Fri. March 28 -- When Dwight Trible sings "Happy Birthday" to himself, the spheres vibrate like Kilimanjaro visitations. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. March 28 -- Marco Benevento has a nice way of boiling down instrumental music to an essence that young folks won't gag on as "jazz." With EFG (the fuzztoned group of former Yeah Yeah Yeahs touring guitarist Imaad Wasif) and Whitney Ballen. At the Mint, 6010 Pico Blvd., LA 90035; 8pm; $18; (323) 954-9400; www.themintla.com.
Fri.-Sat. March 28-29 -- Cabaret, yeah; reconceived chamber music, maybe; but they shouldn't toss around the P-word (punk, post- or otherwise) when describing Timur & the Dime Museum. An accredited classical performer, Kazakhstan native Timur Bekbosunov owns the full range of operatic training & pipes to go with his full-on theatricality (costumes by Victor Wilde, video by Jesse Gilbert); let's not confuse him with Black Flag or Joy Division. Here he performs Daniel Corral's requiem mass "Collapse," backed by Corral's keys and a stellar band featuring guitarist Matthew Setzer, bassist David Tranchina and drummer Andrew Lessman. Watch for a chance to grab the group's fantabulous "X-Ray Sunsets," which contains much of the same deliciously exotic material. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20 (students $16); www.redcat.org. Photo by Sandra Powers.
Fri.-Sun. March 28-30 -- Everybody's rock/jazz drummer, Simon Phillips (Toto, Judas Priest, The Who, Michael Schenker, Derek Sherinian, tons more) rustles up his own Protocol II group featuring guitarist Andy Timmons, keyboardist Steve Weingart and bassist Ernest Tibbs. I smell heavy funky fusion. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $22-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. March 29 -- Kristian Hoffman hosts a delightful tribute to CBGB, the club that launched American punk/new-wave rock (including his own Mumps) in the mid-'70s. Telling the story and performing significant tunes from the era are New York originals Clem Burke (Blondie) and Cherry Vanilla, along with sympathetic Angelenos and Kristian troupe regulars Carolyn Edwards, Liberty Larsen, Kristi Callan, Prince Poppycock, Kira Vollman and lots more. Superfunsville. At Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90027; 8pm; $10; free parking lot behind.
Sat. March 29 -- Guitarist Larry Koonse, saxist Chuck Manning, bassist Darek Oles and drummer Mark Ferber are L.A. Jazz Quartet, presenting the most elegant way to air out your California brain for some 20 years. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. March 29 -- The Elliott Caine Quartet (the trumpeter plus pianist Gary Blumer, bassist Tim Emmons and drummer Quentin Dinnard) swings sharp and rooted. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sun. March 30 -- Some bands just emanate the correct level of evil from the first measure, and count Brazil deathmen Krisiun among 'em; the volcanic hail of drummer Max Kolesne is maybe the main reason. Original '80s German thrashers Destruction headline; ExMortus, Evilization, Miscreancy, Ravish & Skoffin support. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $20; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Mon. March 31 -- Whirlwind percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani has found ideal collaborators in the loops, electrobeats and guitar atmospheres of G.E. Stinson, the terrifying frozen fluidity of butoh dancer Oguri, and the total abstractions of electronic sound artist Scott Cazan. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. April 2 -- Miles Davis named a song after what country artist? Hint: It's either Miley Cyrus or Willie Nelson. With Micah Nelson. At the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90010; 7pm; $69-$609; (213) 388-1400; www.livenation.com.
Wed. April 2 -- Since they're in town on the same day and only a few miles apart, I would like to request that espresso-voiced Italian singer Zucchero do a song with Willie Nelson, please. I mean, he's sung with Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton and Pavarotti, so why not? Oh yeah, and with Miles Davis. Randy Jackson opens. At Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown 90015; 8pm; $20-$40; www.ticketmaster.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.