Fri. June 17 -- French horn player Mark Taylor (Henry Threadgill, Muhal Richard Abrams) locks in duality with saxist-composer Jessica Johns (Cecil Taylor, Caribbean riddim). It ain't gonna be normal, but could be beautiful. Looks like you could get something special at the Blue Whale most every night this week -- or really, any week. 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 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri.-Sun. June 17-19 -- Pianist Hiromi, bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Steve Smith are calling themselves The Trio Project, possibly because there are three of them. I hope these masterful but sometimes bland musicians kick one another's asses. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 & 10pm; $25-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. June 18 -- Readings for the local lit mag Slake continue, as does the publication, entering its third issue (themed War & Peace). At the podium this time: Marc Cooper, Dana Johnson, Jervey Tervalon, Hank Cherry, John Tottenham, Elizabeth Banicki. At Metropolis Books, 440 Main St., downtown 90013; 6pm; free; (213) 612-0174.
Sat. June 18 -- Groove plus nebula equals Volto, featuring Tool drummer Danny Carey plus keysman Kirk Covington, bassist Lance Morrison and guitarist John Ziegler. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. June 18 -- Pianist Josh Nelson brings the pretty L.A. urbanity with his quartet plus tingling guitarist Larry Koonse. They're recording for a live record, might be as close as you get to tangential immortality. 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 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Mon. June 20 -- UCLA's Eric Wells lectures on "Dogs and Devotion: Private Religious Practice in Ancient Egypt." A presentation of the California Museum of Ancient Art at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 3663 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 90020; 7:30pm; $15, $12 students & seniors.
Mon. June 20 -- Chaotic Florida black/death metal for the discriminating pagan: Hate Eternal; I'm thoroughly digging their current "Phoenix Amongst the Ashes." Consistent bill, too, with Origin, Vital Remains, Abysmal Dawn, Enthraller, Dystrophic. At the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6:30pm; $15; 18+; www.keyclub.com; (310) 274-5800.
Wed. June 22 -- Youthful bassist & saxist Nick Rosen & Joey Dosik continue a serious avant-leaning duo partnership that's lasted for several years and through many collaborations with top dudes (Henry Grimes, Arthur Blythe, et al.). 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 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. June 22 -- $2 Shows presents an evening of modern compositions by Luciano Berio, Edison Denisov, David Johnson, et al.; performers include Andrew McIntosh, Ashley Walters, Roger Lebow. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $2 but contribute more if you're flush; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Wed. June 22 -- Veteran Jamaican rootsman Horace Andy sings it high and sweet, backed by fellow Jah men Gumption. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 8pm; $15, $10 before 10pm; www.attheecho.com.
LATE ADD: Thurs. June 23 -- Just found out about this one: modern chamber music of Peter Garland performed by Eclipse Quartet, plus Eastern-inflected music by Christopher Garland. Read my Eclipse live review here. At Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice 90291; 8:30pm; $10; (310) 822-3006.
Read Brick Wahl’s jazz picks in LA Weekly here (he's got a lot of great mainstreamier club selections), Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.