Fri. March 29 -- Dwight Trible, the singer with the connection to Egyptian gods and African skies, celebrates his birthday with a groovitudinous quartet featuring Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (viola), Kenneth Crouch (piano), Trevor Ware (bass) and Paul Lagaspi (drums). Special guests, too. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. March 29 -- Master saxist Kim Richmond leads a 24-piece band in tribute to the innovative leader-arranger and Duke aficionado Stan Kenton. The ensemble, including familiar appropriate names such as Joey Sellers (trombone), Steve Huffsteter (trumpet) and Bill Roper (tuba), leans toward the modernistic classical colorations of the Kenton repertoire; famed flutist Hubert Laws is the guest soloist. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20 (students $16); www.redcat.org.
Fri.-Sat. March 29-30 -- Big-rolling tenor man Azar Lawrence climbs back in the saddle with his seasoned unit, drummer Alphonse Mouzon, bassist Henry Franklin and pianist Theo Saunders, with polished trumpeter Nolan Shaheed providing foilsmanship. It's 1965 all over again, so mark your calendars for ensuing weekends showcasing this regular gig. At the RG Club, 2536 Lincoln Blvd., Venice 90291; 9 & 11pm; $15; (310) 822-1715; rgclubvenice.com.
Sat. March 30 -- Classic songwriter-pianist Van Dyke Parks and Bird & Bee singer Inara George open for Parks' fave musician lately, New Orleans pianist Tom McDermott. At McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; 8pm (sold out) & 10pm; $20; (310) 828-4497; www.mccabes.com.
Sat. March 30 -- Superbassist Mark Dresser interlinks with yet more international stars in the Rez Abbasi Trio, featuring the sensitive snakecharmer guitarist plus out-leaning drummer Satoshi Takeishi (Erik Friedlander, Anthony Braxton). 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. March 30 -- Lookin for bluesy thud with a proggy pedigree? Try Adrenaline Mob, staffed by Russell Allen (Symphony X), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), John Moyer (Disturbed) and Mike Orlando (Sonic Stomp). With Nothing More, Faded Sun, KillSet, BlackMore (from Missouri, y'all). At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7:30pm; $15; (310) 278-9457; www.ticketmaster.com.
Tues. April 2 -- Jan Zehrfeld musters the sprung, multireferential, heavy progressive sax & guitars assault of Germany's Panzerballett, whose show at this venue I reviewed a year and a half ago. Fun stuff. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. April 4 -- The twin guitars & gruff vox are bound to make Pasadena's Gypsyhawk give ya Thin Lizzy flashes, and these highly proficient retromen make no bones about the classic-rock link, despite recording for Metal Blade Records and hewing to a metal album-art aesthetic. (Hey, they were founded by a dude from Skeletonwitch.) Walls are crumbling. With Mothership, Future Villains, King Weasel. At the Joint, 8771 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 90035; 10:30pm; $12; (310) 275-2619; www.thejointlive.com. [Photo by Jennie Ross for Metal Blade.]
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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.