Fri.-Sun. May 15-17 -- Five years after Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer, the operatic Elf-Rainbow-Black Sabbath-Dio-Heaven & Hell singer receives a three-day tribute in his chosen home metropolis. Friday evening at Pinz in Studio City, you can raise funds for the Dio Cancer Fund by bowling or spectating along with Jack Black, Steven Adler, Tom Morello, Rudy Sarzo, Bob Kulick, Chris Broderick, Eddie Trunk and many more. Saturday from 1-5pm at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, listen to words and music from players and friends who loved RJD. Sunday morning at Glendale Harley Davidson, join the "Ride for Ronnie" motorcycle caravan, which culminates in an all-afternoon barbecue in Encino (also open to non-riders). These events may fill up, so avoid unseemly fistfights by procuring advance tickets/reservations here. Or just donate to the Cancer Fund and spend the weekend listening to Dio's recorded legacy, which is pretty damn staggering; selecting only the official releases, you could log at least 30 hours without a repeat.
Fri.-Sun. May 15-17 -- Michael Landau, a guitarist of polished heft, precision and tone, hogs the weekend with his fusionistic Trio (Fri.-Sat.) and in a benefit to combat cystic fibosis with the ominously muted folk of Karen Landau's Hazey Jane (Sun.). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. May 16 -- Atomic Sherpas blast their hard-edged bluesjazzy funk, with Meco Cardovas (Joe Baiza & co. play the Meters etc.), Hookah, Slim Zwerling. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 8pm; $5; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Sat. May 16 -- Long an exponent of Cuban music, windwoman Jane Bunnet joins Maqueque, an all-female, all-Cuban ensemble of rhythm enthusiasts. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8:30pm; $30 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Mon. May 18 -- Great to have Motoko Honda back in town for a minute to rouse all those scientific, emotional, inspirational and electronified sounds out of her piano with Emily Hay (creative exploder of your preconceptions about flute and vocalizing) and woodwind extrapolator Biggi Vinkeloe in a trio they're calling Mooncake. Opening is the multi-instrumental duo of Kelly Coats and Kathleen Kim, a.k.a. Shekhan. Highly recommended. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. May 21 -- Veteran David Torn (who's played tasteful, textural electric guitar with David Bowie, Tim Berne, Don Cherry and many others) is one dude who can keep you riveted all by himself, with the aid of his loopers and stomp boxes of course. 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 (I'm guessing); 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.