Fri. July 20 -- A Celebration of Gil Scott-Heron musters the troops of players, poets and pinkos who were inspired by the dude who did "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." He died last year, but a couple dozen performers including Dexter Story, Dwight Trible, Derf Reklaw, Kamasi Washington, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Trevor Ware, Brian Jackson and Gia Scott-Heron keep the fires burning. At Grand Performances in California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90071; 8pm; FREE; www.grandperformances.org.
Fri. July 20 -- Pianist Josh Nelson's intelligent California jazz is just the thing to ease you wakefully into the weekend. At the Blue Whale on the third level 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. July 20 -- One of the boons that got me through a long plane ride recently was Cannibal Corpse's current "Torture," a twisted and torrential slab that stands with the vet deathsters' best. Interesting that bassist Alex Webster, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, voxster Corpsegrinder Fisher and the gang should be hitting a creative revival at the same time as ex-C.C. throatman Chris Barnes' Six Feet Under. I think it's time for them to make up and tour together. Superdown bill, too, with prognacious metallers Between the Buried and Me and The Faceless, djent founders Periphery, thrash modernists Job for a Cowboy, theatrical spastics Goatwhore and more. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 2:30pm; sold out unless your uncle is Dan Aykroyd; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Sat. July 21 -- Honorary Malian guitarist-singer Leni Stern decided to focus on the songs rather than the arrangements on her current "Sabani," and we got a new flavor of the freshness she always delivers. Tonight's African trio mates Alloune Faye (djembe) and Mamadou Ba (bass) raise up a mini-orchestra of world rhythm -- come early and sit close so you can marvel at the intricacy of Ba's fingerwork, and watch the dance as Stern switches easily from Strat to ngoni, the delicate African stringpluck ax. Her singing and songwriting vibrate the soul from first to last, too. This ain't your daddy's fusion. At the Blue Whale on the third level 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. July 21 -- Volto, Tool drummer Danny Carey's rockin' jam project, has been playing every month here for years. (Because it sells out, so make reservations.) The lineup has changed: In addition to regular guitarist John Ziegler, now you get keysman Jeff Babko from Jimmy Kimmel's show, and bassist Pete Griffin from Zappa Plays Zappa. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. July 22 -- Listen to weird music, eat food, hang with Michael Ned Holte, Catherine Opie and Stephen Prima, and support the artmusic purveyor SASSAS at a Frank Lloyd Wright house for less bux than you might think. Sign up at www.sassas.org.
Mon. July 23 -- Brain Dead (10:30) and Cessation of Life (9:30) are among the metal bands showcased tonight, and their names perfectly express how I feel every time I'm dragged to Citywalk. Howl at the Moon at Citywalk, 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Universal City 91608; $5.
Wed. July 25 -- Start-stop tech deathdudes Severed Savior cap a 10-band metal bill at a venue I haven't been to. Support it, cuz there ain't that many places for heavy forces to rule. At Five Stars Bar, 267 S. Main St., downtown 90012; doors 6pm; $12; (213) 625-1037.
Wed. July 25 -- Vintage Jamaican toaster Prince Jazzbo, backed by L.A.'s Expanders, trances the house. Dub Club at the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 9pm; $15 ($10 before 10pm); www.attheecho.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.