Fri.-Sun. Aug. 26-28 -- Patriarch of jazz guitar Kenny Burrell leads an absolutely authentic mainstream quintet. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm (7:30 Sun.); $27-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Aug. 27 -- Voice of the ancestors Dwight Trible fronts a superb grooveroll outfit: flutist-vocalist Maia, Grandmothers drummer Christopher Garcia and Spaceways percussionist Carlos Niño, plus special guests bigtime bassist John B. Williams and Leimert Park percussion mainstay Derf Reklaw. At the NEW World Stage (across the street from the old one), 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9 & 10:30pm; $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. Aug. 27 -- Weather Report drummer Alphonse Mouzon presents his spirited tribute to John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter with his all-star band: saxist Ernie Watts, pianist Mahesh Balasooriya and bassist Jeff Littleton. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $20-$30 (avoid sellout and get cheaper tix here); 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. Aug. 27 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's band serves meat & potatoes jazz, ideal for this steakhouse venue. Or the other way around. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sun. Aug. 28 -- Vibesman-marimbaman-percussionist Brad Dutz dangles strange lines while ghost rhythms and alien harmonies haunt your pancreas via his chamber quartet featuring cellist Maggie Parkins, oboist Paul Sherman and clarinetist Brian Walsh. 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.
Sun. Aug. 28 -- A rare revival of a pathblazing SoCal multicultural zonk unit: Continuum, featuring bassist Alfred Garcia, drummer Christopher Garcia, keyboardist Craig Ochikubo and recently added windman Andrew Pask. Have lunch by the docks and drift in. At Alva’s Show Room, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro 90732; 4pm; $20; www.alvasshowroom.com; (800) 403-3447, reservations suggested.
Sun. Aug. 28 -- Director Eric Sherman made the rarely seen one-hour doc "Charles Lloyd -- Journey Within" in 1969, good timing since Lloyd was about to disappear from his jazz career at the peak of his popularity. The film includes music by the quartet of Lloyd, Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette and Ron McClure documented in the live album of the same name. You can't get this on DVD, folks. At Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice 90291; Sherman interviewed by Gerry Fialka 7pm; screening 8:30pm; FREE; (310) 822-3006; www.beyondbaroque.org.
Sun. Aug. 28 -- Plug in all your weird boxes and jam abstractionally with sound artists like Joe Potts at SASSAS's "Soundshoppe." At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; FREE; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. Aug. 28 -- Can stoners drive hard & tight? Yup, to hear Jersey rockers The Atomic Bitchwax tell it, and they've got decades of practice. With Dirty Streets, Lo-Pan. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $12; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Mon. Aug. 29 -- Los Angeles Jazz Collective do their residence with a vengeance. First set is the duo of singer Kathleen Grace and bassist Darek Oles; second set is trombonist Nick Grinder, pianist Gary Fukushima, bassist Emilio Terranova and drummer Brijesh Pandya. 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. Aug. 30 -- Scoop up yer sludgy texture and space float with Mars Red Sky. Support from Family, All Souls. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $12; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Thurs. Sept. 1 -- Lauded pianist John Beasley's Monk'estra returns from performances before the crowned heads of New York. 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.
Thurs. Sept. 1 -- Sold out unless you know God: The B.B. King tribute featuring Joe Bonamassa, Keb' Mo', Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Slash (does he have to be in everything?), Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Jimmy Vaughan et al. At the Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245, downtown 90015; 8pm; (213) 765-6800; www.grammymuseum.org; www.ticketmaster.com.
RIP: Rudy Van Gelder, the recording engineer who caught the feel of jazz from the 1940s onward, starting in his parents' living room. No one has ever done it as well.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.