Fri. Sept. 15 – Big extreme avant event: relentless German saxist Peter Brötzmann, balanced by Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker and Chicago drummer John Herndon. With DJ Emmett Kelly. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $25; 21+; www.zebulon.la.
Fri. Sept. 15 -- Returning home from a German sojourn, saxist Fuasi pays tribute to Hank Mobley, Cannonball Adderley and other '60s composers with a crack band featuring trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, pianist Tateng Katindig, bassist Jeff Littleton and drummer Ramon Banda. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. Sept. 15 – Another exciting evolution of fusion mainstay CAB includes drummer Virgil Donati, bassist Bunny Brunel, keyboardist Mitch Forman and guitarist Julian Coryell. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $28; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. Sept. 15 – Soulful saxist Justo Almario fronts a seasoned quartet. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. Sept. 15 – Saxist Rickey Woodard taps the post-mainstream tradition with Larry Nash (piano), Roy McCurdy (drums), Dr. Bobby Rodriguez (trumpet) and a bassist to be named later. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. Sept. 15 –Exult to the big ol' Dutch symphonic metal of Epica; rasp with vet femme-fronted crossover Italian heftsters Lacuna Coil. Plus Insomnium, Elantris. At the Novo, 800 Olympic Blvd., downtown 90015; doors 6pm; $25; all ages; www.thenovodtla.com; (213) 765-7000.
Fri. Sept. 15 – Phoenix thrashers Sacred Reich celebrate "30 years of ignorance" with Hirax, Byzantine, Yidhra, Art of Shock. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8pm; $25; all ages; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Fri.-Sat. Sept. 15-16 – Avishai Cohen brings wonderworld trumpet trance with pianist Gadi Lehavi, bassist Barak Mori and drummer Marcus Gilmore. 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.
Fri.-Sun. Sept. 15-17 – Brilliant and uncategorizable bassist Ron Carter leads a trio with guitarist Russell Malone and drummer Donald Vega. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm (Sun. 7:30 only); $35-$45; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Sept. 16 – Classic pianist Kenny Barron pulls a trio with bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Justin Faulkner. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at the Colburn School's Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; one show 8pm; $40 (add $25 for each student); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Sept. 16 – When Doro Pesch strings together her melodic-metal hits (starting with Warlock), it will rock you. With Pushed, Siren Hex, Street Lynx, Gridline. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $22; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Sun. Sept. 17 – Good week for avant sax, this time with NYC alto twistman Tim Berne's Snake Oil, featuring clarinetist Oscar Noriega, pianist Matt Mitchell and percussionist Ches Smith. 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. Sept. 17 – Ease on into the lounge vibe with Joe Bagg (Hammond organ), Leonard Thompson (keyboards) and Jason Harnell (drums). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $18; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Sept. 17 – Competition for the drinkin' & swingin': trumpeter Elliott Caine and band. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Tues. Sept. 19 – A splinter of the original Brit thrasher group Venom, it's Venom Inc., with one of its leading exponents, Goatwhore (read my record review here. Plus Toxic Holocaust, The Convalescence, Autumn's End. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 6:30pm; $25; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Tues. Sept. 19 – 14 Sequenzas for individual instruments by Luciano Berio, from flute to bass! Performers include Sara Andon, Brian Walsh and Tom Peters. At Monk Space, 4414 W. Second St. near Western, Los Angeles 90004; 8pm; $20 and as much more as you want to give (it's a benefit for T@MS); www.monkspace.com.
Wed. Sept. 20 – Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" was composed when he was a prisoner of war in 1941, but Time is again Ending. Here to prove it are Jacqueline Suzuki (violin,) James Sullivan (clarinet), Susan Svrcek (piano) and Lynn Angebranndt (cello). At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Thurs. Sept. 21 – David Binney, a saxist of technique, tone and individuality, continues his residency with a quite amazing all-star quartet featuring trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Kenny Wollesen. 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.
Thurs. Sept. 20 – If you're gonna celebrate John Coltrane's birthday, might as well do it with musicians who know how: Creative Arts Ensemble featuring Henry Franklin, Donald Dean, George Bohannon, Nolan Shaheed, Bob Crawley Jr., Michael Session and more. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Thurs. Sept. 20 – Spin like a dervish with the melodic Middle Eastern metal of Orphaned Land. With Sweden's Pain, plus Voodoo Kung Fu, Aeonic Impulse. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
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Oct. 1-15: Angel City Jazz Festival. This year's fest celebrates Thelonious Monk's centennial via Dee Dee Bridgewater (Oct. 1), Burning Ghosts (Oct. 5), Jeff Parker (Oct. 6), Bennie Maupin / Adam Rudolph (Oct. 7), Mark Dresser (Oct. 8), Taylor Ho Bynum (Oct. 13), Dwight Trible (Oct. 14), Elliott Sharp (Oct. 15) and lots more. Best jazz atmosphere anywhere; tune in here.
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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.