Fri.-Sat. March 27-28 -- An example of the Whale's ability to bring in major jazzfolk where you can get close enough to drool on 'em: Chris Potter's Underground, featuring the hard-thinking sax twister (Dave Holland, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas) plus guitarist Adam Rogers, bassist Fima Ephron and drummer Nate Smith. 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; $30 here (recommended), $35 at the door (if any are left); 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. March 28 -- Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko has pierced the heart of California audiences with his lean melancholy; his star New York Quartet includes keyboardist David Virelles, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gerald Cleaver. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at the Kirk Douglas Theater, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $30 (add $20 for each student); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. March 28 -- Saxist Azar Lawrence played in a McCoy Tyner quartet way back in the '70s, and he's assembled two other quartetmates, drummer Alphonse Mouzon and bassist Juini Booth, to load up a torrential Tyner tribute quintet also featuring regular Azar conscripts Theo Saunders (piano) and Henry Franklin (bass). Super idea. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $15; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sun. March 28 -- Africanacious earth & sky singer Dwight Trible celebrates his birthday with a quartet of masters: pianist John Beasley, bassist Trevor Ware and drummer Paul Lagaspi. Gonna groove. With special guests Alternate Angles. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. March 28 -- Words. Music. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Join the discussion with avantians Brainchildren of Xenog (bassist Mike Alvidrez, drummer Brian Christopherson, cornetist Dan Clucas and windman Vince Meghrouni), metaphorical musical folklorists Garretson & Gorodetsky, language manipulator Christine Wertheim, stalwart L.A. poet Doug Knott and solo bassist-vocalist Mizz Absurd. At Art Share, 801 E. Fourth Pl., downtown 90013; 8pm; $5; free parking across the street at 321 S. Hewitt; (213) 687-4278; www.artsharela.org.
Sun. March 28 -- I ain't shutting up yet about The Title Trackers, reverently absurd classic-rock parodists whose composition "Full Moon Fever" (with deep bows to Tom Petty) has gone to my head since I reviewed their Rolling Tracker Revue show a week or two ago. Tonight, though, is their full-on, full-band official concert celebrating the release of their VINYL LP, and their set will be preceded and followed by high-concept interactive partying, so come early, stay late. At the Satellite, 1717 Silverlake Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; doors 8pm, concert 8:30pm; $12; (323) 662-7728; www.thesatellitela.com.
Mon. March 30 -- Fathom Events and Rhino present "Led Zeppelin," a film collecting great Zep performances from 1973 to 1981. Hope it's loud enough. At the AMC Burbank 16 and the AMC Universal Citywalk 19; both 7:30pm; both $12.50.
Thurs. April 2 -- Bay Area melodic thrashers Testament have been on an artistic roll; 2012's "Dark Roots of Earth" maintains the high level set by 2008's "The Formation of Damnation"; there's another slab in the pipeline; and they keep on tourin', showcasing the massive presence of singer Chuck Billy and the rad guitar of Alex Skolnick. The old-school Bay reunion also features Exodus (from whom Metallica stole Kirk Hammett), plus Texas Latino metalmen Shattered Sun. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 6pm; $40; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Thurs. April 2 -- One of the nicer surprises I've experienced in the last few months was the team-up album of Stryper singer Michael Sweet and Dokken guitarist George Lynch: well-wrought songs and balls-out performances. No Lynch here, but Sweet owns one of the more distinctive and technically awesome voices in the rarefied world of pop-metal, and the same can be said of tonight's billmate Mike Tramp of White Lion. With Soloman Grundy, D.M.K., Moonlight Gram, Nicholas Alan, Logan Somers. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.