Fri. Feb. 15 -- '70s Black Jazz Records organist Doug Carn forms a topline trio with saxist Teodross Avery and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $25; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. Feb. 15 -- Two terrifying trios of experienced avantists: the guitar-percussion-trumpet alliance of Robert Jacobson, Lukas Ligeti & Kris Tiner, and the bicoastal Toned, featuring electronicist Nathan Corder, saxist Tom Weeks and drummer Leo Suarez. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5-$10 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Fri. Feb. 15 -- A holdout in the current rarefied climate of professional musicians, vibraphonist-composer Nick Mancini packs a bus with his fabled nine-piece Collective: windman Katisse Buckingham, windman John Tegmeyer, keyboardist Gary Fukushima, guitarist Adam Ratner, bassist Cooper Appelt, drummer James Yoshizawa, percussionist Pete Korpela and percussionist Scott Breadman. Great venue, too. At Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica 90403; 8pm; $10; bevs & snax available; free parking at 800 Wilshire Blvd.
Fri. Feb. 15 -- The Bad Plus carry on their tradition of postmodern interpretations and melodic thump with bassist Reid Anderson, drummer Dave King and semirecently conscripted pianist Orrin Evans. 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; $25; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Feb. 16 -- Larry Koonse, Joshua White, Nick Mancini, David Binney, Anthony Wilson, Vardan Ovsepian and Dave Robaire are among the many artists volunteering to benefit the continued good health of the Whale. 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 or more; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Feb. 17 -- The 20-piece Alan Chan Orchestra squeezes into the Spud for a semitrad Year of the Pig celebration. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Feb. 17 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's guys give it to ya straight & easy. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Tues. Feb. 19 -- Cosmic Vibrations is the superlative ascensional ensemble of singer Dwight Trible, bassist John B. Williams, windman Pablo Calogero, percussionist Derf Reklaw, multi-instrumentalist Christopher Garcia and drummer Breeze Smith. Highly recommended if you're in the nabe. At UCLA's Jan Popper Theater, 445 Charles E. Young Drive, Westwood 90095; talk 7:30pm, concert 8pm; FREE; register here.
Wed. Feb. 20 -- Boptational saxist Danny Janklow corrals an exceptional ensemble with pianist Josh Nelson, vibesman Nick Mancini, trumpeter Jay Jennings, bassist Benjamin Shepard and drummer Anthony Fung, guys who play together in all kinds of ensembles and read one another's minds. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $20-$30; www.justjazz.tv.
Wed. Feb. 20 -- Circular/cellular Bay Area saxist Phillip Greenlief hangs with the foremost of L.A.'s avant: guitarist G.E. Stinson, bassist Steuart Liebig and more. At Coaxial Arts Foundation, 1815 S. Main St., downtown 90015; 8pm; $5; www.coaxialarts.org.
Thurs. Feb. 21 -- Thank the lord of this world there's at least one major metal show this week: original grinders Cannibal Corpse plus twisty Florida death guitarist Trey Azagthoth's Morbid Angel, with Necrot, Blood Incantation. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7pm; $38; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Thurs. Feb. 21 -- The clean & quick John Daversa Small Band features the trumpeter plus saxist Robby Marshall, bassist Jerry Watts and drummer Chaun Horton. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. Feb. 21 -- Numuzik superstar pianist Vicki Ray teams with violinist Tom Chiu to preview Morton Feldman's "For John Cage" prior to next Tuesday's Zipper Auditorium show. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.