Music Picks: Shelby Lynne, Marsha Ambrosius, John Scofield Quartet, Wiz Khalifa

John Scofield Quartet

Catalina Jazz Club

PHOTO BY AUTUMN DEWILDE

The Secret Sisters: See Wednesday.

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• Chris Brown (Singer)
• Shelby Lynne
• Mayer Hawthorne
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Hip-Hop and Rap

John Scofield is one of the most respected guitarists in jazz, making a major mark in Miles Davis' band in the early 1980s. Before that, Scofield had already recorded with jazz legends Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan and Gary Burton. Scofield's own bands have been some of the finest anywhere, producing classic recordings such as Blue Matter and Still Warm. He has split his time over the past three decades between traditional jazz and more eclectic settings, including collaborations with the likes of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Phil Lesh and Government Mule. Through Thursday he fronts a quartet in support of his new album, A Moment's Peace, backed by Michael Eckroth on piano, Ben Street on bass and Greg Hutchinson on drums. —Tom Meek

Also playing:

ST. VINCENT at Music Box; HUGH CORNWELL at Bronson Bar; BEN LEE at Largo.

wed 10/19

Paul Simon, The Secret Sisters

GIBSON AMPHITHEATRE

At a time in his life when he seemingly has little left to prove, the 70-year-old Paul Simon recently returned to action with his best album in many years, So Beautiful or So What. Rootsy strains of Americana fuse joyfully with serpentine African-style guitars wrapping themselves around coolly groovy shuffles. Although the album is ostensibly a meditation on spirituality and mortality, with songs like "The Afterlife" and "Love Is Eternal Sacred Light," Rhymin' Simon keeps the mood playful, even as he finds out — after climbing "up the ladder of time" — that Heaven is a place where he has to fill out a form and stand in line, just like everybody else. The retro-fixated Secret Sisters open with their dreamy, old-time country-pop harmonies. —Falling James

Also playing:

ROGER DALTREY PERFORMS TOMMY at Nokia Theatre; STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS at Music Box; JANEK GWIZDALA at Café Cordiale; SCOTT KINSEY GROUP at the Baked Potato.

thu 10/20

Chris Brown, T-Pain, Bow Wow, Tyga

STAPLES CENTER

Yes, we know Chris Brown is not high on the public's exemplary citizens list — his fall from grace stemming from his abusive relationship with Rihanna is well documented. But what really matters, at least from a critical perspective, is the man's talent. And, like it or not, Brown is dripping with it. After the dud of an apology-in-album-form that was 2009's Graffiti, the showstopping, fleet-footed entertainer returned this year with F.A.M.E., an album stockpiled with pulsating nuggets that can't help but make you re-evaluate his premier status in the pop game. Sure, you may not like C. Breezy, but damn, you've gotta respect him. Brown is joined by, among others, the robo-charged voice of T-Pain, who apparently also comes in human form. —Dan Hyman

Leon Russell

THE CANYON CLUB

Leon Russell's career certainly got a shot in the arm when he recorded The Union last year with his longtime fan Elton John. The album's surprising success brought welcome attention to the prolific Russell, who's been toiling away in relative anonymity in recent years, but it also gave John a much-needed boost of credibility after several decades of manufacturing MOR fluff and pandering to the rubes in Vegas. It may be hard to remember now, but in the early 1970s Russell was the bigger star, tapping out divinely carnivalesque melodies like the hit "Tight Rope" and such winsomely melancholic ballads as "Manhattan Island Serenade." Truth is, whether he's goosing up rock standards like "I've Just Seen a Face" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" or digging into his endless bag of originals, Russell is always a fiery performer, pounding on his piano and growling with plenty of funky Oklahoman soul. —Falling James

New Villager

MONDRIAN HOTEL

Brooklyn-based art and music collective NewVillager are a couple of guys named Ben Bromley and Ross Simonini, whose "mythologically woven" new-slant arty pop is but one small component of a live show that crosshatches beat/sound excursions and resonant visual corollaries. They've earned their art cred with installations at galleries and art spaces such as L.A.'s Human Resources Gallery, where a recent exhibit featured the construction of a village in which the band lived, slept and performed in 10 different rooms, each symbolizing a song from their jarringly beautiful recent debut album. Tonight they're doing a DJ version of all of the above; for the complete experience catch them also at the Troubadour on Oct. 15. —John Payne

Spank Rock

THE MAYAN

Popular monthly dance party Check Yo Ponytail 2 is taking its show on the road this fall. Spank Rock, the electro/alt-rap duo who won over club kids and hip-hop heads alike with their 2006 song "Bump" (featuring an incredible verse from Amanda Blank), have a new album and headline. But they get big support from L.A. stoner indie boys Wavves and the bounce-obsessed beats of NOLA's Big Freedia, who continues to take over clubland with her proud rainbow-flag waving and booty battles. Bonus: We hear a special guest headliner or two may show up for the Los Angeles date. Go get sweaty. —Lainna Fader

The Business

THE AIRLINER

If the bestial soccer riots of 1980s England had a soundtrack, this was it. Looking like extras from one of Guy Ritchie's guilty-posh-bloke gangster flicks, these burly London geezers have — on-and-off and with revolving lineups — been rousing shaven-headed and Doc Marten–clad rabbles since 1979. Though only vocalist Micky Fitz remains from their original lineup, the Business' puffed-chest, working-class pride is undiluted. Their rudimentary, belligerent punk, with titles like "Hardcore Hooligan," "Drinking and Driving" and "England 5–Germany 1" (yes, that's a soccer reference), is made for sloppy sing-alongs. It's also so essentially British that it's a wonder they have an audience in America at all. Don't wear your best duds. —Paul Rogers

Also playing:

BRIAN WALSH TRIO + KRIS TINER at Blue Whale; CALLE 13 at House of Blues Anaheim; EVERLAST at Viper Room; JULIETA VENEGAS at Music Box; SHELLAC at Eagle Rock Center; MARIA TAYLOR at the Echo; FISHBONE at Bootleg Bar; ROY MCCURDY at Nola's; JERRY VIVINO at the Baked Potato.