Fri. Jan. 11 -- '90s nu-metal stalwarts Disturbed evolve. With Three Days Grace. At the Forum, 3900 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 90305; 7:30pm; $24-$95; www.ticketmaster.com.
Fri. Jan. 11 -- Cooking Snooks are an ad hoc ensemble featuring drummer Joe Berardi, bassist Steuart Liebig and windman Vinny Golia, toppermost improvisers all. For Liebig-Berardi-related comment, check here. For Golia-Liebig-related comment, check here. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Fri. Jan. 11 -- Whitesnake/Black Star Riders bassist Marco Mendoza fuses it up with drummer Kyle Hughes and guitarist Rafael Moreira. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $28; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Jan. 12 -- Urban country poets I See Hawks in L.A. get decadent on the Strip with Heathen Apostles, Romance Fantasy. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7:30pm, Hawks 9pm; $15; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Sun. Jan. 12 -- Three things make this evening a winner, even if I can't exactly figure out what The Return of the Medicine Man & A Woman is. 1) "Presented by Jesse Sharps" (the medicine man?), a primary woodwind torchbearer of the South L.A. jazz experience. 2) Jamael Dean & the Afronauts -- kin of storied drummer Donald Dean, Jamael is one of the most accomplished and involving young pianists out there. 3) DJ Carlos Niño, who's always around when the best local music transpires. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $15; 21+; www.zebulon.la.
Wed. Jan. 16 -- Immerse in the African rhythm, Austrian harmonies and American improvisations of the wonderful Black Nile, featuring saxist Aaron Shaw, bassist Lawrence Shaw, keyboardist Diego Gaeta and drummer Mekala Session. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Wed. Jan. 16 -- Pianist Vicki Ray and visualist Carole Kim fine-tune your new-musical sensibilities with a program featuring works by Ben Phelps and Daniel Lentz. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $25 (students $20); www.redcat.org.
Thurs. Jan. 17 -- Absorb that real 1960 feel from the quintet of trumpeter Elliott Caine. At The Mixx, 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91101; 8-11pm; (626) 500-0021; full menu; full bar; www.themixxpasadena.com.
Thurs. Jan. 17 -- Bach an' All is a quartet of classically informed chamber jazzmen showcasing veteran guitarist Bruce Lofgren, keyboardist Doug Ferguson, guitarist Dan Livingston and bassist Randy Landas. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.