Fri. Aug. 11 – Dan Schnelle, drummer of choice for L.A. post-traditional jazzers, assembles a quartet with guitarist Marcel Camargo, bassist Dave Robaire and special guest pianist Max Haymer (Arturo Sandoval, Mike Stern). 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.
Fri.-Sun. Aug. 11-13 – Memphis hard-bop piano mainstay Harold Mabern (Lee Morgan, Roland Kirk) leads a trio featuring drummer Joe Farnsworth and bassist Mike Gurrola. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $25-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Aug. 12 – Prepare to be impressed by the soul & spirit of pianist Joshua White, with personally seasoned sidemen Dean Hulett (bass) and Jonathan Pinson (drums), plus trumpeter Curtis Taylor. 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.
Sat. Aug. 12 – Epic death raspers Black Dahlia Murder perform their whole 2007 breakthrough, "Nocturnal," with an impressive array of metal support including Dying Fetus, Oceano, Rings of Saturn, Betraying the Martyrs, Lorna Shore, The Faceless, Angelmaker, War Imposed. At the Novo, 800 Olympic Blvd., downtown 90015; 2pm; $25-$35; all ages; www.axs.com; (213) 765-7000.
Sun. Aug. 13 – Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Edgar Winter. You can't imagine I'd miss this; I won't even be the oldest one there. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 5pm; $65 and up (I see one scalper is trying to get $10,839 a ticket, wonder how he arrived at that figure); www.greektheatrela.com.
Sun. Aug. 13 – The Grand Ole Echo hosts urban country poets I See Hawks in L.A. (9pm), starting at 6 with Dominique Pruitt, Ruby Force, Caleb Caudle and finally Shinyribs (10pm) At the Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90023; $15; (213) 413-8200; www.attheecho.com.
Sun. Aug. 13 – The Vibe Summit is a damn rollicking event, with vibraphonists such as Bob Leatherbarrow, Nick Mancini, Onaje Murray and Lolly Allen rotating through the stage. At the Elks Lodge, 20925 Osborne St., Canoga Park 91304; 1-5pm; $25; food available; www.lajazz.org.
Sun. Aug. 13 – The edgy arts org SASSAS throws its annual Blast! fund-raiser with MCs Jack Black (yeah, the funny actor) and Tanya Haden, music from KISK and punk tribute band Purity, Dublab DJs, and lots of art for sale. At Blum & Poe, 2727 La Cienega Blvd., L.A. 90034, 4-8pm; $50-$75; www.sassas.org.
Wed. Aug. 16 – Avant improv of a celestial order: the exciting bass-dobro-drums trio of Daryl Tewes, Scot Ray & Danny Frankel. Sound Etiquette (saxist Nick Obando, keysman Eli Wallace and drummer Aaron Levin) opens, I think. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Wed. Aug. 16 – Melodic jazz for the whole family: former Charlie Haden pianist Alan Broadbent with the vastly experienced bass and drums of Putter Smith and Joe LaBarbera. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8:30pm; $35 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Wed. Aug. 16 – Upright bassist Tom Peters plays the cycling inside-out compositions of Tom Johnson. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Thurs. Aug. 17 – Bassist Steuart Liebig presents Men-Tot Six, a postmodern bluesjazz jam featuring cornetist Dan Clucas, saxist Tony Atherton, harmonicat Bill Barrett, lap steelman Scot Ray and drummer Joe Berardi. Gonna cook weird & good. At the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A. 90024; 8pm; FREE; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu.
Thurs.-Fri. Aug. 17-18 – Hardly anybody's got more semifusional talent and disregard for convention than guitarist-keyboardist-singer Mike Keneally, whose Beer for Dolphins unit encompasses guitarist Rick Musallam, bassist Bryan Beller and drummer Joe Travers. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.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.