Fri. Jan. 20 -- Can't go wrong when much-awarded keyboardist Billy Childs exercises his eclectic imagination, here with windman Katisse Buckingham, bassist Ben Shepherd, drummer Donald Barrett and wordsmith Paul Calderon. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Jan. 21 -- First set: supercalifusionistics from the deeply experienced crew of Mark Guiliana, Jeff Babko, David Binney & Troy Zeigler. Second set: the drums-bass duo of Zach Danziger and Owen Biddle, a.k.a. Bunker Edit, improvising to ingeniously mutated clips of the classic TV comedy "All in the Family." I kid you not. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Jan. 21 -- Willie Jones III & Straight Swingin' is Black Note drummer Jones, Black Note trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and Black Note pianist Eric Reed, plus tenor saxist Teo Avery and bassist Mike Gurrola. These post-mainstream jazzmen are for real. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8pm; $25; www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Jan. 21 -- Whitesnake bassist Marco Mendoza and veteran drummer Joey Heredia add phenomenal keyboardist Otmaro Ruiz to this version of the fusational El Trio. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Jan. 21 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's ensemble warms up the room with vintage-inspired hard bop. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sun. Jan. 22 -- Looks like boggling guitarist Tony MacAlpine (gigging regularly on the resiliency road) has fully recovered to front a trio with bassist Bjorn Englen and drummer Aquiles Priester. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $35 & $30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. Jan. 26 -- Jesse Malin throws a benefit to buy paralyzed friend Nathalie B a sporty wheelchair, performing with his own band and gathering an all-star cast (Donita & Suzi from L7, Jakob Dylan, Wayne Kramer, Lisa Kekaula and lots more) to perform the entirety of "Goats Head Soup," which they'll probably do better than the Stones. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 9pm; $15 tix here; all ages; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.