Fri. March 18 -- Fusionistic keyboard beatman and remixer Mark de Clive-Lowe propagates his Church concept. 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.
Sat. March 19 -- Notable neomainstream pianist Geoff Keezer anchors a star quartet with stunning bluejazz singer Gillian Margot, percussionist Munyungo Jackson (Miles, Herbie, film, etc.) and bassist Carlitos del Puerto (son of Irakire bassist Carlos). 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.
Sat. March 19 -- Exciting drummer Alphonse Mouzon (Weather Report) drives his all-purpose all-star band. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $20-$30; 8pm & 10pm; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. March 19 -- Deeply steeped pianist Oscar Hernandez wails on the Latin jazz whilst celebrating his birthday with windman Katisse Buckingham, bassist Eddie Reston, drummer Jimmy Branly and percussionist Christian Moraga. In Bar Fedora in vegan restaurant Au Lac, 710 W. First St., downtown 90012 (behind REDCAT); 7:30-11pm; $10-$25 (students $10) plus two-item minimum, reservations advisable at www.saturdaynightjazzdtla.com; $7 underground parking.
Sat. March 19 -- Prog metal doesn't get much more abstract and complex than genre leaders Between the Buried and Me. Support comes from newish Tesseract spinoff Good Tiger, which has a dude singer who sounds like a chick, reminds me of energetic pop metal like Pierce the Veil. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8pm; $35; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Sun. March 20 -- Elliott Caine sure has been distributing his postbop-Latin trumpet a lot; must be cuz folks like to drink to good original jazz with traditional roots. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Sun. March 20 -- All-purpose guitarist Skip Heller and Hollywood Blues Destroyers mix up a swinging bag of danceable chug and horn riffs. Good party music. (Heller also hosts a release event for his new 78 on Thursday at La Luz de Jesus, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., 7pm.) At Piano Bar, 6429 Selma Ave., Hollywood 90028; 8pm; (323) 466-2750.
Mon. March j21 -- Australian atmo trio The Necks exude foggy dream waves for a timeless uninterrupted hour. A great occasion to avoid yelling at your wife about the taxes. 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 & 10:30pm; two $20 sets with separate admission; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Mon. March 21 -- Keyboardist Bill Laurence taps colleagues Michael League (bass) and Robert Searlight (drums) from the Grammy-winning NYC fusion collective Snarky Puppy to bring ya accessible melodic comprov. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8pm; $20; www.jazzbakery.org.
Thurs. March 24 -- One of the first Brit jazz-rock fusioniists, keysman Brian Auger, reconstitutes his Oblivion Express with original singer Alex Ligertwood, plus drummer Karma Auger and bassist Travis Carlton. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25 ; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. March 24 -- Pianist Vardan Ovsepian amplifies his Euroclassical jazz concept with a 14-member strings-and-winds-dominated ensemble featuring local luminaries such as Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (viola), Artyom Manukyan (cello), Jie Ma (pipa), Brian Walsh (bass clarinet) and John Tegmeyer (clarinet). 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.
Thurs. March 24 -- Gruntin', punchin' singer Phil Mogg and Brit hard-rock perennials UFO rarely fail to deliver the meat and potatoes, but last year's "A Conspiracy of Stars" was prime sirloin: Producer Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest's "Painkiller," Thin Lizzy's "Renegade," Anvil's "Forged in Fire") brought back the heavy density, guitarist Vinnie Moore dialed in his dirtiest tones, drummer Andy Parker shoved extra lead into his boots, and Mogg's lyrics pumped more gutterlust than ever. No doubt they'll play "Lights Out" and "Rock Bottom" '79-style, but I really wanna hear the new "Ballad of the Left Hand Gun" and "Devil's in the Detail." (Contrary to the Canyon's web site, "Conspiracy" is UFO's eighth studio album in 20 years, not its first.) Johnny Oskam and Bring Back Royals open. At the Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills 91301; 9pm; $28-$38; (818) 879-5016; www.canyonclub.net.
Thurs. March 24 -- Am I tripping, or do roarin' stoners Black Tusk have a PBR toaster in their video for "Truth Untold"? And it ends with guns-drawn cops yelling for the band to "put the beer down." Genius. Super bill with melodic '70s-influenced hard rockers Holy Grail and doom sludgers Ironaut (not to be confused with Intronaut). At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8:30pm; $15; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.