Fri. Aug. 23 -- Cross Hart Jazz Experience is bassist Ryan Cross, drummer Lorca Hart (son o' Billy) and friends, drawing authentic jazz from the prime font. In the courtyard at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; calendar here.
Fri. Aug. 23 -- Cinderella's Tom Keifer remains one of the rockinest singers and songwriters to emerge from the late-'80s American pop-metal scene, largely cuz he never forgets the blues. Opening are Daytona & the Blueside Rockers, Fire Sets Fire. At the Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills 91301; Keifer 9pm but get there by 7pm to score a table; $38-$68; (818) 879-5016; www.canyonclub.net.
Fri. Aug. 23 -- Enshroud metallically with the melodic drive of Sweden's Evergrey. With Shattered Sun, Tulip. At the Satellite, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; 9pm; $25; 21+; (323) 661-4380; www.thesatellitela.com.
Fri. Aug. 23 -- I See Hawks in L.A. (10:30) bring their quiet country harmonies and outsider lyric sensibility; Tony Gilkyson (9:30) brings ironclad songs and a roots vet's experience; Ren Martinez (8:30) opens. At Mr. T’s, Highland Park Bowl, 5621 Figueroa St., Highland Park 90042; no cover; (323) 257-2695; www.highlandparkbowl.com.
Fri.-Sat. Aug. 23-24 -- Guitarist Michael Landau puts the stud in studio fusion guitar with drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and bassist Jimmy Johnson. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25-$30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Aug. 24 -- Bill Evans drummer Joe LaBarbera assembles an ultrafine trio with major pianist Billy Childs and bassist Ben Shepherd. 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.
Sat. Aug. 24 -- Nonpareil songwriter Kris Kristofferson ("Once More With Feeling," "From the Bottle to the Bottom," "Help Me Make It Through the Night") teams up with the best band in country, The Strangers, who backed Merle for decades. As a matter of fact, the last time I saw Merle and Kris together, the Strangers were backing 'em. So I believe they're acquainted. At the Starlight Bowl, 1249 Lockheed View Drive, Burbank 91501; doors 5:30pm (early arrival advised); $28-$99; www.ticketmaster.com.
Sat. Aug. 24 -- California's Fireball Ministry rumbles, roars and, most of all, smokes. With Moth, Painted Wives, The Watchers. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $15; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Sun. Aug. 25 -- Every stroke of the strings is an education as guitarist-singer Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule boogie your shoes off with the most righteous and proficient Southern blues-rock on the planet. At Ford Theatres (formerly the John Anson Ford Amphitheater), 2180 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood 90068; 7:30pm; might be a coupla seats left around $60; www.fordtheatres.org.
Wed. Aug. 28 -- Saxist Dale Fielder fields a top unit drawn from his long experience in the land of boplicity. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $20-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. Aug. 29 -- The aptly named Continuum has been fusing progressively for decades but not as frequently as we'd like; catch this version with keyboardist Craig Ochikubo, percussionist Christopher Garcia, bassist Al Garcia, windman Pablo Calogero and windman Daniel Weidlein. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Thurs. Aug. 29 -- Alto man David Binney stretches your mind with an ensemble of more and less familiar adventurers: bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Louis Cole, pianist Luca Mendoza, keyboardist Nick Semrad and guitarist Nick Reinhart. 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.
Thurs. Aug. 29 -- Involving modern composer Chikako Iversen and friends waft the air with chamber tartness. It ain't that far if you're in Northeast L.A. or the East Valley. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.
Thurs. Aug. 29 -- Femme-fronted Montreal droners Big Brave roll out the sludge. With Deaf Kids, Kesem. At the Lexington, 129 E. Third St., downtown 90013; doors 8pm; $7; 21+; (213) 291-5723; lexbarla.com.