Fri. June 9 – Father Amde of the '60s word-jazz revolutionaries Watts Prophets teams up with spirit-singer Dwight Trible and his superb band, featuring pianist John Beasley, bassist John B. Williams, percussionist Derf Reklaw and drummer Paul Lagaspi. Historic. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. June 9 – Hot damn, Angel City Jazz presents windman Vinny Golia, fulcrum of L.A. avantitude, in a trio with monster bassist Steuart Liebig and drummer Tina Raymond. At Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St., downtown 90071; noon; FREE; www.angelcityjazz.com.
Fri.-Sat. June 9-10 – Storied Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander leads his Harlem-Kingston Express, which bops, swings, and jerks like a spicy chicken. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $30-$35; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Fri.-Sat. June 9-10 – When you're offered Mark de Clive-Lowe and guests, you get the keyboardist's modern electronified funky urban groove trance swing and percussive surprises. 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-$20; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri.-Sun. June 9-11 – Vijay Iyer curated this year's Ojai Music Fest with fascinating results: plenty of astringent classical music and avant jazz, with musicians including Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith, George Lewis, Muhal Richard Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell, Nicole Mitchell, Zakir Hussein, Graham Haynes and many others. Check out the lineup here.
Sat. June 10 – Dunkelpek purveys experimental psychedelic improvisations? Cut me a tab. The guitar quartet The Journey of a Hero opens; ask 'em about Bob Dylan, Captain Ahab and Odysseus. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Sat. June 10 – First it's Garretson & Gorodetsky (and windman Vince Meghrouni), pulling original agricultural urban songs from the soil; then it's Non Credo (pictured), abstracting songcraft via the ethereal vocals of Kira Vollman, the multi-instrumental accentuations of Joe Berardi, and the atomic bass-trombone team of Michael & Carlos Alvidrez. At Ark Gallery, 2599 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena 91001; 8:30pm; $10; www.ark-arts.com.
Sat. June 10 – Clean & mean guitar legend Albert Lee cuts the countrybluesetc roots and sings good too. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30-$35; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat.-Sun. June 10-11 – This year's Playboy Jazz Fest gets mighty eclectic with the likes of Marcus Miller, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo', Arturo Sandoval and more (Sat.), and Common, Lalah Hathaway, Kenny Garrett et al. (Sun.). At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 3pm; looks like farther-back seats in the $40 range are what's left; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Sun. June 11 – You'll feel like you're dreaming when L.A. Jazz Quartet (saxist Chuck Manning, guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Darek Oles and drummer Jason Harnell) get into an extended spin. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. June 11 – This looks like a more fusionistic version of the vesatile Josh Nelson keyboard experience, featuring additional keyboardist Jeff Babko (wha, Keith & Chick?), bassist Jimmy Johnson and drummer Aaron Sterling. 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.
Sun. June 11 – Thank the god below that somebody's holding up the metal banner this week, and it might as well be original '80s German thrashers Destruction, plus hardworking L.A. thrash torchbearers Warbringer, with Jungle Rot and Hellbender adding to the negative enjoyment. At the Regent Theater, 448 S. Main St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $23; 18+; www.ticketfly.com.
Tues. June 13 – "Young Caesar" is late microtonal composer Lou Harrison's circa-1970 gamelan-orchestral opera exploring Julius' non-hetero proclivities. Quite the event, with shadow puppetry, singing and further celebration of the Harrison centennial. The artistic director is Yuval Sharon, the conductor is The Indrustry motivator Marc Lowenstein ("Hopscotch," Ornette Coleman's "Skies of America"), and Dionysus is sung by Timur Bobeksunov! A Microfest presentation at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 8pm; sold out, so milk your connections; (323) 850-2000; www.laphil.org.
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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.