Fri. Jan. 5 – The most extreme alto saxist in history, Marshall Allen of Sun Ra's Arkestra, blows the doors off (at age 93) with his Friends. Jimmy Hey deejays. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $25 ($20 advance tix advisable); 21+; www.zebulon.la.
Fri. Jan. 5 – Multi-instrumentalist, multimedia man and poet Ghasem Batamuntu returns to Cali (he used to jam in the Bay Area) from the Netherlands, where he's lived for 20 years. Kamau Da'aood, Bobby West, Dwight Trible and special guests help out. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 8pm; $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. Jan. 6 – Great week for avantitude. Tonight it's Bottom Feeders From the Lowest Class, the seasoned free ensemble of saxist Dick Wood, tuba blaster William Roper, baritone saxist Richard Walker, cornetist Dan Clucas and bass violinist Hal Onserud. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Sat. Jan. 6 – Cory Beers intrigues the kids with the exotic sounds of his cimbalom, a big Eastern European zither. "Soundspark," a SASSAS presentation at the Children's Theater in West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; noon; FREE; www.sassas.org.
Sun. Jan. 7 – A real strong bill of practiced adventurers. Multidisciplinary performer Will Salmon and galactic drummer Alex Cline put together a superfresh group with singers Sharon Chohi Kim, Tany Ling, Kathryn Shuman and Micaela Tobin. And be sure to get there early for the Brad Dutz Quartet, featuring the subversive rhythms of the vibraphonist plus regular collaborators Paul Sherman (oboe), Brian Walsh (clarinets) and cellist Chris Votek. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Tues. Jan. 9 – Sakura Cello Quartet and Mojave Trio (pianist Genevieve Feiwen Lee, violinist Sara Parkins and cellist Maggie Parkins) wrangle a bunch of selections from the tuffest modern composers. At Monk Space, 4414 W. Second St. near Western, Los Angeles 90004; 8pm; $20 ($10 students); www.monkspace.com.
Wed. Jan. 10 – Guitarist Ethan Sherman says his trio with bassist Anna Butterss and drummer Matt Mayhall plays original and historical music, and we won't argue. New York singer-guitarist Joe Vilardi opens in duo with drummer Kosta Galanopoulos. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Wed. Jan. 10 – Strap yerself in for hard-chargin' melodic metal with White Wizzard. Support comes from Raise the Guns, Hazardous Terror, Syn Absence. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8pm; $15; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
* * *
R.I.P. trombonist and composer Roswell Rudd, a leader of the '60s avant known by every modern musician but nobody at the Dodgers game. He appeared on many of my favorite records by Cecil Taylor, Gil Evans, Albert Ayler, Archie Shepp and Charlie Haden, and mentored many nontraditionalists (while also maintaining superlative Dixie chops). The man could do anything, and he had a tone like the rising sun.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.