Sun. Feb. 8 -- Singer Bonnie Barnett invites you to one of the group hummming events she's been staging since 1981, with tuba player William Roper, windman Richard Wood and pitched percussionist Garth Powell on hand to keep you zeroed in on the E-flat tone center, which I find an especially resonant and magical note (a favorite key of Bach, for instance). World peace? Inner tranquility? Name your goal or just let it happen. In a freeway underpass at the corner of Etiwanda and Killion streets, Tarzana 91356, 2pm, free but donations accepted.
Sun. Feb. 8 -- Saxist Matt Otto, guitarist Jamie Rosenn and drummer Jason Harnell are Joeless Shoe, laying out original improv with a vintage postbop vibe. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Tues. Feb. 10 -- Even though much-awarded flutist Nicole Mitchell has little problem getting enough edge on her delicate instrument to cut through, you'll want to experience her full range of shadings in duo with borderless bassist Joelle Leandre. In the second set, they add South L.A. percussion resource Derf Reklaw and trombone extender MIchael Dessen. Yeah! 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. Feb. 11 -- Just because guitarist John 5 has played and drooled with Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford and Rob Zombie doesn't mean heaviness overshadows his technique, which is second to none. (And he cranks combinations of everything from Michael Jackson to Lester Flatt.) A master for sure. With State Line Empire, Level Seven, Dioxide, Tigrilla. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7pm; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Wed. Feb. 11 -- Hazey Jane is Karen Landau singing fatal ballads from the heartsoaked mists of the folk tradition, with Michael Landau on guitar and Reggie Hamilton on bass. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. Feb. 11 -- The rubber-burning fusion flag waves on with guitarist Jeff Kollman, drummer Shane Gaalaas and bassist Kevin Chown, a.k.a. the long-running Cosmosquad. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.