Fri. June 16 – Chamber jazz! On the more classical side, it's the sextet of pianist Nikos Syropoulos' Rozalia (8pm); on the more improvisational side, check out vibraphonist Nick Mancini's star quintet featuring pianist Josh Nelson, violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, cellist Artyom Manukyan and percussionist James Oshizawa. At the E Spot Lounge (formerly Upstairs at Vitello's), 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City 91604; 8pm; $15 plus two-drink minimum; all ages; (818) 769-0905; www.vitellosrestaurant.com.
Fri. June 16 – Follow the spontaneous meditations of trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire's quartet with pianist Sam Harris, bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Jamire Williams. Read my short review of Akinmusire's new live album here. 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.
Fri. June 16 – No wonder it's sold out: Foundational death metal at its technical wildest vomits forth with Florida's Morbid Angel, New York's Suffocation, Boston's Revocation and Atlanta's Withered. Read my blurb of Suffocation's new album here. At the Regent Theater, 448 S. Main St., downtown 90013; 7:30pm; you can still get resale "fan tickets" at the venue site; 18+; www.theregenttheatre.com.
Fri. June 16 – Choreographed Japanese schoolgirl entertainers Babymetal are actually fun, especially when Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul's heavy-partyin' Hellyeah shares the bill. At Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 6:30pm; $50 and up; www.livenation.com; (323) 962-7600.
Fri.-Sun. June 16-18 – Rocking session guitarist Michael Landau fronts his fusion trio with drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and bassist Jimmy Johnson Fri.-Sat. On Sun., Landau teams with singing wife Karen in the spellbinding acoustic unit Hazey Jane (9:30pm); solo guitarist Dustin Curtis Boyer opens (8pm). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25 ($20 Sun.); (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. June 17 – What's Zakk Sabbath? Riptearing Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde doing Sab tunes, what else? One cover band definitely worth catching. Beastmaker opens. At El Rey Theater, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; 9pm; $25; www.theelrey.com.
Sat. June 17 – Damon Zick and Encore Saxophone Quartet interpret the music of Bach, Piazzolla, Gershwin et al. At Brand Library and Art Center, 601 W. Mountain St., Glendale 91210; 2pm; FREE.
Sun. June 18 – Trumpeter Elliott Caine's ensemble bops, swings and bounces. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Sun. June 18 – This year's Reggae Fest is a weird one, with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (talk about roots) backing Ziggy Marley; Brit ska champs The Specials support. You must maintain. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; Fri. 8pm, Sat. 7pm; $23-$125; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Tues.-Wed. June 20-21 – Hot guitarist Julian Coryell and friends play the music of recently deceased fusion icon Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House. Read my capsule review of the Eleventh House's new CD (featuring Julian) here. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. June 21 – Watch live music on TV as legendary drummer Vinnie Colaiuta launches his LiveMuseTV.com with a blazing hour featuring himself plus keyboardist Jeff Babko, bassist Neil Stubenhaus, guitarist Julian Coryell and percussionist Brad Dutz. 2pm; only 8 bucks.
Wed. June 21 – Even if its metal remains not quite as nu, the wigged-out groove unit Korn remains one of my favorite bands of the Zakk-despised '90s era. The melodic Slipknot spinoff Stone Sour opens. At the Forum, 3900 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 90305; 7pm; $24 and way up; www.ticketmaster.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.