Fri.-Sat. Sept. 5-6 -- Bass angler Reid Anderson, go-for-baroque pianist Ethan Iverson and LOUD drummer David King are The Bad Plus, saviors of jazz for the Now Generation with covers of Bowie and Blondie but mostly just thoughtfully edgy stuff. I like. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 & 10pm; $20-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Fri. Sept. 5 -- Intelligent, entertaining jazz/reggae from Thelonious Dub. Read my live review here. At Brenart Café Restaurant Gallery, 53 E. Union St., Old Town Pasadena 91103; 7pm.
Sat. Sept. 6 -- One guitarist who taps the mysticism of electricity and one electrician venturing acousticward: Nels Cline and Jeremy Drake, playing separate solo sets. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Sat. Sept. 6 -- The Honorable DHC, a.k.a. Dean Chamberlain, musters his folky Boulevard Choir on a bill with . . . Simon Stokes, that sleazy New Orleans roots-rock guy who used to lead the Nighthawks? Wow. In the bar of Taix Restaurant, 1911 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90026, 9:30pm; free.
Sun. Sept. 7 -- The stoner label Tee Pee presents an all-necromancy bill featuring Swedish heavy rockers Witchcraft (doing kind of a Queens of the Stone Age thing), local ‘60s crude dudes (with good songwriting) The Warlocks, Witch, Graveyard, Earthless . . . and it ain’t even Halloween. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026.
Mon. Sept. 8 -- A most enjoyable local modern piano trio: The Leviathan Brothers, comin’ out with a new record. At Spaceland, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake 90027; 11:30pm; www.clubspaceland.com.
Mon. Sept. 8 -- The Honorable DHC. At Bordello, 901 E. First St., downtown 90012; 9:30pm; (213) 687-3766.
Tues. Sept. 9 -- A super show to adorn the last month of shows at the valuable Temple Bar, which closes soon (sux): magic guitarist Nels Cline abstractifying along with the surreal instant creations of painter Norton Wisdom; the low-grooving, lovingly shaded and highly distinctive Todd Sickafoose & Blood Orange featuring violinist Jenny Scheinman (buy their records!); and modern rhythm jazz from Kneebody. At Temple Bar, 1026 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 9pm; $10; all ages; advance tickets recommended; (310) 393-6611; www.templebarlive.com.
Tues. Sept. 9 -- Joining the Bad Plus, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and the Leviathan Brothers on the national scene, Brooklyn’s The Wee Trio are stirring up jazz you don’t have to be old to enjoy. Vibesman James Westfall keeps it melodic, bassist Dan Loomis keeps it anchored and drummer Jared Schonig keeps it alertly rustling as they cover Nirvana, Sufjan Stevens and Thelonious Monk along with complementary originals like Loomis’ catchy “Orange Finnish Tulip.” Bring a teen. At Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., West L.A. 90034; 8 & 9:30pm; $25; (310) 271-9039; www.jazzbakery.org.
Wed.-Sat. Sept. 10-13 -- The saxist with the drive and the ideas: Greg Osby, mainstay of the modern avant. With guitarist Nir Felder, Pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Joseph Lepore and drummer Hamir Atwal. At Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., West L.A. 90034; 8 & 9:30pm; $25-$30; (310) 271-9039; www.jazzbakery.org.
Thurs. Sept. 11 -- Ready for some postjazz/blues energy? Bassist Steuart Liebig’s The Mentones will twist you off yer stool and into that sweaty twilight zone where Howlin’ Wolf meets Captain Beefheart. Bill Barrett’s chromatic harmonica blows holes in your skull; Tony Atherton’s alto sax twins him on the front line so you sometimes can’t tell the diff; Liebig’s bass bounces like a basketball; Joe Berardi’s drums haul the trash. Most common response I’ve heard is “Whoa!” Try this alternate venue: Industry Café and Jazz, 6039 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 7:30 & 9:30pm; pay what seems right; (310) 202-6633.
Thurs. Sept. 11 -- The Wee Trio (see Tues.). At Tangier, 2138 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz 90027; (323) 666-8666; 8pm; $10.