Fri. Aug. 2 -- Grammy hog Billy Childs brings his keyboards, a top band and a wide-ranging approach to postmillennial jazz. In the courtyard at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; www.lacma.org.
Fri. Aug. 2 -- Defiant guitarists break the laws: Carey Fosse, Robert Jacobson and Jake Sucher in various configurations. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Fri. Aug. 2 -- Fish to Birds are a buncha skilled vocalists who like to improvise and know how to do it so it doesn't sound like they're messing around. At Brand Library and Art Center, 601 W. Mountain St., Glendale 91210; 7pm; FREE.
Fri.-Sat. Aug. 2-3 -- Renowned avant-funk saxist Greg Osby wraps up a busy couple of weeks in L.A. with a sterling quartet featuring pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Dave Robaire and drummer Jonathan Pinson. 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.
Fri.-Sat. Aug. 2-3 -- Guitarist Anthony Wilson updates the jazz tradition with an exceptional quintet featuring keyboardist Billy Childs, alto man Josh Johnson, bassist Joshua Crumbly and drummer Jake Reed. 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.
Sun. Aug. 4 -- You are guaranteed to freak your lobes at Sax & Drumming Corps 4, featuring avant wind pillars Larry Ochs and Vinny Golia, plus sticksters Garth Powell and Alex Cline. Not only that, but electrobass magician Steuart Liebig opens with a solo trip. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. Aug. 4 -- Pasadena twin-guitar melodic thrashers Holy Grail top a heavy bill with Striker, Bewitcher, Darkstone. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7pm; $12; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Tues. Aug. 6 -- (Sticky) tape artist Chiho Harazaki provides the visuals; intuitive pianist Motoko Honda, woodwind genius Vinny Golia, drummer Satnam Ramgotra and bassist/electroman Matt Piper provide the sounds in "Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Highly recommended. 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.
Wed. Aug. 7 -- Edge-pushing composer-bassist Lisa Mezzacappa visits from the Bay, performing in duo with guitarist John Finkbeiner, and in trio with reed dude Vinny Golia and trumpeter Kris Tiner, experienced improvisers all. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $7 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Wed. Aug. 7 -- Super band with vet singer Cathy Segal-Garcia: windman Bob Sheppard, pianist Gary Fukushima, percussionist Brad Dutz, bassist John Leftwich, windman Alex Budman and stringster Ted Falcon. Garcia's vocal sextet Fish to Birds guests. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $20-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. Aug. 8 -- Drummer Alex Cline's Limitless Light Ensemble pays tribute to late Art Ensemble of Chicago saxist Joseph Jarman; the all-star lineup includes singer Dwight Trible, saxist Phillip Greenlief, windman Pablo Calogero, violinist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, electric guitarist G.E. Stinson, bamboo flutist George Abe, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and world percussionist Christopher Garcia. Like, for real. Highest recommendation for followers of the abstract path. At the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A. 90024; 8pm; FREE; $7 underground parking on the east side of Westwood just north of Wilshire; (310) 443-7000; details here.