Fri. July 11 -- Original guitarist Page Hamilton and Helmet play the band's entire breakthrough album "Betty" and other crunchy, tortuous hits to celebrate the record's 20th anniversary. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8:30pm; sold out except for the usual back-alley options; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Fri.-Sat. July 11-12 -- Drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath (Trane, Dex, Yusef, many others) has been showing quite a bent for alliances with younger generations; here he puts together an all-star Tootie's Tempo with pianist Ethan Iverson (The Bad Plus) and bassist Ben Street (Billy Hart, Sam Rivers). 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; $25; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri.-Sat. July 11-12 -- Wayback guitarist Albert Lee displays the country-bluegrass side of his univerally acclaimed pickin'. At McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; 8pm; $24.50; (310) 828-4497; www.mccabes.com.
Sat. July 12 -- Azar Lawrence, a saxist steeped in '60s Africanations, celebrates the release of his new "The Seeker" with a killin' quintet featuring pianist Benito Gonzalez, trumpeter Brian Swartz, classic drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith and bassist Jeff Littleton. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $15; 9pm-1am; (949) 680-5705; www.seabirdjazzlounge.com.
Sat. July 12 -- Ain't many drummers who lead their own fusion groups, but Virgil Donati (Allan Holdsworth, Planet X) rules with his nonpareil chops and rhythmic complexity. His Super Allstars are guitarist André Nieri, bassist Anthony Crawford and keyboardist Isamu McGregor. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. July 12 -- Treat yerself to a steak and a helping of hearty original post-bebop with trumpeter Elliott Caine's quartet: pianist Rick Olson, bassist Bill Markus and drummer Kenny Elliott. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat. July 12 -- Electronic-music pioneer Mark Trayle conjures "sonic illusions" via multichannel performance as part of Robert Swain's "The Form of Color" installation. A SASSAS presentation at The Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica 90404; 3pm; free with your $5 admission ticket; www.sassas.org.
Sun. July 13 -- Don't be a'skeered, join Joe Potts and a bunch of other pros and ams in jamming on electronic instruments. Or just listen. A SASSAS Soundshoppe presentation at Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; free; www.sassas.org.
Sun. July 13 -- Great chance to see jazz-guitar forefather Kenny Burrell in an intimate setting, first going solo (a rare event), then fronting a wonderful trio with bassist Roberto Miranda and drummer Don Littleton, longtime vets of the South L.A. scene and colleagues in Burrell's efforts in the UCLA Jazz Department. Extra treat: Between sets, the knowledgeable Jeffrey Winston conducts an interview with Burrell, whose history encompasses albums with Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson and a zillion others. At the Mayme Clayton Museum, 4130 Overland Ave., Culver City 90230; 2pm; $20 tickets here; limited seating; (310) 202-1647.
Sun. July 13 -- The excellent composer and trombonist Joey Sellers, long a professor at Saddleback College, focuses on an innovative and technically amazing electro-enhanced duo with another trombonist, Ryan Dragon. 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.
Wed. July 16 -- Dancehall legend Josey Wales and singer Tippa Lee take over the microphone; ace reggae DJ Tom Chasteen spins the discs. What more do you want? Dub Club at the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 9pm; $15; 21+; www.attheecho.com.
Thurs. July 17 -- The roots of South Los Angeles continue to grow with the true-toned sax of Kamasi Washington & Teebs Band. A Dublab presentation at Levitt Pavilion, 30 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91103; 8pm; FREE; (626) 683-3230; www.levittpavilionpasadena.org.
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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.