The Los Angeles creative jazz label Cryptogramophone Records celebrates its 10-year anniversary and the release of two new CDs with a pair of concerts. In the first, pianist Myra Melford, one of the most influential women in jazz, leads Be Bread, with Cuong Vu (trumpet), Ben Goldberg (clarinet), Stomu Takeishi (bass) and Matt Wilson (drums). Her colorful music reflects years on the New York downtown scene and extensive study in India. Also: Alex Cline, whose music of transcendental beauty defies genre, launches his new CD with the eponymous Continuation Quintet, featuring Melford, Jeff Gauthier (violin), Maggie Parkins (cello) and Scott Walton (bass). Saturday's Cryptonight show is headlined by Nels Cline, anointed "guitar god" by Rolling Stone, who leads The Nels Cline Singers, featuring Devin Hoff (bass) and Scott Amendola (drums), to fête his new solo CD Coward. Gauthier's Goatette opens, with the Cline brothers, David Witham (piano), and Joel Hamilton (bass).

Myra Melford and Be Bread
Alex Cline Continuation Quintet
Fri Mar 27 | 8:30 pm

"Myra Melford is at once a dancer, a romantic, and a savage suckerpuncher at the bench, beating all hell out of the piano and making it beautiful." Coda

The Nels Cline Singers
Jeff Gauthier Goatette
Sat Mar 28 | 8:30 pm

"The Nels Cline Singers have done what all of jazz's pantheon are honored for trying: they've stepped forward into the future of sound. Without a single word." All About Jazz