Fri. Jan. 7 -- To encourage youth in the practice of jazz: kindness or cruelty? Teen saxist Max Zooi offers earfully wandering originals and covers of Wayne Shorter and Branford Marsalis, with the confident swing and easy intellect implied therein. His quartet includes pianist Andrew Friedman, bassist Kevin Shay and drummer Jamie Eblen. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $10, students $5; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; events page here.
Fri. Jan. 7 -- Rad modern fusionheads mi'swell just camp out at the Baked all week, starting with the heavy metallic funk of guitarist Jeff Kollman's Cosmosquad, filled out by poundacious drummer Shane Gaalaas and bassist Ric Fierabracci. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Jan. 8 -- Fans pining for a touch of Tool flock to hear drummer Danny Carey's spieledelic Volto, with keyboardist Kirk Covington, bassist Lance Morrison and guitarist John Ziegler. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Jan. 8 -- The Musicians Institute presents a competition for Stanley Clarke's scholarship fund, with the five student finalists performing, followed by a jam of the celebrity judges, a wowser of a panel including Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Bunny Brunel and a bunch more. An unusual treat for thoze in the knoze. At the Musicians Institute, 1655 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood 90028; 8pm; free but donations to the fund are encouraged.
Sat. Jan. 8 -- Pianist John Beasley, a wide-ranging melody maker, gets down with the invaluable assistance of legendary Miles saxist Bennie Maupin. At the Blue Whale on the third floor of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; validated parking on Second Street; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Jan. 8 -- Falcon-gyre singer Dwight Trible takes wing with his Afro-grooving quartetmates: pianist Billy McCoy, bassist Trevor Ware and drummer Dexter Story. At KRST Unity Center of African Spiritual Science (luvvit!), 7825 S. Western Ave., L.A. 90047; 7pm; $20.
Sun. Jan. 9 -- Dwight Trible musters a benefit for the World Stage and lifts up the praise. At Bryant Temple AME, 2525 W. Vernon Ave., L.A. 90008; 5pm; $20 donation.
Tues. Jan. 11 -- I was listening to Bombastic Meatbats' record again the other day, and damn, that Jeff Kollman (also in Cosmosquad Friday) plucks with a shaded skill to rival a Mike Stern, white yet funky -- and you can't help but groove when Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith bomps that kick. The rest of the prime buds are keysman Ed Roth and bassist Kevin Chown. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Jan. 12 -- Talk about rock stars fusin' and fission, howbout original Megadeth axman Chris Poland and his triptophantastic Ohm, with Kofi Baker (watta soul groover) on drums and Robert Pagliari on bass. You've been sour creamin' and chivin' here for most of a week, right? At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Jan. 12 -- Heavy jammin' and contrapuntal El Cid fanfares: trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom leads an ace nontrad septet with windmen Vinny Golia, Brian Walsh and Gavin Templeton, plus pianist David Rosenboom, bassist Dominic Thiroux and drummer Caleb Dolister. Energy, dude, and you can eat good here. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $10; $5 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Thurs. Jan. 13 -- Let this most righteous local quartet stroke and stimulate you the non-Thai way with drummer Jason Harnell, sensitive guitarist Larry Koonse, soulful keysman Larry Goldings and bassist Ryan McGillicuddy. At the Blue Whale on the third floor of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; validated parking on Second Street; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. Jan. 13 -- Piano & chamber adventure goes modern as Vicki Ray & the Eclipse Quartet sculpt a 1985 composition by Morton Feldman. Guaranteed happening; read my review of Eclipse here. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $10; $5 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Thurs. Jan 13 -- Gary Lucas, a member of Don Van Vliet's final Magic Band, leads a Captain Beefheart Symposium in which he shows Beefly video, talks history, demonstrates some Cap methods on guitar and brings on them Special Guests. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 8pm; $15; all ages; www.attheecho.com.
Read Brick Wahl’s jazz picks in LA Weekly here, Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.