Fri.-Sat. June 10-11 -- Notorious Whitesnake/Black Star Riders bassist Marco Mendoza reunites his fusion unit El Trio, with drummer Joey Heredia and keyboardist Renato Neto. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri.-Sun. June 10-12 -- Memphis/Chicago postbop piano vet Harold Mabern forms an exciting trio featuring Trane foil, spiritjazz perennial and Bernie's father Pharoah Sanders. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $30-$35; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Fri.-Sun. June 10-12 -- Directed by Peter Sellars, this year's Ojai Music Festival posts an intriguing femme-focused lineup ranging from the compositions of electronic-music pioneer Pauline Oliveros to the sensual modernities of Carla Kihlstedt. Check the full slate here.
Sat. June 11 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine lives in the present while keeping a foot in the Blue Note past. Lounge music of a higher order. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat.-Sun. June 11-12 -- Catch rays and absorb Cali vibes at the Playboy Jazz Festival with rosters including among others Jon Batiste, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman (that's one act) and John Beasley (Sat.), and Pete Escovedo, Fourplay, Robert Cray, Javon Jackson and Christian Scott (Sun.). Bill Cosby will not be hosting this year. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 3pm; $20 & way up; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Sun. June 12 -- Neither avant nor quite mainstream, Joeless Shoe slide into an appealing original zone with saxist Matt Otto, guitarist Jamie Rosen and drummer Jason Harnell. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. June 12 -- The adventurous Brilliant Strings series presents tap/slap acoustic guitarist Goh Kurosawa, Japanese vocalist Naomi, percussionist James Beauton and live painter Pete Morris. At MorYork Gallery, 4959 York Blvd., Eagle Rock 90042; 3pm; free but donations accepted.
Mon. June 13 -- Guitar legend Kenny Burrell's L.A. Jazz Orchestra Unlimited presents top musicians playing standards and creative originals. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Wed. June 15 -- L.A. avant vader Vinny Golia joins his many woodwinds with vocalist Molly Pease, trumpeter Ethan Marks, trombonist Corey Hoeben, guitarist Alex Noice, bassist Miller Wren and drummer Nick Hon, cuz he always needs a new generation of musicians bold enough to play his gnarly compositions. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Wed. June 15 -- Reconstituted California keys-accented black-metal weathermen Winds of Plague roil it up with Rings of Saturn, Enterprise Earth, Transcend the Realm, Witness the Fallacy, Gone but Not Forgotten, Fix Our Eyes. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Wed. June 15 -- Envision dark witchery with femme-fronted Ides of Gemini; contemplate the void with doomrollers Alaric. Plus Deth Crux. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; 10:30pm; $10; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Thurs. June 16 -- 50 years ago, if somebody told me Bob Dylan would ever do a Frank Sinatra tribute album, I'd have punched him. Now it seems perfectly natural, and Zimmy pulls it off beautifully, as he does most everything. With Mavis Staples, one of gospel soul's foremost royalties. At the Shrine Auditorium, 665 W. Jefferson Blvd., downtown 90007; 7:30pm; $50-$155; all ages; www.axs.com.
Thurs. June 16 -- For jazzrock fusion with the accent on the second syllable, consult Cosmosquad with guitarist Jeff Kollman, bassist Ric Fierabracci and drummer Shane Gaalaas (tap Shane for a copy of his wild & heavy new prog album, "Bitter Suites From the Red Room"). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.