Select chronological listings.
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 on its YouTube channel. Fri. Dec. 2: the cool modern artistry of singer-songwriter Mia Doi Todd. Donations encouraged here.
ETA, a bar in Highland Park, often books jazz. Check in here. Fri. Dec. 2: the organ-drums-guitar trio of Wil Blades, Jay Bellerose & Jeff Parker. Mon. Dec. 5: guitarist Nick Reinhart & Josh Klinghoffer. Fri. Dec. 16: Horace Bray, Gene Campbell & Gene Coye.
The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. Dec. 2: quiet beauty with the star piano trio of Alan Pasqua, Joe LaBarbera & Darek Oles. Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 8 & 9: the spiderweb intelligence of L.A. Jazz Quartet. Sat. Dec. 10: some of L.A.'s best in guitarist Anthony Wilson Quartet featuring Gerald Wilson, Joshua Crumbly & Jay Bell. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 16 & 17: John Escreet Seismic Shift. Thurs. Dec. 22: David Roitstein & Larry Koonse. Look here for full schedule and options.
1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Fri. Dec. 2: Katatonia, The Ocean. Tues. March 21: The Acacia Strain. Full calendar here.
The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm. Fri.-Sun. Dec. 2-4: John Daversa Progressive Big Band. Wed.-Sat. Dec. 7-10: Rock Candy Funk Party featuring Joe Bonamassa. Wed.-Fri. Dec. 14-16: Nerve Bundle featuring Steve Lukather, Jeff Babko, Jorgen Carlsson and Gregg Bissonette. Sat. & Sun. Dec. 17 & 18: Mike Stern. Tues. & Wed. Dec. 27 & 28: Donati-Machacek Band. Thurs. Dec. 29: Bunny Brunel CAB. Fri. Jan. 13: Cosmosquad. Full schedule here. Tues. Jan. 24: Dan Rosenboom Project. Thurs. Feb. 16: Nili Brosh.
Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz. Fri. Dec. 2: Louie Beltran. Wed. Dec. 7: Danny Janklow. Thurs. Jan. 12: Pete Escovedo. Full schedule here.
Sat. Dec. 3: Guitar ace Steve Vai plays the Ace Hotel downtown; tickets here.
REDCAT (beneath downtown's Disney Hall) presents some experimental music and jazz. Sun. Dec. 4, 8:30pm, in person and STREAMING: Celebrating Anthony Braxton, a tribute to the great avant windman and composer featuring Steve Lehman, Mark Dresser, Daniel Rosenboom, Mark Turner, Vicki Ray, Vinny Golia and more. Major show. Tickets here.
The Orpheum downtown rocks at times. Sun. Dec. 4: The Last Waltz with Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Kathleen Edwards, Anders Osborne and special guest Taj Mahal. This cannot suck. Tickets here.
LATE ADD: Sun. Dec. 4: Punk Rock BBQ at Harvelle's,
1432 4th St., Santa Monica, featuring Desi Ramone (1pm), Double Naught Spy Car (2pm), Lawndale (3pm), Dryheat (4pm), Santa Sabbath (5pm).
The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) has mostly Sunday jazz shows. Sun. Dec. 4: CSUN Jazz Combos and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Dec. 18: Corbin Jones Holiday Big Band and Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
Keep up with the well-curated Monday-night Vernacular New-Music Series at Oracle Tavern downtown here. Mon. Dec. 5: Smudges (cellist Maggie Parkins and violinist Jeff Gauthier create fascinating electronified abstractions and birdsong interactions) and CuZns (Bobby Bradford and William Roper improvise multi-instrumentals and social commentaries).
The Wiltern (Wilton & Western) occasionally harbors metal. Sun. Dec. 11: the magnificent howling thunder of Blackie Lawless and WASP, blasting just the hits, since there's no new record, but few will complain; word is they'll resurrect "F*ck Like a Beast" if you scream for that encore. Full calendar here.
Just Jazz presents jazz at Hollywood's Mr. Music Head Gallery. Wed. Dec. 14: Mark Turner, Damion Reed & Eric Revis. Website here.
Sat. Dec. 17: Amon Amarth, Carcass, Obituary and Cattle Decapitation pillage Inglewood's Forum. Tickets here.
Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 29 & 30: 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.
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.
Highland Park's Lodge Room occasionally books jazz, metal and heft. Sat. & Sun. Feb. 4 & 5: Sunn O))) Shoshin Duo. Full schedule 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. Sun. Feb. 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.
Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Fri. June 2: metal with Helloween, Hammerfall. Calendar here.
LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile offers FREE outdoor jazz concerts every Friday through Dec. 2 at 6pm. 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.
Downtown's Disney Hall presents some jazz and events of note beyond classical. Tickets here.