Fri. Oct. 10 -- A trio version of guitarist Joe Baiza's Mecolodiacs tears up the nontraditional jazzbluesy carpet; good music to drink tequila by. Saxist Vince Meghrouni guests with the band. In the bar of Taix Restaurant, 1911 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; 10:30pm (double set!); free; www.taixfrench.com.
Fri.-Sat. Oct. 10-11 -- Saxist Maceo Parker, who helped James Brown lay the blueprint for funky soul, jammed with Parliament and kicked it with Prince, does his own fine rhythm-jazz thing. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $30-$40; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Oct. 11 -- The group Acknowledgement (a Coltrane title) spun off from Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra back in 1975, and just decided, what the hell, let's do it again. Returning original members Ishmael Hunter (drums), Steven Smith (trumpet) and Michael Session (sax) return with fully accredited conscripts Bobby Pierce (piano) and Jeff Littleton (bass). At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $15; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. Oct. 11 -- The CalArts cabal beats you within an inch of your life with two highly skilled drum groups: worldwide veterans Hands On'Semble (Randy Gloss, Andrew Grueschow, Austin Wrinkle & friends) and Rhein Percussion. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Oct. 11 -- Elliott Caine brings his trumpet, his band and his book of steak-friendly jazz to his second home. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Mon. Oct. 13 -- You can't beat bop for speed and skill, but there might be nothing more difficult for a jazz group than to think deeply and make something rhythmically, melodically and emotionally satisfying out of a slow meditation. Revisiting Empty Cage Quartet's eponymous 2012 LP reinforced that idea: The sustained harmonic variations of trumpeter Kris Tiner and saxist Jason Mears, backed/fronted with the spacious intuitive pulses of bassist Ivan Johnson and drummer Paul Kikuchi, made for the kind of original listening experience that can be generated only by musicians who've been playing together a long time. And they keep getting better. Opening is Vlatko, the quartet of always involving melodic-avant trombonist Michael Vlatkovich with guitarist Tom McNalley, bassist Domenic Genova and drummer John "Vatos" Hernandez. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. Oct. 15 -- Speedy Greek guitarist Gus G. (Ozzy, Firewind) bids to prove himself a viable solo artist with his current "I Am the Fire" (does that mean the rest of his band was the wind?); I think he's about two-thirds of the way there, and the live addition of veteran power-metal singer Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie, Trans Siberian Orchestra) adds to the draw. Read my record review here. With Lyam, State Line Empire, Joy Elevation, probably more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $20; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Thurs. Oct. 16 -- Philm, Slayer drummer Dave Lombaro's project with Gerry Nestler and Pancho Tomaselli, is an original-sounding slice of atmospheric dirt rock, and I like it. With Sprung Monkey, more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $15; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Thurs. Oct. 16 -- Nine out of 10 doctors agree that King's X bassist Dug Pinnick is a hell of a soul-rock testifier, and you know you're gonna get heavy riffs when he unites with guitarist Jabo Bihlman and drummer Scot Bihlman as Grinder Blues; tonight's the release party for their debut album. Photo by Jim Steinfeldt. With The Young Royals, Jared James Nichols. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $10; 21+; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.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.