Fri. July 2 -- A regular crony of Pharoah Sanders and McCoy Tyner in the early '70s, violinist Michael White returns plucking soulful, samba-influenced jazz with his Unit2 quartet: vocalist Leisei Chen, guitarist Timothy Young, bassist Jon Ossman and the always organic drummer Danny Frankel. Presented by Dolores Petersen at the Blue Whale on the third floor of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; (213) 620-0908.
Sat. July 3 -- Pianist Alan Pasqua flows with the colors in his acoustic mode this time, I think, in a trio with ex-Bill Evans drummer Joe LaBarbera and bassist Tom Warrington. At the Blue Whale on the third floor of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; (213) 620-0908.
Sat. July 3 -- Seems like every time you see him, vibesman Nick Mancini has got an exciting new bag. Now he's augmenting drummer Andy Sansei, bassist Greg Swilller and percussionist Peter Korpella with old pal Celia Chavez on vocals, and expanding beyond his modern jazz originals to put new world-music twists on pop nuggets. Good date night. At the Cabaret Room in the upscale First and Hope Restaurant, 710 W. First St., downtown 90012; 8pm-midnight; no cover; (213) 617-8555; www.firstandhope.com.
Sat. July 3 -- Poetry calls; trombone and percussion respond; and it's okay if Dottie Grossman, Michael Vlatkovich & Christopher Garcia talk over one another. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $10; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; events page here.
Wed. July 7 -- You see the Steve Hanft-Tom Chasteen reggae documentary "Return of the Rub-a-Dub Style"? Then you remember the vigorous toasting of Brigadier Jerry, one of Jamaica's top MCs from the classic era. Great DJs and mash-ups in the Echo upstairs, too. Dub Club at the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; $12 ($5 before 10pm); www.attheecho.com.
Wed. July 7 -- Metal monster drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Dethklok) has fused with vet industrial groovers Fear Factory, dude. And FF ax wiz Dino Cazares pulls double duty in his shreddin' co-project, Divine Heresy, which opens. In between: rising melodic tightwinders 36 Crazyfists and After the Burial. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $26; (323) 848-5800; 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.