Fri. Feb. 7 and all month -- A friend's mom dragged me to a Louis Armstrong concert when I was a kid, and that surely made my ears susceptible to the Bird flu that would consume me several years later, followed by chronic cases of Monkaria, Tranosis and many other maladies. The same terrible fate could befall your children, so make sure they stay home sick when the L.A. Jazz Society celebrates Black History Month by presenting jazz concerts at elementary schools throughout the city, conducted by eminently qualified bandleaders/educators Delbert Taylor, Charles Owens and Ernie Fields Jr. Since you adults already have the infection in your bloodstreams, you might as well attend the free shows, which LAJS members can arrange by calling Jazz in Schools Program director Rita Zwern at (818) 566-7982. Check here to find out when the virus will be sweeping through your local temple of youth indoctrination.
Fri. Feb. 7 -- Christopher Garcia, Jacob Szekely, Kenton Youngstrom and Damon Zick are Quarteto Nuevo, pulling together all kinds of world roots music for an appealing acoustic meal. Oud player Dimitri Mahli and percussionist Chris Wabich open as Wahid. At Alva’s Show Room, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro 90732; 8pm; $20; www.alvasshowroom.com; (800) 403-3447.
Fri.-Sat. Feb. 7-8 -- Standing room may remain for the Rock Candy Funk Party featuring drummer Tal Bergman, bassist Mike Merritt, guitarist Ron Dejesus, keyboardist Renato Neto, percussionist Daniel Sadownick and the main reason all the tables are sold out, guitar tonemaster Joe Bonamassa. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $35; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Feb. 12 -- Here's a perfect pairing: Hard-rock guitar god Michael Schenker (Scorpions, MSG, et al.) ropes soulful singer Doogie White (Rainbow, Yngwie, et al.) into his blistering posse. Opening are Gary Hoey and Gunfight. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7pm; $29 (includes fees); (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Thurs.-Fri. Feb. 13-14 -- Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Chick Corea -- the best have long gravitated toward windman David Liebman, whose combination of technique and liveliness has graced his own groups for many years. Tonight he's got a superfine quartet with pianist John Beasley, bassist Dave Robaire and drummer Jonathan Pinson. 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.