* indicates entries in Angel City Jazz Fest.
Fri. Oct. 4 -- The intense and multilayered Vijay Iyer plays solo, which I consider the best of many great ways to absorb this pianist's unsurpassed intellect. Photo by Lena Adasheva. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30 & 9pm; $35 per set; www.justjazz.tv.
* Fri. Oct. 4 -- Funky melodic keyboardist-composer Jacob Mann leads a septet; opening is Angel City Jazz Young Artist Competition winnner Trevor Zemptseff. In the courtyard at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; www.angelcityjazz.com.
Fri. Oct. 4 -- Classic melodic hard rock doesn't get any more heavenly than Angel. With The Hard Way, Angeles, Stonebreed, Shock Frenzy, Prima Donna Rising, Witch. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $30; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Fri.-Sat. Oct. 4-5 -- Sax avatar Bennie Maupin most likely leads his superfine sextet featuring keyboardist David Arnay, trumpeter Chris Williams, bassist Darek Oles, percussionist Eric McKain and drummer Kenny Sara; read my recent review here. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $25; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri.-Sat. Oct. 4-5 -- Popular rhythmic eclecticists Kneebody clue you in to what they've been up to, including an imminent live album, "Chapters." 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-$25; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri.-Sat. Oct. 4-5 -- Brainy but beautiful saxist David Binney leads a trio with ace bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Louis Cole. 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. Oct. 5 -- Pianist Kris Davis brings her extended techniques and original attitude to a trio with electronic augmenter Val Jeanty and well-traveled drummer Terri Lyne Carrington; local all-purpose woodwind staple Katisse Buckingham opens via a quartet with drummer Chaun Horton, bassist Cooper Appelt and vocalist Valeska Thomas. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8pm; $25 (students $15); www.angelcityjazz.com.
Sat. Oct. 5 -- L.A. Jazz Society presents its annual Jazz Tribute Awards and Concert. This year's honorees/performers include Lee Ritenour, Jane Monheit, Lucy & Mike Peak with Barbara Morrison, Jeff Hamilton, Tamir Hendelman, John Clayton, Tony White and Samantha Quevedo. At the Montalban Theater, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $40-$150 tix here.
* Sun. Oct. 6 -- Unruly Manifesto abstractifies cohesively with the blustery Ayler-Trane sax of James Brandon Lewis, plus trumpeter Jaimie Branch, bassist Luke Stewart, bassist Warren Trae Crudup III and guitarist Anthony Pirog. Opening is local creative stalwart Dan Rosenboom's AITA, featuring the sensitive trumpet wild man plus saxist Gavin Templeton, keyboardist Jeff Babko, guitarist Alexander Noice, bassist Jerry Watts Jr. and drummer Gary Novak. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20 (students $15); www.redcat.org.
* Wed. Oct. 9 -- Ego Mondo featuring Kokayi goes for it all with rappy, funky abandon through the free minds and fingers of drummer Gary Novak, keyboardist Scott Kinsey, bassist Tim Lefebvre and friends; Aaron Parks Little Big brings melodic flow and occasional weirdness with the agency of keyboardist Parks plus guitarist Greg Tuohey, bassist David Ginyard and drummer Tommy Crane. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $20-$35; www.angelcityjazz.com.
Wed. Oct. 9 -- New York veterans Immolation roar some of America's most concise and powerful modern metal; read my review of their 2017 "Atonement" (appropriate to this Judaic season) here. With Blood Incantation, Reincarnate, Daemonic, Isineratehymn, Humanoid, Manic. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
* Thurs. Oct. 10 -- Dwight Trible's Mothership soars from the earthiness of the blues to the fervor of prayer on the wings of the astonishing singer plus pianist Brian Hardgrove, percussionist Derf Reklaw, harpist Maia, bassist John B. Williams and drummer Greg Paul; read my record review here. And the duo of Darius Jones & Joshua White joins the alto saxist's considered lyricism and free jammin' to the pianist's compatible inward-outward glory. A rich evening. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 8pm (two sets); $20 ($10 students); www.angelcityjazz.com.
Thurs. Oct. 10 -- UFO's Phil Mogg says this 50th-anniversary tour is his final one as band front man, so you might want to watch him bark "Doctor Doctor" and "Lights Out" one last time. With classic warriors Armored Saint. At the Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim 92806; 8pm; sold out except for alien resale services; www.axs.com; (714) 712-2700.
Thurs. Oct. 10 -- '80s Christian metal fans prefer to be saved by Stryper. With Worldview, T Clemente Band, The Sky Club, Still Cross. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
LATE ADD: Thurs. Oct. 10 -- Tom Djll, Andrew Pask & Steuart Liebig form an experienced electronified synth-reeds-bass trio that'll frisee your synapses. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
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Angel City Jazz Fest winds up next week with Terry Riley (10/11), Scott Amendola-Phillip Greenlief (10/12), and Makaya McCraven/David Binney (10/13); details at www.angelcityjazz.com.