Fri. July 25 -- Drummer Carl Burnett, who played for many years with the recently departed pianist-composer Horace Silver, pays tribute to his boss with a fully qualified mainstream unit featuring trombonist George Bohanon, pianist Theo Saunders, bassist Henry Franklin and Carl's daughter, singer Dawn Burnett. At Angelus Plaza, 255 S. Hill St., 5th floor dining room, downtown 90012; 2pm; FREE.
Fri. July 25 -- Never accuse modern party-thrashers Municipal Waste of hypocrisy; when they throw a kegger hosted by Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, they'll be quaffin' what they're offerin'. Guitarist Ryan Waste professed deathless PBR allegiance when I interviewed him for Revolver several years back. With heavy local stoners The Shrine, supported by To the Point. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 8pm; $6 with RSVP here; 21+; www.attheecho.com.
Fri.-Sat. July 25-26 -- Bassist Ron Carter made great recordings with Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy and many other giants in addition to his own artistically multislanted slabs; this weekend he pulls together a trio with Nicaraguan pianist Donald Vega and guitarist Russell Malone (Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Cobb but not Jimi Hendrix). R.C.'s a hall-of-famer. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $30-$40; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. July 26 -- For her especially jazzy and subtle new "Here & Here & Here," creative vocalist Anna Homler has teamed with the superstellar ensemble of trombonist Michael Vlatkovich, trumpeter Jeff Kaiser, bassist Scott Walton and drummer Rich West. They're all here tonight, realizing an improbable union of lieder, Italian funeral music, Tuvan throat singing and carefully adapted found objects. Real good. At Automata, 504 Chung King Court, Chinatown 90012; 8 & 10pm; $12; (213) 819-6855; www.automata-la.org.
Sat.-Sun. July 26-27 -- One of the hottest (literally) fests of the year, the Central Avenue Jazz Festival brings to the asphalt the '40s history of the neighborhood, combined with the young & old musicians who keep the tradition alive, plus all the food, crafts & distractions. Saturday's highlights (on three stages) include Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra conductorMichael Session (1:40), jazz classics from Patrice Rushen & Ndugu Chancler (4:10) and standard-bearing tenor man Kamasi Washington (4:50). Sunday features "Mr. Central Avenue" (cuz the singer was there in the day) Ernie Andrews (12:30), trumpeter Dr. Bobby Rodriguez & the Jazz Leaders (3:00) and the big & wild Gerald Wilson Orchestra (5:40), whose roots extend back to the '30s! On Central Avenue between 43rd Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard; full schedule here; www.centralavejazz.org.
Sun. July 27 -- An interesting one: Guitar avanteer Ross Hammond throws together a major band with wailer Dwight Trible, premier Chicago progressive violinist Nicole Mitchell, truthful bassist Trevor Ware and David Ornette Cherry drummer Breeze Smith. Comprov ensues. 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.
Tues. July 29 -- Composer and viola man Miguel Atwood-Ferguson throws his smart massive eclecticism at ya with a modharmonic 17-member ensemble including Zane Musa, Woody Aplanalp, Walter Smith II, Daedelus and Dwight Trible. The closest parallel I can make is George Russell; they don't zackly teach this in school. 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; $20 (you should get advance tix for this one here; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P I n a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. July 30 -- You can't ever crash with Aerosmith; read my late-2012 live review here. And I always thought Slash wished he was playing guitar with the Aerodudes; now he sorta is. At the Forum, 3900 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 90305; 7:30pm; $65-$175; www.ticketmaster.com.
Thurs. July 31 -- Double Naught Spy Car (10pm) wrap up their month of distorted lap-steel madness along with early-'80s art-popsters Trotsky Icepick (9pm; hey, Vitus) and Small Wigs (11pm). At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 8pm; $10; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Brick is spreading the word about the Route 66 Linear Music Festival, where bands (any band) play anywhere along the fabled Bobby Troup highway from July 25 to August 6, and stream the gigs live on the ünterweb. Find out about it here.
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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.