franklin, Black Jazz guitar cohort Calvin Keys, Motown drummer Michael Carvin and his former wife, singer Jeane Carne. At the Lodge Room, 104 N. Ave. 56, Highland Park 90042; 6pm; $20; all ages; full bar; (323) 509-2861; www.lodgeroomhlp.com.
Mon. Feb. 10 -- Excellent atmo-jazz groovesters Black Nile team up with New Orleans drummer Joe Lyle. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm; cheap.
Tues. Feb. 11 -- Cup is the duo of guitarist-FXman Nels Cline and his wife, electro manipulator Yuka C. Honda. If you've ever heard either, you know this wild abstracto-fest can't fail to enthrall. Former Polar Goldie Cat Bobb Bruno opens. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $20; 21+; www.zebulon.la.
Wed. Feb. 12 -- Hold on to your head for the improvising NYC sax-piano Snakeoil spinoff duo of Tim Berne & Matt Mitchell. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 8pm; $15-$25; food, beer, wine on the patio; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. Feb. 13 -- What an extraordinary and experienced extreme jammin' quartet: keyboardist Wayne Peet, windman Andrew Pask, bassist Roberto Miranda and drummer Ellington Peet. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.