Fri. June 10 -- Local vet Charles Owens is about the hottest, most versatile and most technically proficient saxist around, and he knows how to please a crowd. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. June 10 -- Y'know Ohm, the fusion band led by ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland? Well, this is Ohmphrey, which includes Poland and Ohm bassist Robert Pagliari, and adds guitarist Jake Cinninger, keyboardist Joel Cummins and drummer Kris Meyers. Gonna trip. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. June 10 -- Not many events can get me down to Anaheim, but since I consider Black Country Communion's 2010 debut such a monster of '70s heavy-grooving rock & soul, I'll see ya there. They've got a new alb arriving on Tuesday, too, and the pre-tastes are damn inviting. Who are BCC? Well, who ain't they: former Deep Purple bassist-singer Glenn Hughes, guitar-geek god Joe Bonamassa, Zepperific drummer Jason Bonham and keyboard genius Derek Sherinian. Read my review of the first BCC album here. At the City National Grove, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim 92806; 8pm; $45; www.ticketmaster.com.
Fri. June 10 -- That nasty '90s metal groove: L.A.'s own Fear Factory, back with Dino Cazares on guitar and now the incredible Gene Hoglan on drums. Plus six more bands. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $25; all ages; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Fri. June 10 -- Speaking of the '90s, I used to enjoy headbanging to the grim tech of Canada's Front Line Assembly, and apparently it ain't too late. Still featuring ex-Skinny Puppy Bill Leeb. Also with Dismantled. At El Rey Theater, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; 8pm; $25; www.ticketmaster.com.
Fri.-Sat. June 10-11 -- These Harry Partch evenings presented by John Schneider have gotten quite popular; you get to look at all the microtonal composer's unique instruments and all. This time with a rare film and a score written for Chet Baker. Hope for not much whimsy. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $25; www.redcat.org.
Sat. June 11 -- Long a resident prof at CalArts, Serbian guitarist Miroslav Tadic wrangles flamenco guitar and baritone guitar in virtuosic world-folk-based extrapolations. Plus more world folk from Ash (singers Aurelia Shrenker & Eva Salina Primack). At Foshay Masonic Lodge, 9635 Venice Blvd., Culver City 90034; 8pm; $20; tickets here.
Sat. June 11 -- Alain Johannes seems to do most everything: write, sing, play guitar & whatever, in multiple self-distinctive styles. I remember him showing me a chord (which I still can't play cuz I can't stretch fingers like he can) back in the early '80s when he was with What Is This?, but he was also a founder of Red Hot Chili Peppers, had this original band called Eleven and in latter years has worked a lot with Queens of the Stone Age. Talented MF. At the Rhino Pop-Up Store, 10952 Santa Monica Blvd., Westwood 90025; 8pm; free.
Sat.-Sun. June 11-12 -- The Playboy Jazz Fest looks better this year to disaffected old bastards like me. Saturday highlights, from earlier to later: Ambrose Akinmusire, Geri Allen-Ndugu Chancler, S.F. Jazz Collective, The Roots. Sunday: Geri Allen's Timeline Band (a gas), John Scofield-Robben Ford, and Lee Konitz New Quartet. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 3pm; $27-$160; www.ticketmaster.com.
Sun. June 12 -- Gerald Wilson was arranging for big bands when they were practically a crazy new idea. An L.A. jazz cornerstone. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sun. June 12 --With Adam Rudolph having moved back East, it's up to The Decisive Instant (led by Charles Sharp and Jeff Schwartz) to carry on the Butch Morris principle of spontaneous conduction. Fourteen players is plenty for this room, oughta be big fun. 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 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Mon. June 13 -- Alex Distefano tells me that Jeff Becerra of Possessed has dispossessed the dark Sadistic Intent dudes. Too bad, but he'll surely thrash with similar original premeditation. Plus four more bands. At the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; all ages; www.keyclub.com; (310) 274-5800.
Tues. June 14 -- Can you still glam when you're 60? Maybe not, but you can rock. Motley Crue, Poison, New York Dolls. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 7pm; $35-$183; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Tues. June 14 -- I'm calling it Dot 'n' Tot, and you can't stop me: Languid poet John Tottenham presents an evening of fellow word conspirators including Dottie Grossman (calling/responding with trombonist Michael Vlatkovich), Eric Erlandsson and Hank Cherry. An Artillery presentation in the Cactus Room of the Standard Hotel, 8300 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7pm wine reception, 8pm reading & signing, validated parking $6 but the verse, I think, is, uh, free.
Wed. June 15 -- Singer Dwight Trible brings the Afro-passion like nobody. 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 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. June 15 -- Supposed to be L.A. Composers Project tonight, but verification is coming hard, so check in. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $10, $5 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Thurs. June 16 -- Mexican multimedia singer Carmina Escobar collaborates with visualist Carole Kim, then it's the electronified acoustics of local magicians The Choir Boys (Jeff Kaiser, Andrew Pask, Joachim Gossman), and THEN it's the very cool whispering brain cells of the jazzatory Crepuscule Trio (Alan Cook, Ken Kawamura, Anthony Shadduck). Excellent abstractions as always on the third Thursday of every month. ResBox at Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90027; 8pm; $10; BYO; free parking lot behind.
Thurs. June 16 -- Don't let the name fool ya, Slumgum serve up some very approachable original modern jazz. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8:30pm; $10, $5 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
Thurs.-Sun. June 16-19 -- Pianist Hiromi, bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Steve Smith are calling themselves The Trio Project, and I can't figure out why. I hope these masterful but sometimes bland musicians kick one another's asses. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 & 10pm; $20-$e0; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Read Brick Wahl’s jazz picks in LA Weekly here (he's got a lot of great mainstreamier club selections), Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.