Fri. Aug. 19 -- Learn about love, peyote and our rich country-western heritage from I See Hawks in L.A. in the warm summer sunshine. At Grand Performances in California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90071; noon; FREE; www.grandperformances.org.
Fri. Aug. 19 -- The Cross-Hart Jazz Experience swings with such vivid authenticity that one hesitates to call it mainstream. (What used to be called mainstream is now considered socialist-revolutionary, don't ya know.) At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri.-Sat. Aug. 19-20 -- New York saxist David Binney twists the tradition but not to the breaking point; he'll keep old and young pinned to their modular cushions with his deep-hued explorations. Topflight band: pianist John Escreet, bassist Tim Lefebvre, Louis Cole. 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.
Fri.-Sat. Aug. 19-20 -- Here's what Brick Wahl says about Matt Marucci: "Seen this guy at Jax a couple times. He's a great drummer -- one of my faves -- and Chuck Manning is always terrific on sax. Highly recommended if you like your straight-ahead kinda edgy and plenty hard. I'm sure they did a ballad in there somewhere, but all I remember is the tough stuff. I have some of Marucci's CDs, and they are uncompromising; he digs doing the live trio thing (sax/bass/drums), which gets ferocious. Jax can be quite a scene on Fridays and Saturdays if the music is hot. (It will be.)" This gig's a quartet with Manning, pianist Rick Olson, and bassist Bill Marcus (Friday) or Jeff Littleton (Saturday). At Jax, 339 Brand Blvd., Glendale 91203; 8pm onward; no cover; (818) 500-1604.
Sat. Aug. 20 -- Not a helluva lot of big stars at this year's multi-venue Sunset Strip Music Festival, more of a showcase type of thing and a general hard-rock hang, with some hip-hop and pop-reggae. But you get Motley Crue (8:15) and Public Enemy (7:00). A real boon to parking-lot moguls for miles around; bring your hiking boots, because you are NOT gonna park anywhere close. And if you're not going, you better avoid that whole sector, which gets totally choked with traffic. $15-$120; all day and alla the night; check the complete lineup here.
Sat. Aug. 20 -- Drummer Matt Slocum lays out the funky grooves and New Orleans jazz-blues with versatile mates Josh Nelson (piano) and Dan Lutz (bass). Lutz picked up a lot of the Louisiana licks when he was locking in with the fine late drummer Dan Morris in James Carney's trio. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena 91106; 8:30pm; $25, students $15; www.jazzbakery.org.
Sun. Aug. 21 -- Talk about a working musician, trumpeter Elliott Caine works postbop and Latin originals all the time, and he works because people dig the sound. The quintet includes saxist Carl Randall, pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, bassist Tim Emmons and drummer Kenny Elliott. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Sun. Aug. 21 -- Extreme electric guitarist Han-Earl Park and drummer Ted Byrnes improvise a smoking hole in the floor; I bow toward them in a recent review here. At The Battery Books and Music, 1005B Mission St., Pasadena 91030; 7pm; FREE.
Tues. Aug. 23 -- Behold The Alan Ferber Expanded Ensemble, featuring the trombonist plus an extra DOZEN horns (Joey Sellers, Ben Wendel and Matt Otto among them) fronting the foundation of guitarist Anthony Wilson, pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Dave Robaire and drummer Mark Ferber. Extra hues for Ferber's always coloristic California palette. 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. Aug. 24 -- Quiet, intelligent modern moods prevail with two postjazz groups led by guitarist Joe Santa Maria: first Seneca Scribe (with Larry Koonse, Emilio Terranova and Andrew Lessman), then A Giraffe (with Steve Blum, Emilio Terranova and Mike Lockwood). 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. Aug. 24 -- Latin jazz goes every which way in a program topped by Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club featuring Omara Portuondo, with support from Arturo Sandoval & the L.A. All-Star Big Band and Ninety Miles (con Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, Christian Scott). Many stars, bound to be a swell vibe, and they're pricing tickets to fill the joint. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 8pm; $2-$140; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Wed. Aug. 24 -- Few songwriters draw you in like Eleni Mandell, who brings a photographer's eye to her lyrics and new meaning to soft rock. With Sister Rogers, Sallie Ford. At the Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90023; doors 8pm; $12; (213) 413-8200; www.attheecho.com.
Wed. Aug. 24 -- The documentary "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" takes an inside squint at the metal godfather through the eyes of son Jack Osbourne and directors Mike Fleiss and Mike Piscitelli. Few own a storybook like the Ozzman's, and the film screens only today and next Monday at theaters around the region. Get the schedule and buy tickets here.
Thurs. Aug. 25 -- Latin rides again with hand drummer Poncho Sanchez's always powerful outfit. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at the courtyard of Culver City's City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City 90232; 7pm; free.
Thurs. Aug. 25 -- Underground jazz they call it, if that's not redunant: The Andrew Lessman Trio, featuring the drummer beating intense shake along with guitarist Joe Santa Maria and bassist Emilio Terranova; also the duo of Lessman with keysman Clinton Patterson. What I hear online is superfine, and the show's a benefit for 826LA, which gathers tutoring services for local kids. At Lot 1 Café, 1533 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 9:30pm; $5; 21+.
Thurs. Aug. 25 -- LATE ADD: Saxist David Binney (see above) sits in with pianist Theo Saunders, bassist Chris Symer and drummer Andy Sanesi. At Charlie O's, 13725 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys 91401; 8pm; no cover; (818) 989-3110 (reservations recommended); www.charlieos.com.
Thurs. Aug. 25 -- To complement the rare soul grooves of DJs Kave-In and Agent 00 Soul (Don Waller), they're giving away tequila drinks by Real de Mexico for the first hour. In El Chavito, the tiny back bar of El Chavo Restaurant, 4437 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90027; 8pm onward; 21+; no cover.
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.