Fri. July 4 -- Rickey Woodard, a mainstream saxist with a History (Frank, Ella, Clayton-Hamilton), fronts a sextet. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Sat. July 5 -- Tenor man with Slumgum, bassist with Daniel Rosenboom, Jon Armstrong is celebrating the release of his own damn album to focus on his particular vision of manly semifusionistic adventure with a 20-member Orchestra featuring Mr. Rosenboom, Gavin Templeton, Randy Gloss and Alexander Noice. 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. July 5 -- Not the strongest Mayhem Fest lineup I've ever seen, but you do get Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Cannibal Corpse, Ice-T's revised Body Count and lots more. At San Manuel Amphitheater, 2575 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino 92407; 1pm; $25-$314; (909) 880-6500; www.livenation.com.
Sun. July 6 -- Dodge a hailstorm of rattles & pings from legendary percussionist Andrea Centazzo, windman Charles Sharp and bassist Jeff Schwartz, herein dubbed Next. (Last time I saw Centazzo, Matt Groening was in the audience.) Opening is the avantian acronymic trio of guitarist Duane Allen, saxist Dave Goldberg and drummer Alan Cook, a.k.a. Algoco. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Tues. July 8 -- I forget, is Kiss retiring again? Whatever, if they don't entertain you, you don't like rock. Melodic-metal kings Def Leppard display the elemental slant on arena rock with which they blew up the '80s; Kobra and The Lotus support. At the Forum, 3900 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 90305; 7pm; $45-$600; www.ticketmaster.com.
Tues. July 8 -- Greek symphonic metalmen Septicflesh go epic on yer ass with the speedier, more death-minded Italians Fleshgod Apocalypse, plus Hour of Penance, Necronomicon. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 6pm; $32; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Wed. July 9 -- Sensitive pianist Alan Pasqua pays tribute to the man who influenced most everybody, Horace Silver, who passed a couple of weeks ago; saxist Greg Johnson, trumpeter Jonathon Dan, bassist Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu and drummer Andrew Boyle tune in to the spirit. 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.
Wed. July 9 -- Guitarist Adam Ratner & Friends perform tunes composed by or associated with our beloved bassist Charlie Haden; the Friends are trombonist Vikram Devasthali, pianist Nikos Syropoulos, bassist Martin Nevin and drummer Matt Mayhall. At Curve Line Space Gallery, 1577 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 8pm; $10.
Thurs. July 10 -- Double Naught Spy Car, craziest instrumental band this side of Souza, plays NELA every Thursday this month; mark yer calendar. Spy Car at 10pm; Corima opens at 9pm; Traps PSat 11pm. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; $10; beer & wine; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
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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.