Fri. Aug. 16 -- Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and friends stick to the part of the mainstream that still flows fresh. In the courtyard at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; www.lacma.org.
Fri. Aug. 16 -- Easy-flowing pianist Sam Hirsh forms a topflight quartet with polished saxist Ralph Moore, house bassist Dave Robaire and popular drummer Kevin Kanner. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $15 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.
Fri. Aug. 16 -- The blazing instrumental quartet Double Naught Spy Car (11:00) bids farewell to proprietor Dave Travis as this valuable venue catering to scene vets comes under new management. With Electric Ferrets (12:00), Corpuscles (10:00), Mars (9:00). At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 8pm; $10; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Sat. Aug. 17 -- Wayback melodic-metal vet and master entertainer Lizzy Borden pumps his classics and hypes last year's "My Midnight Things," whereon he plays most everything. With Blind Guardian/Iced Earth spinoff Demons & Wizards, Tyr. At the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90010; 6:30pm; $30-$45; (213) 388-1400; www.livenation.com.
Sat. Aug. 17 -- This version of fusion flag bearer CAB features keyboardist Dennis C. Hamm, insane drummer Virgil A. Donati and founding bassist Bunny B. Brunel. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Aug. 17 -- Authoritative clarinetist John Tegmeyer, from the clean & hard school of postbop, often plays with vibraphone genius Nick Mancini, who I bet features in his ensemble. 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.
Sat. Aug. 17 -- Young tenor saxist Chris Lewis is magnetic enough to attract the talents of ace postbop pianist Eric Reed, bassist Dave Robaire and drummer Kyon Williams. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $20 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.
Sun. Aug. 18 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's in-the-pocket bop unit with pianist Peter Smith, bassist Trevor Ware and drummer Kenny Elliott gets a boost from the rippling tenor sax of Chuck Manning. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Sun. Aug. 18 -- Saxist Vince Meghrouni augments harmonists and chroniclers of the human borderline Garretson & Gorodetsky for jazzish originality. At Stories Bookstore, 1716 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 6pm; free.
Wed. Aug. 21 -- When Ornette cornetist Bobby Bradford expands to a sextet, he ain't messing around; he's enlisted keyboardist Don Preston, windman Vinny Golia, tuba player William Roper, bassist Dave Tranchina and drummer Tina Raymond for journeys into emotional abstraction. Photo by Michael Hoefner. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Wed. Aug. 21 -- Benjamin J. Shepherd, a bassist of true taste and high repute, forms a holistic ensemble with vibraphonist Nick Mancini, pianist Steve Weingart, drummer Channing Holmes and vocalist Terra Davis. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. Aug. 22 -- Nineties desert rock comes back from the mesa with heavy psych pounders Nebula, plus Sasquatch, Behold the Monolith. At Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $10-$15; 21+; www.residentdtla.com.
Thurs. Aug. 22 -- Fusion and funk find common orbits in Ohm, featuring Megadeth guitarist Chris "Oddfinger" Poland, bassist Robert Pagliari and drummer Carlos Cruz. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. Aug. 22 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine forms a fivesome at the 19th hole with tenor saxist Scott Gilman, pianist Rick Olson, bassist Bill Markus and drummer Kenny Elliott. Blue Guitar Club at Arroyo Seco Golf Course, 1055 Lohman Lane, South Pasadena 91030; 7-9:30pm (two sets): $10-$15; (626) 769-3500; www.blueguitar.club.
LATE ADD: Travel the realms of inner space with the winds-bass-drums supergroup of Vinny Golia, Steuart Liebig & Nathan Hubbard, who have a new record you should scrutinize. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.