Select chronological listings.
* The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm nightly. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 13 & 14: It's always an event when fusion star Mike Stern rips those long & thrilling guitar lines, especially impressive as he's returned strong as ever from a serious accident a few years ago; once again with Leni Stern as foil on guitar and n'goni, also contributing a few of her own African-influenced tunes; with the great Dennis Chambers on drums, Bob Franceschini on sax and Janek Gwizdala on bass. Thurs.-Sun. Dec. 19-22: John Daversa Big Band. Thurs. Jan. 2: Danny Janklow. Fri. & Sat. Jan. 3 & 4: Billy Childs. Tues. Jan. 7: Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Thurs. Jan. 9: Ohm. Thurs. Feb. 13: Danny Janklow. Full schedule here.
* Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Fri.-Sun. Dec. 13-15: composer, producer & Miles bassist Marcus Miller. Tues. Dec. 31: Poncho Sanchez. Full calendar here.
* Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Fri. Dec. 13: Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction. Calendar here.
* Fri. Dec. 13: Avant electronix mini-fest featuring Bergsonist, Sunik Kim, Dominic Coles, Concession Fouls at downtown's Coaxial Arts; $15 tix here.
* You say The Regent downtown has fragments o' metal? Fri. Dec. 13: Charismatic vocalist Byron Davis fronts metalcore survivors God Forbid. Tues. Feb. 25: Helmet. Sat. March 15: Korpiklaani. Thurs. March 20: Tigran Hamasyan. Fri. April 4: All Shall Perish. Fri. April 18: Leprous. Calendar here.
* Knucklehead in Hollywood has metal DJs and live music. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 13 & 14: Portland goth metal from Unto Others (Fri. sold out). Thurs. Jan. 9: God Is War, Lana del Rabies. Sign in here.
* The Hollywood Palladium might rock. Sat. Dec. 14: Blackie Lawless and WASP scream the songs from the 1984 debut album that stormed America ("On Your Knees") and more; plus perennial L.A. metalmen Armored Saint. Fri. May 16: Emperor. Calendar here.
* Sun. Dec. 15, 4:30: From country to folk, jazz and stuff there ain't no name for, Garretson & Gorodetsky write songs and harmonize 'em with a crack band; also playing are long-running punk-jazzers Carnage Asada, and Extra Frothy Dynamite. At The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. Second St., downtown 90012; cheap.
* Sun. Dec. 15: The ensemble of mainstream jazz trumpeter Elliott Caine plays The York, a big bar in Highland Park, from 8 to 10pm, no cover. Website here.
* Sun. Dec. 15, 3-5pm: Corbin Jones Big Band jazzes up holiday classics in a free concert. At The Piazza at Pendry West Hollywood, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069.
* The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) usually has Sunday jazz shows with a rotating early slot and a later jam session led by drummer Kevin Kanner. Plus -- Sat. Dec. 28: Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Sat. Jan. 11: Graham Bonnet, Marco Mendoza. Check listings here.
* The High Low, a bar (with pool and good Tex-Mex food) in Atwater, has well-selected local jazz every Monday in its intimate sealed-off lounge. Mon. Dec. 16: keyboardist Paul Cornish Trio. Mon. Dec. 23: saxist Joe Santa Maria Quartet. Mon. Jan. 6: drummer Max Jaffe Quartet with Brandon Lopez (double bass) Rob Magill (sax), John Welsh (guitar). Mon. Jan. 13: trumpeter Steph Richards Quartet with Joshua White (keys) Billy Mohler (electric bass), Max Jaffe (drums). Mon. Jan. 20: keyboardist Todd Hunter & the Brazilians. Mon. Jan. 27: bassist Joe Davencens Quartet with Max Jaffe (drums) Daniel Rotem (sax), Miro Sprague (Wurlitzer). Mon. Feb. 3: Veazy/Baba/Wrenn/Dodson, a guitar/viola/bass/drums quartet.
* Frogtown's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Mon. & Tues. Dec. 16 & 17: the majikal electronicized soundz of guitarist Jeff Parker ETA IVtet celebrate a record release. Sun. Dec. 22: Fred Frith. Fri. Jan. 3: NYC drummer Guillermo E. Brown. Tues. Jan. 28: Jeremiah Chiu, Yuka Honda, Monde UFO. Thurs. Jan. 30: Mark Guiliana. Tues. Feb. 4: Secret Chiefs 3. Sat. May 3: mssv, Mike Baggetta-Stephen Hodges-Mike Watt. Tues. & Wed. May 13 & 14: Bill Frisell's Good Dog. Full calendar here.
* The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Tuesdays are Happenings hosted by top local artists. Fri. Dec. 20: Well-traveled George Colligan steps off his piano bench and onto his drum stool to lead an ace band featuring saxist Nicole McCabe, saxist Alden Hellmuth and bassist Logan Kane. Fri. Dec. 27: Nicole McCabe-Darynn Dean Quintet. Fri. & Sat. Jan. 10 & 11: Joe LaBarbera Quintet. Wed. Feb. 26: drummer Tina Raymond Two Guitar Band with Anthony Wilson, Andrew Renfroe & Eric Revis. Look here for full schedule and options.
* The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Wed. Dec. 18: Dio/Sab drummer Vinny Appice's Sabbath Knights. Tues. Dec. 31: L.A. Guns. Thurs. Jan. 9: Venom Inc. Sat. Feb. 22: Marty Friedman. Thurs. April 17: Otep. Calendar here.
* The York, a big bar in Highland Park, has excellent trumpeter and fine composer Julien Knowles hosting the York Session every Wednesday; house set 8pm, Session 9pm. Website here.
* 2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Thurs. Dec. 19: strong progressive jazz bill with Steve Lehman, Ambrose Akinmusire; no wonder it's wait-list-only now. Fri. Dec. 20: Avant improvisers go to town -- Corsano/Fujioka/Giffoni/Shiroishi, Lay/Tullgren. Listings here.
* Echo Park's EchoPlex hosts a smattering of metal. Thurs. Dec. 19: From Autumn to Ashes keeps its progressive metalcore going well into winter. Fri. March 7: Swallow the Sun. Website here.
* The Broad Stage in Santa Monica books some jazz. Fri. Dec. 20: John Beasley's Holidaze. Sat. Jan. 25: Marlon Martinez and Marlonius Jazz Orchestra. Sat. Feb. 15: Terri Lyne Carrington. Calendar/tickets here.
* Sat. Dec. 21, 8pm: Double Naught 3 continues in the roaring instrumental tradition of the late Paul Lacques. In the middle of a five-band bill at The Redwood, 316 W. Second St., downtown 90012.
* The Jazz Bakery sponsors live shows at mostly Westside venues; view its calendar here. Sat. Dec. 21: singer Loston Harris Xmas show at Westwood's Moss Theater. Fri. Jan. 24: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble at Atwater's Motivo L.A. Sat. Feb. 15: Mike Wofford & Josh Nelson Piano Duo at Westwood's Moss Theater. Sat. Feb. 22: Edmar Castañeda at Westwood's Moss Theater.
* Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz singers. Sun. Dec. 29: Greg Adams & East Bay Soul. Schedule here.
* The World Stage in Leimert Park has Friday 8:30pm PT (and sometimes other days) in-person presentations with occasional simultaneous live streams of righteous jazz; keep up with the schedule here. Donations encouraged here. Fri. Jan. 3: TBA.
* 1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Fri. Jan. 3: Atheist, Abysmal Dawn. Fri. Feb. 14: Aborted, Ingested, Peeling Flesh. Sat. Feb. 15: Nile, Six Feet Under, Psycroptic. Sun. Feb. 16: Septicflesh. Sat. March 1: Decapitated, Incantation, Darkest Hour, Exmortus. Full calendar here.
* Healing Force of the Universe Records in Pasadena has live folk/jazz/experimental music 8-10:30pm. Sat. Jan. 11: tapdance & organ from Melinda Sullivan & Larry Goldings. Calendar here.
* Highland Park's Lodge Room occasionally books jazz, metal, heft and influential obscurities. Tues. & Wed. Jan. 14 & 15: Meshell Ndegeocello (Wed. sold out). Fri. Jan. 24: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. Wed. March 19: SML. Full schedule here.
* JustJazzTV is a resource for live jazz. Thurs. Jan. 23: Jeong Lim Trio at The Paramount in Boyle Heights.
* The Fonda Theater in Hollywood has occasional metal & world. Fri. Jan. 24: 3 Inches of Blood. Fri. Feb. 21: Kerry King. Calendar here.
* Alva's Showroom in San Pedro brings in some intriguing music from the edges in addition to tributes and stuff. Sun. Jan. 26: Oz Noy-Andrew Synowiec Band featuring Hadrien Feraud (bass) and Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums). Full schedule here.
* Downtown's Disney Hall presents some jazz and events of note beyond classical. Tues. Feb. 4: Taiko drums from Kodo. Sun. March 30: Herbie Hancock. Fri. May 2: Patrice Rushen. Tickets here.
* Downtown's Belasco Theater stages some rock, metal, etc. Tues. March 4: Alice in Chains axman Jerry Cantrell. Tues. & Wed. April 8 & 9: Dir En Grey. Thurs. April 10: Napalm Death, Melvins. Calendar & tix here.
* The Kia Forum in Inglewood gets heavy now and then. Wed. & Thurs. March 5 & 6: Deftones, The Mars Volta. Tues. May 13: Disturbed. Listings here.
* Sat. March 8, 8pm: Pianist Joshua White Trio roils Pasadena's Boston Court; tickets here.
* The Canyon in Agoura Hills books its share of metal, fusion and original good stuff. Fri. March 21: King's X. Calendar here.
* The Orpheum downtown rocks and jazzes at times. Tues. April 1: Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride & Marcus Gilmore. Tickets here.
* Midtown's The Wiltern hosts eclectic acts within its classic Art Deco halls. Thurs. April 10: Machine Head. Full lineup here.
* Fri. April 18: AC/DC rocks the Rose Bowl in Pasadena; tix here.
* The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills occasionally melts faces or hosts an outside master. Sun. Oct. 19: Zucchero. Calendar here.
* REDCAT (beneath downtown's Disney Hall) presents some experimental music and jazz along with its culturally edgy programming. Calendar here.
* The Jazz Salon presents top singers on Sundays at downtown's Los Angeles Athletic Club. Check in here.
* Piano Spheres always has topflight outward programming from the classically trained world at venues around town. Calendar here.
* Keep up with L.A. Jazz Society events, including its Young Musician Showcases, here.
* El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile books yer occasional metal show. Calendar here.
* The Novo near Staples Center downtown hosts some metal. Full listings here.
* The Mayan downtown has jazz and rock sometimes. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Bellwether rocks a fair amount. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Peacock Theater occasionally books heavy music. Lineup here.
* Teragram Ballroom downtown mixes in bits of metal. Calendar here.