Fri. Sept. 23 -- Ultra-refined drummer Peter Erskine is Dr. Um, teaming with major pianist John Beasley, perfect saxist Bob Sheppard and bassist Benjamin Shepherd for a sound he says harks back to his Weather Report days. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. Sept. 23 -- Phil Ranelin gets that sensual Motown trombone into the corners of jazz & Latin experience with his exceptional band: pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, bassist Tony Dumas, drummer Don Littleton, windman Pablo Calogero, and tenorist Aaron Shaw. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. Sept. 23 -- In duo, well-established mainstreamish (but with twists) pianist Geoff Keezer renews his fertile alliance with award-winning vibraphonist Joe Locke. 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. Sept. 24 -- Explosive drummer Alphonse Mouzon covers every base with his swingable quartet featuring saxist Brandon Fields, pianist Tateng Katindig and bassist Bruce Lett. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $20-$30; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. Sept. 24 -- Elliott Caine plays trumpet; you relax and imagine you're in 1959 New York. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat.-Sun. Sept. 24-25 -- Ozzfest meets Knotfest, lawd amighty. At Saturday's Ozzfest you get Black Sabbath (pondered by Burk this week), Disturbed, Megadeth, Opeth, Black Label Society, DevilDriver, Municipal Waste and a bunch more top metal smelters. Sunday's Knotfest brings Slipknot, Slayer, Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Trivium, Sabaton and your sulky nephew. At San Manuel Amphitheater, 2575 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino 92407; noon until late; $30-$300; (909) 880-6500; www.livenation.com.
Mon. Sept. 26 -- The L.A. Jazz Collective shows its stuff in a bargain twofer. Pianist Richard Sears expands his conceptual and coloristic ambitions with his new "Altadena," tonight extrapolated via a unit featuring Hall of Fame drummer Tootie Heath and bassist Garret Lang. You get further California acceleration from pianist Cathlene Pineda's "Passing" suite, interpreted by star locals Kris Tiner (trumpet), David Tranchina (bass) and Tina Raymond (drums). 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. 29 -- Bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Paul Gilbert make Mr. Big one of those circa-1990 pop-metal bands before which musicians kneel. With Last Day Rising. At the Rose, 245 E. Green St., Pasadena 91101; doors 7pm; (888) 645-5006; $35-$65; www.roseconcerts.com.
Thurs. Sept. 29 -- Spare, twangy & out-leaning guitarist Marc Ribot (John Zorn, Tom Waits) improvises a score to Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid." Fun. At FigAt7th, 735 S. Figueroa St., downtown 90017; happy hour 5:30pm, bar & DJ 7pm, film & music 8pm; FREE ('cept for booze & food); www.figat7th.com.
Thurs. Sept. 29 -- Elliott Caine. Blue Guitar Club at Arroyo Seco Golf Course, 1055 Lohman Lane, South Pasadena 91030; 7:30pm (two sets); (323) 769-3500; $10-$15; www.blueguitar.club.
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Sept. 30-Oct. 16 -- The headshock you've been waiting for is practically now: Angel City Jazz Festival, featuring Pharoah Sanders, Gurrisonic Orchestra (rocking Ornette Coleman's "Skies of America" and a new commissioned work), Rudresh Mahanthappa, Vinny Golia, Craig Taborn, Thumbscrew and lots more. This fest has a percolating, almost secret atmosphere like no other; buy tickets here.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.