Select chronological listings.
The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm. Fri. Dec. 16: Nerve Bundle featuring Steve Lukather, Jeff Babko, Jorgen Carlsson and Gregg Bissonette. Sat. & Sun. Dec. 17 & 18: rippin' guitarist Mike Stern fusin' it up with a fun band featuring Leni Stern on guitar & n'goni, Bobby Franceschini on sax, Hadrien Feraud on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums. Tues. & Wed. Dec. 27 & 28: Donati-Machacek Band, led by uncontrollable drummer Virgil Donati and fuzational guiarist Alex Machacek. Thurs. Dec. 29: Bunny Brunel CAB. Tues. Jan. 10: classic drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith with a great band featuring saxists Ralph Moore and Dale Fielder, trumpeter Chris Lowery, and bassist Edwin Livingston. Fri. Jan. 13: Cosmosquad. Tues. Jan. 17: Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins. Thurs. & Fri. Jan. 19 & 20: Jeff Lorber Fusion. Tues. Jan. 24: Dan Rosenboom Project. Thurs. Feb. 16: Nili Brosh. Full schedule here.
The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 16 & 17: sharp pianistics from John Escreet Seismic Shift, an all-star band featuring saxist Mark Turner, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Damion Reid. Thurs. Dec. 22: guitar duo with veteran masters David Roitstein & Larry Koonse. Tues. Dec. 27: great pianist Gerald Clayton jam session. Look here for full schedule and options.
ETA, a bar in Highland Park, often books jazz. Check in here. Sat. Dec. 17: Christian Euman hosts performances by Josh Nelson, Anna Butterss, Erin Bentlage & Josh Johnson.
Sat. Dec. 17: Amon Amarth, Carcass, Obituary and Cattle Decapitation pillage Inglewood's Forum with modern metal for every taste. Tickets here.
Sat. Dec. 17, 8pm: Daniel Corral stages his composition for 20 just-intonated chimes he made, to be played by Erin Barnes, Andrew Lessman, Cory Beers and himself at Automata in Chinatown. Tickets here.
The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) has mostly Sunday jazz shows. Sun. Dec. 18: Corbin Jones Holiday Big Band and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Jan. 8: Glen Cashman Quartet and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Jan. 15: Birds and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Jan. 22: Julie Zhu Quartet and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Jan. 29: Paul Kreibich Group and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Feb. 5: Friends of Ampa Jazz Night and Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
The World Stage in Leimert Park hosts Friday 8pm PT LIVE STREAMS of righteous jazz; join in here for live concerts and here for replays of past shows (Charles Owens, Roberto Miranda, Randy Gloss, many more) on its YouTube channel, which you can watch during the holidays while the Stage is dark for live events. Donations encouraged here.
Keep up with the well-curated Monday-night Vernacular New-Music Series at Oracle Tavern downtown here. ***LATE ADD*** Mon. Dec. 19: super show with Daniel Rosenboom Quintet, Tina Raymond Trio.
Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 29 & 30: straight Latin jazz from Pete Escovedo. Check full calendar here.
The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Sat. Dec. 31: L.A. Guns. Thurs. Jan. 12: HR of Bad Brains. Fri. Jan. 13: 45 Grave. Sat. Feb. 25: Vio-lence. Fri. May 13: Lynch Mob. Sun. June 4: Loudness. Calendar here. Tues. June 6: Stryper.
Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz. Thurs. Jan. 12: Pete Escovedo. Full schedule here.
Highland Park's Lodge Room occasionally books jazz, metal and heft. Sat. Jan. 14: one of the few true inheritors of the psychedelic crown, Dead Meadow. Sat. & Sun. Feb. 4 & 5: Sunn O))) Shoshin Duo. Full schedule here.
Alva's Showroom in San Pedro brings in some intriguing music from the edges in addition to tributes and stuff. Sat. & Sun. Jan. 14 & 15: Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins. Full lineup here.
Atwater's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Wed. Jan. 25: Fred Frith. Full calendar here.
The Canyon in Agoura Hills books its share of metal, fusion and original good stuff. Sat. Jan. 28: shredstress Orianthi. Fri. Feb. 24: Ace Frehley. Calendar here.
Downtown's Disney Hall presents some jazz and events of note beyond classical. Tues. Jan. 31: taiko-drum thunder from Kodo. Thurs. & Fri. March 16 & 17: Ziggy Marley. Sun. April 2: Herbie Hancock. Tickets here.
1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Wed. Feb. 22: Rotting Christ. Thurs. March 16: Candlemass. Tues. March 21: The Acacia Strain. Mon. April 3: Gorod. Full calendar here.
UCLA'S Center for the Art of Performance has jazz programming. Thurs. Feb. 23: MVF Band. Calendar here.
The Regent downtown books some heavy music. Thurs. March 16: Fleshgod Apocalypse. Wed. March 22: Eluveitie. Sun. March. 26: Morbid Angel. Full lineup here.
The Broad Stage in Santa Monica holds occasional jazz presentations. Fri. March 23: Maria Schneider Orchestra presents "Data Lords." Tickets here.
Downtown's Teragram Ballroom occasionally presents heavy and improvisational music. Wed. March 29: Soulfly. Calendar here.
The Orpheum downtown rocks at times. Mon. April 24: Iggy Pop and the Losers, featuring Chad Smith, Andrew Watt and Duff McKagan. Tickets here.
Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Fri. June 2: metal with Helloween, Hammerfall. Calendar here.
2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Listings here.
Piano Spheres always has topflight outward programming from the classically trained world at the Thayer or Zipper Hall downtown. Calendar here.
Keep up with L.A. Jazz Society events, including its Young Musician Showcases, here.
The Jazz Bakery is again presenting shows at various venues. Tickets and info here.