Fri. Jan. 23 -- Seven-string genius Uli Jon Roth has a new album reimagining the early Scorpions tripmusic he helped create, and he'll surely conjure some of that with ex-Rainbow singer Joe Lynn Turner; this XG Extreme Guitar Tour also includes Red Zone Rider, Black Knights Rising and Old James, and impressive names like Vinnie Moore, Craig Goldy, Vinny Appice, Kofi Baker, Bobby Rondinelli and Ripper Owens are getting tossed around, but I dunno which musicians play on which dates, so I just give up, but it's bound to be quite a deal. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $32; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Fri. Jan. 23 -- Honed saxist Ben Wendel collects a star quartet with pianist Taylor Eigsti, bassist Harish Raghavan and Charles Lloyd drummer Eric Harland. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. Jan. 23 -- Guitarist Paul Lacques and Double Naught Spy Car rock the rad instrumentals, dude. In the bar of Taix Restaurant, 1911 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; 10:30pm; free; www.taixfrench.com.
Fri. Jan. 23 -- Vince Meghrouni plays drums not sax in Hellbat. On their "Yay Freedom!," at first I was put off by the histrionic vox of Steven Kopp, then realized he has a whole range of vocal sophistications to blend with the spectrum from jumpy electroshock to almost classic rock, reflecting the tastes of himself, Meghrouni, bassist Michael Alvidrez and guitarist Ken Lasaine. Good musicians; worth a listen. With The Ringleaders, Driven Out, The Resolutions. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 8pm; $10; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Sat. Jan. 24 -- On his new "Impulse," vibesman Nick Mancini's band with Hammond player Brian Charette and drummer Andy Sanesi (tonight Zack Albetta) emphasizes the Blue Note end of his smorgasbord, from pretty melodies to goodtime cocktail groove. If Mancini doesn't break through with a perfect piece of original soul songcraft like "Days Go By," then every undiscovered jazz artist in America had better move to Utah and raise sheep. Elastic Hour at Curve Line Space Gallery, 1577 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 8pm; $10 donation includes wine & beer; (323) 478-9874; www.elastichour.com.
Sat. Jan. 24 -- Saxist Gavin Templeton's first-class quartet makes the Ornettish improv go down easy. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $10; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; events page here.
Sun. Jan. 25 -- Brilliant Strings presents the rather astounding 24-string guitarist Kai Kurosawa (whom you might have seen leading his own groups or backing Daniel Rosenboom, for instance) with a number of collaborators including Goh Kurosawa, Ian Rapien, Pete Morris and Bryan Titus. They're calling this event "Metal Jazz," so I gotta recommend it; my hands are tied. But I would anyway. At Curve Line Space Gallery, 1577 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 4pm; $12; all ages; (323) 478-9874; www.elastichour.com.
Sun. Jan. 25 -- A touch of Zappa, a ladle of blues, a mess of noisy unruliness, Atomic Sherpas' new "Wish Granter" maps the twisted daymares of saxist Vince Meghrouni, trombonist Carlos Alvidrez, keyboardist Marc Doten, bassist Michael Alvidrez and friends. And they include "Mean Town Blues," one of my favorite torrents by the late Johnny Winter, not to mention a hepcat jazzification of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs." At Liquid Kitty, 11780 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A. 90064; 10pm; cheap; (310) 473-3707; www.thekitty.com.
Sun. Jan. 25 -- "Monster guitarist" Jon Landau stomps on his boxes with his trio featuring bassist Jimmy Johnson and drummer Gary Novak. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30 (standing room only); (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Tues. Jan. 27 -- Nick Mancini. See Saturday. Tonight, Mancini's with Hammond man Ty Bailie, guitarist Andrew Synoweic and drummer Zack Albetta. At WitZend, 1717 Lincoln Blvd., Venice 90291; 7pm; $10 (bring a guest for free, one item minimum); bar & food; all ages; (310) 305-4792; www.witzendlive.com.
Tues. Jan. 27 -- Guitarist Scrote and friends including bassist Tim Lefebvre and trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom form an octet doing Electric Miles '69-'74, the Davis period that (despite critical disparagement) has proved hugely influential. Let's see if Scrote can bring the live evil. 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.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.