Fri. Apr. 17 -- Hover with all the other guitar geeks while veteran Albert Lee executes all his famous country, jazz & rock licks with an all-singin' band featuring keyboardist JT Thomas, bassist Will MacGregor and drummer Jason Smith. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $35 & $30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. Apr. 17 -- The trio of cellist Jacob Szekely plays something like fusion cuz of the unusual accents and the groove consciousness, but he's fusing not just rock but Eastern European music and a hint of classical and hoedown and just about everything he's ever heard, not neglecting lullaby and pastorality. Ain't no ho-hum stuff. At Alva’s Show Room, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro 90732; 8pm; $20; www.alvasshowroom.com; (800) 403-3447. Also see Mon.
Sat. Apr. 18 -- "Acid guitarist" Rafael Moreira rips the caustic melodies with trio mates Travis Carlton (bass) and Chaun Horton (drums). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Apr. 18 -- You don't need a lecture on Central Avenue jazz when you can hear Barbara Morrison sing the vintage tux & gown blues. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $25; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sun. Apr. 19 -- Just as Tony Harnell is being announced as the latest singer of Skid Row, original Skid screamer Sebastian Bach will be onstage singing their hits such as "18 and Life" and "Slave to the Grind." The great thing about Baz, though, is that he has continued to evolve and can churn out some very rad solo material from the last decade while tossing his microphone higher than any other front man in the biz. Super entertainer. With Remains of Giants. At the Saban Theater, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills 90211; 8pm; $57-$68; www.ticketmaster.com.
Mon. Apr. 20 -- Jacob Szekely. See Friday. 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.
Tues.-Thurs. Apr. 21-23 -- Kneebody can claim to be one of the few units still finding ways to expand the horizons of electronified jazz, and people even like them. 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 might want to get advance tix for this one); 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. Apr. 22 -- Cellist Artyom Manukyan has been making the rounds with a lot of the best locals, which has enabled him to collect an excellent quartet of adventurers: keyboardist Vardan Ovsepian, bassist Dave Robaire and prisoner-killin' drummer Gene Coye. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Apr. 22 -- In the mid-'70s, when roots reggae was just beginning to make international waves, Black Slate formed in England and backed a lot of the touring Jamaicans while piling up a few of their own recordings. They are here! With DJ Boss Harmony and MCs Jah Faith, Ras Benji and special guests. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 9pm; $10; 21+; www.attheecho.com.
Thurs. Apr. 23 -- The Nick Mancini Quartet with pianist Gary Fukushima will probably mix standards with the vibraphonist's attractive semitraditional compositions in Herb Alpert's swank supper club. At Vibrato Grill, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, way up the canyon in Bel Air 90077; (310) 474-9400; 6:30-10:30pm; how much you spend depends on whether you sit at a table or in the bar; www.vibratogrilljazz.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.