Dates with * represent events in Angel City Jazz Festival.
* Fri. Sept. 25 -- The J-BAC Quartet, winner of Angel City Jazz Fest's Young Artist competition, opens for the septet of multi-stylistic modern composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (on five-string violin this time); his group includes vibesman Nick Mancini, guitarist Marcel Camargo, keyboardist Sam Barsh, bassist Benjamin Shepherd, drummer Jamire Williams and percussionist Carlos Niño. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. Sept. 25 -- Trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom leads his well-seasoned, edge-pushing jazz-rock quintet with saxist Gavin Templeton, guitarist Alexander Noice, umpty-stringed bass/guitarist Kai Kurosawa and drummer Dan Schnelle. 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.
Fri. Sept. 25 -- Elevational saxist Azar Lawrence blows hard with his toppermost regular band: pianist Theo Saunders, bassist Henry Franklin and drummer Alphonse Mouzon (10pm). Later it's Rob Garland's Eclectic Trio (11:20pm) and Nic Maldonado (12:25pm). At the Mint, 6010 Pico Blvd., LA 90035; 10pm; $12-$17; (323) 954-9400; www.themintla.com.
Fri. Sept. 25 -- Ukrainian folklorists DakhaBrakha yelp and rock acoustically; Tuvan throat singers Huun-Huur-Tu drone and wheedle. A CAP presentation at UCLA's Royce Hall; 8pm; $19-$49; www.cap.ucla.edu.
Fri. Sept. 25 -- Ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch shreds heavy with Lynch Mob. With Seven Reasons Why, Dioxide, Brittany's Rage, Raven's Cry, The Lost Ctrl, Sausage Slapper. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
* Sat. Sept. 26 -- Bay Aria bassist-composer Lisa Mezzacappa presents a big ol' comprovisational assault she calls Glorious Ravage (featuring flutist Nicole Mitchell, trombonist Michael Dessen, percussionist Kjell Nordeson, bassist Mark Dresser, windman Vinny Golia, pianist Myra Melford and several more) to accompany the screening of art films. Then superbassist Mark Dresser forms a gnarly quintet with the first three of those folks plus pianist Michael White. Git yer avant on. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8pm; $25 (students $20); www.redcat.org.
Sat. Sept. 26 -- Swiss folk-metalists Eluveitie form a strong alliance with semimelodic Canadian crunchers The Agonist (new singer Vicky Psarakis is working out fine), plus Martina Edoff. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $28; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Sat.-Sun. Sept. 26-27 -- The Watts Towers Jazz Fest takes over the pavement for two days. Saturday is the Day of the Drum, closing with Michael White (4pm). Sunday is the Jazz Fest, highlighted by Phil Ranelin (1:30pm) and closing with JMP All-Stars (Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler, Bobby Rodriguez, Munyungo Jackson, Nedra Wheeler and Justo Almario, 3:30 pm). At Simon Rodia's Watts Towers, 1727 E. 107th St., Watts 90002; 10am-6pm; FREE; www.wattstowers.org.
Sun. Sept. 27 -- Mezcla Muzik (Christopher Garcia and Jeronimo Jxel Rajchenberg) celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a stageful of indigenous instruments. Fascinating stuff. At Alva’s Show Room, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro 90732; 4pm; $20; www.alvasshowroom.com; (800) 403-3447.
Sun. Sept. 27 -- SASSAS presents Fluxus artist and composer Yoshi Wada and son Tashi Wada, going way electronic with music designed to accompany high viewing. Stay for the sunset. And the lunar eclipse, maybe. At the Baldwin Hills Scenic Outlook, 6300 Hetzler Road, Culver City 90232; 5pm; FREE; www.sassas.org.
Sun. Sept. 27 -- Reggae till you catch a fire: Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Stephen "Ragga" Marley, Super Cat, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley, plus special guests Jo Mersa, Black Am I, Skip Marley, Jemere Morgan. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 5:30pm; $36-$61; www.greektheatrela.com.
Mon. Sept. 28 -- Drummer Phil Rudd got busted, replaced by longtime stand-in Chris Slade. Rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young retired, replaced by nephew Stevie. AC/DC still means Angus Young, Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams rocking the huge hits outdoors on a warm summer night. Sounds good to me. At Dodger Stadium; 8pm; sold out except for opportunities provided by guys who make more money than you.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- Hell of a metal bill. Even if Soulfly's new "Archangel" (dig the creative soundscape of the title track) is thrashier and a bit less deft than 2013's "Savages," Alex Cavalera and his gang always stir up a body-flattening storm of Brazilian jungle rhythm. With above-average metalcore from German vets Soilwork, brilliantly composed/condensed death from Poland's Decapitated, and Shattered Sun. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $25; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- Ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman is in town; maybe he should jam with ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland and ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza (below). And I see that Megadeth itself is between tours and probably in SoCal, so maybe 'dethmen Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson should join the jam. Or maybe they could all jam with Soulfly (above), with whom Ellefson used to play. IT'S ALL ON ONE NIGHT! I have such brilliant ideas; why doesn't anybody listen? Plus Ex Mortus, State Line Empire, Salems Lott. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8pm; $20; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- Step up for Chris Poland and slippery fusionists Ohm, featuring bassist Rob Pagliari and drummer Nick Menza. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- Portland thrash vets Toxic Holocaust head a solid bill with Lord Dying and Witchaven. At the Black Castle, 855 W. Manchester Ave., LA 90044; 9pm; $12; bar; all ages.
* Thurs. Oct. 1 -- Romanian-American pianist Lucian Ban teams with avant violinist Mat Maneri for Eurofolkjazzish originality; closing are saxist Jason Mears, trumpeter Kris Tiner, bassist Ivan Johnson and drummer Paul Kikuchi, a.k.a. L.A.'s great MTKJ or Empty Cage, who play an intriguing kind of upside-down contrapuntal jazz. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Angel City Jazz Festival has a couple of weekends to go with Yosvany Terrry (10/2), Ambrose Akinmusire/Motoko Honda (10/3), Jon Armstrong (10/9), John Beasley (10/10) and Alex Cline (10/11). Grab details and tix here.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.