Fri. July 23 -- Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble is a medium-small orchestra with a big palette of modern music. At Grand Performances in California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90071; 8pm; FREE; www.grandperformances.org.
Fri. July 23 -- Drummer-composer Rich West has a bunch of varitextured tunes he wants to express through his group. Adventurous charts, says Dottie Grossman, who knows. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $15; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; events page here.
Sat. July 24 -- Hate lupus? Dig jazz vocal soul spirit wail? Combine the two as Dwight Trible, backed by keyboardist Patrice Rushen and saxist Justo Almario, fronts a benefit. At First Presbyterian Church of Inglewood Fellowship Center, 100 N. Hillcrest Blvd., Inglewood; dinner 5pm; concert 7pm; $40; (310) 671-6400.
Sat. July 24 -- I've grown to rely on windman Patrick Cress' excellence via his work with Telepathy, Scott Amendola and a bunch more. His current group, Mercury Falls, breathes out an exquisite blend of electro-ambient magic, composed for full effect. It's calming me down right now. With guitarist Ryan Francesconi, guitarist Roger Riedlbauer, bassist Eric Perney and drummer Tim Bulkley. And the redoubtable Norton Wisdom does live painting! At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 7:30pm; $12; $8 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Sat. July 24 -- By way of trippy ambient fusion, check out Kicking Wet Possums, a.k.a. KWP Trio, featuring guitarist Brian McNally, bassist Josh Gonzalez and drummer and drummer Wally Valdez. At Glendale Farmers Market, which I'm guessing is the one at 100 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale 91205; 11am-1:30pm.
Sat.-Sun. July 24-25 -- Central Avenue Jazz Fest is like a trip to another time, when jazz belonged to everybody. Highlights: Azar Lawrence, 2:20pm Saturday; and all day Sunday noon-7pm with Jesse Sharps' The Gathering, Ernie Andrews, Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Henry Franklin. Central Avenue between Vernon and Jefferson. www.centralavejazz.com.
Sun. July 25 -- Many rivers to cross: the great Jimmy Cliff, plus the greatest reggae rhythm section in the world, Sly & Robbie & the Taxi Gang, and Tarrus Riley. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 7pm; $12-$131; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Mon. July 26 -- The spacy squonk of Thelonious Dub is getting pretty damn fusion-funky these days with the quartet's new "Master Plan B." In the West Restaurant & Lounge on the 17th floor of the Angeleno Hotel, 170 N. Church Lane, Bel Air 90049, where Sunset Boulevard meets the 405 freeway; 8pm onward; no cover but you gotta consume.
Tues. July 27 -- Alex Cline's Band of the Moment flows and drives and penetrates to levels of inner outerness. It's the drummer plus trumpeter John Fumo, violinist Jeff Gauthier, bassist Steuart Liebig, organist Wayne Peet and pianist David Witham, and it is unconditionally guaranteed. At the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A. 90024; 8pm; FREE; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu. hammer.
Tues. July 27 -- The Thrash and Burn metal fest features the always very rockin' chicks of Kittie and many more. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 4:45pm; $26; (323) 848-5800; www.ticketmaster.com.
Wed. July 28 -- Three generations of roiling jazz expression: Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Holland Big Band, Dave Douglas Big Band. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 8pm; $1-$129; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Wed. July 28 -- Dub Club's 10th anniversary blows out the reggae doors with Sister Nancy, General Trees, Tippa Lee and surprise guests. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 9pm; $15 ($10 before 10pm); www.attheecho.com.
Thurs. July 29 -- I don't normally list too many out-of-L.A. gigs, but the recent volatility factor of Aerosmith is such that you might not have another chance to behold the actual greatest hard-rock band in the world. And Cheap Trick, who open, ain't far behind. Classic bill of Jack Douglas-produced bands. At Irvine Meadows / Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine; 7:30pm; $35-$200; www.ticketmaster.com.
Read Brick Wahl’s jazz picks in LA Weekly here, Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.