Fri.-Sat. Jan. 25-26 -- Simon Phillips' Protocol has all the spacy trips and ridiculous musicianship (drummer Phillips plus shred guitar king Greg Howe, Latin keyboard explosionist Otmaro Ruiz and funky bassist Ernest Tibbs) a fusion fan could want. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $30-$35; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Jan. 26 -- Much-awarded drummer Matt Wilson owns that rare combination of groove and intellect; his star quartet includes guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Darek Oles and saxist Steve Lederer. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8pm; $35 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Jan. 26 -- Michael Landau Liquid Quartet fuses the monster guitarist with guitarist David Frazee, bassist Jimmy Johnson and drummer Alan Hertz. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $35; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Jan. 26 -- They're from the Bay Area, they rock all stony & sludgy, and they sound like Drunk Horse, so I gotta recommend Banquet, however little info I can find on them. With Deathchant. At Monty, 1222 W. Seventh St., downtown 90017; sometime after 9pm; cheap; (213) 228-6000; www.montybar.com.
Sun. Jan. 27 -- Topnotch bill of veteran Southern metal: Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Weedeater, Mothership. At Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W. Seventh St., downtown 90017; 7:30pm; $29; all ages; www.teragramballroom.com.
Sun. Jan. 27 -- From fusion to Whitesnake and back again, bassist Marco Mendoza retraces his jammin' roots with drummer Joey Heredia and keyboardist Steve Weingart in El Trio. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Jan. 27 -- Buncha avantists mix it up: Event Horizon (trumpeter Peter Evans & electronicist Sam Pluta); drummer Liam Mooney; bagpiper David Watson & violinist John Krausbauer; vocalist Jessika Kenney & violist Eyvind Kang. At Coaxial Arts Foundation, 1815 S. Main St., downtown 90015; 8pm; $10; www.coaxialarts.com.
Sun. Jan. 27 -- Esteemed colleague Pamela Klein ("Some Feet Not Meant for Shoes") reads from her new novel "17 Dresses," where youth and emotion meet couture and interior monologue. At Aum & Garden, 13363 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks 91423; 3-5pm; free.
Wed. Jan. 30 -- Modern trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom (Burning Ghosts, Quoan, Vinny Golia et multi alii) has sponsored many exceptional artists via his Orenda label, and tonight's quintet will feature luminaries therefrom. Dude always brings the goods. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. Jan. 31 -- Hay Fever is a supergroup of L.A. avantists encompassing flutist-singer Emily Hay, bassist Steuart Liebig, keyboardist Wayne Peet and percussionist Brad Dutz. Ace! At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.
Thurs.-Fri. Jan. 31-Feb. 1 -- This version of the groundbreaking early Brit jazz-rock group The Soft Machine embraces guitarist John Etheridge (since '74), bassist Roy Babbington (since '73), drummer John Marshall (since '72) and windman-keyboardist Theo Travis (since '06). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9 & 11pm; $40; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.