Fri. June 19 -- A seven-string guitarist who can play bass and countermelodies (and symphonies?) all at the same time; a drummer who can groove, abstractify and electronify all at the same time: Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola travel light but sound as heavy as a sextet; tonight they'll probably take off on their new record, which delves into Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, Hank Williams and the Cars. That should about cover it. At McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; 8pm; $22.50; (310) 828-4497; www.mccabes.com.
Fri. June 19 -- Another multiple threat: guitarist-keyboardist-singer-composer Mike Keneally takes you into his world of epic emotional suburbia, with only tangential connections to his Zappa and Dethklok universes. Here with his Beer for Dolphins trio featuring drummer Joe Travers and bassist Bryan Bellar. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. June 19 -- Yikers, lookit the wild group vibraphonist/marimboy Nick Mancini is stuffing onto the stage to perform his beautifully swinging tunes: pianist Gary Fukushima, bassist Benjamin J. Shepherd, plus three percussionists (Brad Dutz!), four brassfolk, a chamber ensemble (Ovsepian, Manukyan, Atwood-Ferguson!), two vocalists and even video projectionist Travis Flournoy. And special guests? Come on. 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 (students $10); 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri.-Sat. June 19-20 -- The microtonalist ensemble Partch presents another intriguing program via its big range of custom-built, gut-vibrating instruments, including a selection from Anne LeBaron's "LSD: The Opera" and the late Harry Partch's 1955 "Ulysses Departs From the Edge of the World," written for Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan but appropriately performed by Daniel Rosenboom and Ulrich Krieger. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $25 (students $20); www.redcat.org.
Sun. June 21 -- Bargain of the week. Opening are Alternate Angles (singer Dwight Trible, percman Carlos Niño, supertalented flutist-singer Maia and multi-instrumentalist Shaylyn). Then the abstractionary Obihiro Cowboys ride again, featuring tuba blower William Roper, trumpet sage Bobby Bradford, trombonist Michael Vlatkovich and drummer Joseph Mitchell. Lotta stars. 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.
Thurs. June 25 -- Slumgum sets a mood, stretches out, lays down the rhythm and takes you through involving variations you're gonna dig. That's saxist Jon Armstrong, pianist Rory Cowal, bassist Dave Tranchina and drummer Trevor Anderies. I can't tell from the calendar if trumpeter Kris Tiner and saxist Beth Schenck are guest Slummers or doing a separate set, but either way, they possess special gifts as melodists and composers. 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; $10; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. June 25 -- Rad Atomic Sherpas spinoff Hellbat (11:30) rages and cools; Sylvia Juncosa (10:30) shreds her nasty guitar; Dream Apes (9:30) chug and chime. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; $5; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Thurs. June 25 -- Melodic metal kings Ill Niño live like there's no tomorrow, abetted by barfin & singin frontbitch Alexis Brown and Straight Line Stitch, Still Not Dead, Gravity Layne, Seventh Vyle, The Mendenhall Experiment. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $15; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.