Fri. June 8 -- Trombonist Phil Ranelin's history spans back to Motown, and his band of local stars never sounds better than when he's swinging his brand of soulful post-bop outdoors. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. June 8 -- High on Fire guitarist Matt Pike and his auldtime pals in Sleep churn out slow metal that makes you drowse hard. With Bell Witch, All Souls. At the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90010; 7pm; around $30; (213) 388-1400; www.livenation.com.
Sat. June 9 -- Belgian deathmen Aborted and proggy abstractionists Psycroptic head an edgy metal touring bill with Ingested, Disentomb, Arkaik,Venom Prison, Signs of the Swarm. At 1720, 1720 E. 16th St., downtown 90021; 4:30pm; $17-$25; all ages; full bar; food; www.1720.la.
Sat. June 9 -- Bassist, composer and educator Roberto Miranda and friends explore a lively world of texture and drama. Always great. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. June 9 --Trumpeter Elliott Caine's unit plays jazz the way it used to be and mostly ain't no more. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat.-Sun. June 9-10 -- Saturday at this year's Playboy Jazz Fest is headlined by Miles Electric Band and the 1980 flashback guitar-keys duo of Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin. Sunday it's sax great Charles Lloyd & the Marvels (pictured, celebrating his 80th!) with the unlikely but sometimes effective addition of Lucinda Williams, plus Ramsey Lewis ("Wade in the Water," 1966); get there early enough for local heroes Kneebody and their funkyrockintrippin thing. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 3pm; $40-$200; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Sun. June 10 -- Saxist Chuck Manning, guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Darek Oles and drummer Jason Harnell are L.A. Jazz Quartet, drifting through the sparky spaces of your brain. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. June 10 -- Nobody lilts country-rock like I See Hawks in L.A., plugging their wonderful new "Live and Never Learn," which literally had me laughing and crying at the same time. Rob Waller's comfortably unmoored singing and Paul Lacques' ingeniously narrative guitar playing, cushioned by harmonies like a cirrus cloud at sunset, make for a journey you won't want to end. Tonight is bolstered with the talents of Tony Gilkyson, Danny McGough and Dave Markowitz. At McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; 8pm; $15; (310) 828-4497; www.mccabes.com.
Sun. June 10 -- The viola-vocal duo of Eyvind Kang & Jessika Kenney weaves electronified international aesthetic fibers. At Clockshop, 2806 Clearwater St., Frogtown 90039; doors 6pm, show 7pm; $20; beer & wine; www.clockshop.org.
Sun. June 10 -- Eat, drink, listen and buy art at a San Marino mansion in support of the ever-edging Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art & Sound (SASSAS). $50-$100, details here.
Wed. June 13 -- Trouble spinoff The Skull lay on the doom riffs with good guitar tones. With Earthride, Hyborian, Ether Feather. At Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $20; www.residentdtla.com.
Thurs. June 14 -- Swedish power-metal vets Hammerfall team up with Arizona thrash stalwarts Flotsam and Jetsam; support comes from State Line Empire, Gravedigger, Hazardous Terror. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $30; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Thurs June 14 -- Stand back for the winds & wings of the avantarian Vinny Golia Sextet; violist Artyom Manukyan opens. A presentation of Angel City Arts' Sonic Labyrinth series at MorYork Gallery, 4959 York Blvd., Eagle Rock 90042; 8pm; $10; www.angelcityarts.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.