Fri. July 28 – Composer-violinist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson presents Les Jardins Mystiques, original Afro-rooted jazz featuring some of the best South L.A. musicians, including windman Josh Johnson, pianist Jamael Dean, drummer Jamire Williams and percussionist Carlos Niño. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9 & 10:30pm; $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. July 29 –Feel the joy: Music director Dexter Story presents "Mothership Landing: Funk and the Afrofuturist Universe of '77," wherein many instrumentalists and singers pay tribute to the metaphorical and bootiphysical legacy of George Clinton and Sun Ra. At Grand Performances in California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90071; 8pm; FREE; www.grandperformances.org.
Sat. July 29 – Trumpeter Elliott Caine and his jazz travelers drop by 1960 on their way to the bar. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat. July 29 – Metallica, dude. Read my review of last year's "Hardwired" here. With Cali modern biggies Avenged Sevenfold, plus either French plodders Gojira or Danish heavy rockers Volbeat or both, I can't tell from Live Nation's website. At the Rose Bowl, Pasadena; 6pm; $135-$235; www.livenation.com.
LATE ADD: Sun. July 30 – Superfine avant improv with Trickiness, the quartet of drummer Breeze Smith, guitarist Stan Smith, bassist Darryl Tewes and cornetist Dan Clucas. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
LATE ADD: Tues. Aug. 1 – Engaging vibraphonist Nick Mancini leads a quartet with vet clarinetist John Tegmeyer, bassist Jordan Richards and drummer James Yoshizawa. At Mambo's Cafe, 1701 Victory Blvd., Glendale 91201; 8 & 9:45pm; $20 minimum.
Wed. August 2 – '90s metalmen Unsane bring the noise; why not reference my 2007 LA Times review here? With Fashion Week, Hepa-Titus, In Decline. At Union, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 90019; 8pm; $15-$20; 21+; www.unionclubla.com.
LATE ADD: Thurs. Aug. 3 – Behold the very toppermost magical improvisers in a quintet: bassist Mark Dresser with flutist Nicole Mitchell, trombonist Michael Dessen, pianist Joshua White and drummer Michael Sarin. Free, too; oil patronage sometimes has advantages. At the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A. 90024; 8pm; FREE; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu.
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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.