Fri. March 4 -- It's a metaljazz milestone when Murder Construct reunite to grind their turbulent death metal, abstract as hell but with grabnasty changes (ever hear a grindcore waltz?). The band corrals members of the baddest bands: drummer Danny Walker and guitarist Leon del Muerte from Intronaut, growler Travis Ryan from Cattle Decapitation, guitarist Kevin Fetus from Watch Me Burn, bassist Caleb Schneider from Bad Acid Trip. Got a superhot new EP on Relapse, too. With Singapore grinders Wormrot, plus Bedlam of Cacophony, Dystrophic, Crypt Infection. At The Blvd., 2631 Whittier Blvd., LA 90023; doors 8-ish; cheap; (323) 264-3499.
Sat. March 5 -- Who's in this version of The Vinny Golia Quintet? It's a SECRET, but the multiwind genius always commands the very best. 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; validated parking on Second Street; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. March 5 -- Mike Watt & His Missingmen lope the freaky jams; Backbiter celebrates seven millennia of drivin' hard rock; also Sassafrass. At the Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. Second St., downtown; (310) 245-0273; www.theredwoodbar.com.
Sat. March 5 -- When it comes to piano-vibraphone duos (and it rarely comes to that), Chick Corea & Gary Burton wrote the book on beautiful classically inflected semi-improv 40 years ago. A UCLA Live presentation at Royce Hall; 8pm; $50-$90; www.uclalive.org.
Sun. March 6 -- The stellar Sunday Evening Concerts series celebrates 14 years of offering the Best of the Out with the rotating house band, Open Gate Theater: Will Salmon on flute & vox, Alex Cline on drums & perc, Vinny Golia on winds, Brad Dutz on strikables, George McMullen on trombone, Dave Tranchina on bass, Kio Griffith manipulating the live images. Opening is the audiovisual percussion trio BoorBaar, featuring Cory Beers, Mike Robbins and John Walsh IV. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. March 6 -- On the opposite edge of the county, Adam Rudolph returns with Go: Organic Orchestra, a mind-bending semicircle of drums & winds that taps the tribal spirit of humankind. Rudolph's spontaneously oozing & swelling conductions put you on another plane, for real. At Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice 90291; 7:30pm; $15-$20; www.electriclodge.org; get tickets here.
Sun. March 6 -- Skidtastic guitarist Tom McNalley melds his harmolodic leanings with the Brazilian inclinations of bassist Nando Raio and drummer Matty Alger. Dig the notion. At the Cabaret Room in the upscale First and Hope Restaurant, 710 W. First St., downtown 90012; 9:30pm; no cover but you'll wanna nosh & gulp; (213) 617-8555; www.firstandhope.com.
Sun. March 6 -- You mean Gerald Wilson, the soul of L.A. big-band jazz for 60 years, is gonna be conducting his all-star orchestra in a club rather than at the Hollywood Bowl or somewhere? That's an event. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Mon. March 7 -- Claudia Quintet drummer John Hollenbeck's ensemble folds layers of textural/harmonic intelligence for a world of modern engagement. Saxist Tony Malaby's on board, always a good sign. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20; www.redcat.org.
Mon. March 7 -- Our upstart lit/art quarterly Slake celebrates Lundi Gras with a salute to New Orleans featuring films by Helen Hill, music from New Orleans Traditional Jazz & Funeral Band etc., readings by Hank Cherry & others from the Slake stable, food from Crazy Creole Café, beer & wine, and unpretentious hangdown with photographer Ann Fishbein. At Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado, LA 90057; 7pm; $10; RSVP here.
Tues. March 8 -- Deicide deserve a genuflection for early radical death-metal radness, but I'm down with the grandiose blackened pummel of Austria's Belphegor, heating up coals from the deep pagan forest of their current "Blood Magick Necromance," which builds dark momentum. With Blackguard, Neuraxis, Pathology, Maleficent Vigor. At the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 6:15pm; $33.50; 15+; www.8thdaytix.com; (310) 274-5800.
Tues. March 8 -- Kataklysm rock their downrollin' Canadian metal with All Shall Perish, Decrepit Birth, Conducting From the Grave, Abysmal Dawn, more and more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Tues. March 8 -- Malian singer Khaira Arby fronts an awesome jumpin' African rhythm fest. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 8pm; $14; 18+; www.attheecho.com. NOTE VENUE CHANGE FROM EL REY.
Wed. March 9 -- Bassist-singer Nick Rosen shows where his wide-ranging imagination leads when he's not thumping behind Arthur Blythe or some other legend. Inviting, tactile stuff with sax pal Joey Dosik and gang. 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; validated parking on Second Street; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. March 9 -- Intelligent dance music? Warm art stretch with string trio? Ex-Stereotaxic Device tweaker George Sarah doesn't care what you call it. At The Trip, 2101 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; 8:30pm; free; 21+; (310) 396-9010.
Thurs. March 10 -- Hey, Doug Freeman and Doozy ain't old enough to remember all that straw-hat music from the '30s. Almost, though! I think I'm starting to remember it myself. They continue their every-Thursday residency. At the Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City 90232; 7:30-11pm; no cover; (310) 558-9400.
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.