Fri. Nov. 17 – The description of the Exo//Endo ensemble's presentation of saxist-electroman Ulrich Krieger's "Black Sun Rebirth" includes words such as destruction, doom, metal and microsound, so how am I not gonna plug it? E//E starts with its director Braden Diotte's "General Manifest" and its "gigantic thunder sheets," so you don't wanna miss that. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20 (students $15); www.redcat.org.
Fri. Nov. 17 – Urban/galactic cowboys I See Hawks in L.A. give it to ya both straight and bent. John Isaac Watters opens. At the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N. Lake Ave., Altadena 91001; $18; reservations (626) 794-2424; cash or checks only; no booze; www.coffeegallery.com.
Fri. Nov. 17 – The Grammy Museum screens the new documentary "Chasing Trane" and kicks off a John Coltrane exhibit with a conversation with director John Scheinfeld. At the Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245, downtown 90015; details at www.grammymuseum.org.
Sat. Nov. 18 – Break out the corpsepaint for Norwegian black-metal originators Mayhem, who return without, of course, their two deceased members, but Atila Csihar's vocals remain as creepy as ever. New York death vets Immolation are riding a peak; read my review of their superb current "Atonement" here. Established New York black metalmen Black Anvil open. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $30; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Sat. Nov. 18 – The Los Angeles Jazz Society's Jazz Tribute Awards honors Johnny Mandel, whose All Star Big Band kicks in with the aid of John Clayton, Alan Bergman, Chuck Berghofer, Joe LaBarbera, Larry Koonse and lots more. At the Montalban Theater, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $40 and up; info at www.lajazz.org and at (818) 994-4661.
Sun. Nov. 19 – Gato Libre abstractifies sensitively via the well-seasoned partnership of Satako Fujii (accordion this time) and Kappa Maki (trumpet), plus trombonist Neko Jaras. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Nov. 19 – Vibraphonist Nick Mancini's ensemble brings his tart originals and lushly arranged standards to the new concert series "Jazz 'n' Paz." At Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena 91103; 5-6pm; $20 cash only; $18 advance tix here.
Sun. Nov. 19 – The avant all-star sax-drums-bass trio of Vinny Golia, Nathan Hubbard & Steuart Liebig gently teases the literature off the shelves. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 7pm; $7 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Sun. Nov. 19 – Bathe in the electric delicacy of renowned guitarist Bill Frisell's Beautiful Dreamers Trio with violist Eyvind Kang and drummer Rudy Royston. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 7pm; $40 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sun. Nov. 19 – All-star masked metal assaulters Brujeria refer to their axes as machetes. Piñata Protest opens. At the Mayan Theater, 1038 S. Hill St., downtown 90015; doors 6:30pm; $13-$28; www.ticketmaster.com.
Tues. Nov. 21 – Bassist Kaveh Rastegar steps out from his essential role in Kneebody to lead his own vocalized quartet with guitarist Mike Viola, organist Larry Goldings and drummer Abe Rounds. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Tues. Nov. 21 – Cellist Nick Photinos presents music by a bunch of fresh new-music composers with the tuned-in assistance of pianist Vicki Ray. At Monk Space, 4414 W. Second St. near Western, Los Angeles 90004; 8pm; $20 ($15 students) tix here; www.monkspace.com.
Wed. Nov. 22 – Rounding out Masked Metal Week (hey, Halloween was last month), carnivalesque splatter vendors GWAR team up with all-star Oakland zombie thrashers Ghoul (pictured). With He Is Legend, U.S. Bastards. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $26; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.