Fri. March 24 -- Drummer Kendrick Scott cools and modernizes without sterilizing, here with bassist Joshua Crumbly, saxist John Ellis, guitarist Mike Moreno and pianist Taylor Eigsti. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8pm; $35 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. March 25 -- Expanding on what he's done with Glenn Hughes, Tony Iommi, Bob Dylan, Chickenfoot and practically everybody, Kenny Aronoff applies his big foot and big feel to fusion. The core is bassist James LoMenzo and guitarist Brent Woods, with special guests Stephen Perkins, Devon Pangel and Chaz West. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30 & $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. March 25 -- Larry Coryell tribute. No info yet as to who's appreciating the recently deceased fusion guitar giant, but I trust Joon's bookings. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. March 26 -- Saxist Azar Lawrence, West Coast carrier of the Trane tradition, carries on with his phenomenal quartet featuring pianist Theo Saunders, bassist Franklin and drummer Tony Austin. At the Mayme Clayton Museum, 4130 Overland Ave., Culver City 90230; interview with Jeffrey Winston 1pm, music 2pm; $20 tickets here; limited seating; (310) 202-1647.
Sun. March 26 -- Meters familymen Ivan Neville (keys) and Ian Neville (guitar) dredge it deep with their New Orleans project Dumpstaphunk. GrooveSession opens. At the Mint, 6010 Pico Blvd., LA 90035; doors 7pm, headliner 10pm; $28; (323) 954-9400; www.themintla.com.
Tues. March 28 -- Femme-fronted Belgian black-metalers Oathbreaker shriek & churn; add almost folky Wishbone Ash-style vocals to 60-weight sludge, and you get Denver's Khemmis. With Jay Jayle. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8pm; $15; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Wed. March 29 -- Drummer Tony Hajjar of At the Drive In presents poppy harmonies and reggae tinges via tuff-rockin New Language. Japanese metalpunkers Sand dump primitive oompah. With And We Are Them. At the Satellite, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; 9pm; $12; 21+; (323) 661-4380; www.thesatellitela.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.