Fri.-Sun. Dec. 19-21 -- Viola player Miguel Atwood-Ferguson sets no limits on his compositions and concepts, so why set limits on the number of musicians? During these three nights, filmmaker-recordist Alex Chaloff is slamming a video of an extremely fine MAF ensemble featuring Kamasi Washington, Zane Musa, Woody Aplanalp and more, plus special guests such as Daedelus, Dwight Trible, Inara George, Mia Doi Todd, Vardan Ovsepian and probably yo mama. Don't let 'em tell you to stay TOO quiet. 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; $25; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Tues. Dec. 23 -- Come on, somebody in this proficient semi-mainstream ensemble step up and take the heat rather than just hyphenating all the names. Okay, I pick drummer Dan Schnelle, cuz he's listed first, along with co-drummer Kevin Kanner, plus pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Dave Robaire and saxist Walter Smith III, top-flighters all. 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. Dec. 24 -- Black-metal mythologists Tannenburn mount pagan rituals to defile all that is holy. At the Sherman Oaks Galleria.
Thurs. Dec. 25 -- Drummer Jay Christ & the Wiseman Trio celebrate Greg Burk's birthday with a program of tired standards. At the Hollywood Holiday Inn.
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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.