Select chronological listings.
The World Stage in Leimert Park has fully returned to Friday 8pm PT in-person presentations with simultaneous live streams of righteous jazz; keep up with the schedule here. Fri. Feb. 17: the all-star ensemble of challenging trumpeter Dan Rosenboom, featuring windman Gavin Templeton, pianist John Escreet, bassist Darek Oles and drummer Jonathan Pinson. Fri. Feb. 24: Dexter Gordon 100th Birthday Concert. Check here for replays of past shows on the World Stage YouTube channel. Donations encouraged here.
Fri. Feb. 17, 8pm: Space out with Carlos Niño & Friends featuring the percussionist with Nate Mercereau, V.C.R., Devin Daniels and Photay at The Townhouse, 52 Windward Ave., Venice, website here. Read MetalJazz's review of last week's Friends performance here.
The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. Feb. 17: dynamic, elevational pianist Joshua White leads a stellar quartet with saxist Nicole McCabe, bassist Karl McComas-Reichl and drummer Anthony Fung. Sat. Feb. 18: exciting classical-Armenian jazz from pianist Vardan Ovsepian's superb quartet with guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist David Robaire and drummer Mark Ferber. Every Tues.: the very original and world-renowned pianist Gerald Clayton. Wed. Feb. 22: Tina Raymond Trio. Fri. & Sat. Feb. 24 & 25: Josh Nelson Ensemble. Sat. March 4: Roy McCurdy Quartet. Fri. & Sat. March 24 & 25: interesting notion: keyboardist Adam Hersh presents "Allan Holdsworth: The Composer," featuring the late great axman's former drummer and bassist, Gary Novak and Max Gerl, plus guitarist Andy Waddell. Sat. April 8: Anthony Fung Quartet. Look here for full schedule and options.
Fri. Feb. 17: Just Jazz presents I Am, the up & coming Chicago sax-drums duo of Isaiah Collier & Michael Shekwoega Ode, rippin' out energetic melody-based riffs & variations. At Boyle Heights' The Paramount L.A.; tickets here.
ETA, a bar in Highland Park, brings top local jazz. Check in anytime here, as it often books on short notice. Fri. Feb. 17: Francisco Ojeda, Daniel Rotem, Christian Euman & Josh Johnson.
Keep up with the well-curated Vernacular New-Music Series at Oracle Tavern in a hideaway west of Chinatown two Mondays a month here. Schedule change this month to Sat. Feb. 18, 5pm: nonstandard solo guitar with Michael Whitmore, whom many will remember from his L.A. days, now visiting from his current Puget home. Mon. March 6, 8pm: Present Quartet (Jeff Schwartz, Ellen Burr, Charles Sharp, Ann LeBaron) and Scott Heustis Trio (with Breeze Smith, Tony Green, and special guest Silva Nahhas, spoken word).
Sun. Feb. 19: The ensemble of mainstream jazz trumpeter Elliott Caine plays The York, a big bar in Highland Park, from 8 to 10pm, no cover. Website here.
The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) has mostly Sunday jazz shows. Sun. Feb. 19: Josh Brown Quintet and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. Feb. 26: CSUN Jazz Combos and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. March 5: Brian Park and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. March 12: CSUN Jazz Combos and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. March 19: Simon Lee and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. March 26: Jazz Butchers and Sam Hirsh Trio. Sun. April 23: CSUN Jazz Combos and Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
Atwater's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Mon. Feb. 20: abstract funz from Body/Head (Kim Gordon & Bill Nace), plus Joe Potts & Rick Potts of the foundational SoCal semi-org L.A. Free Music Society. Thurs. Feb. 23: James Brandon Lewis Trio, The Messthetics. Sun. March 12: Lydia Lunch & Joseph Keckler present the Ecstasy of Oblivion: A Sunday Salon featuring Sylvia Black, Dynasty Handbag, John Tottenham, Tim Dahl & Rita D'Albert. Mon. & Tues. July 24 & 25: Sun Ra Arkestra. Full calendar here.
Wed. Feb. 22: Just Jazz presents the deep Afro-American groove of Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble at Boyle Heights' The Paramount; tickets here. Highly recommended.
1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Wed. Feb. 22: Rotting Christ. Sun. March 5: Norma Jean. Thurs. March 16: Candlemass. Tues. March 21: The Acacia Strain. Sun. April 2: Gravefest featuring Muerta Buena, Presser, Corrupt Vision, many more metal destructors. Mon. April 3: Gorod. Sun. Apri 16: Vader. Full calendar here.
UCLA'S Center for the Art of Performance has jazz programming. Thurs. Feb. 23: Armenian fusionists MVF Band. Calendar here.
The Canyon in Agoura Hills books its share of metal, fusion and original good stuff. Fri. Feb. 24: Ace Frehley of Kiss. Calendar here.
2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Fri. Feb. 24: Zoh Amba + Chris Corsano; Jeff Parker + Ted Byrnes. Sun. March 5: Daniel Corral Polytope Electronic Quartet. Sat. March 25: Hocket. Tues. April 4: Immanuel Wilkins. Listings here.
Sat. Feb. 25: The Jazz Bakery presents a tribute to David Ornette Cherry, the multi-instrumentalist and composer who died last year. The tribute ensemble features vocalist Dwight Trible; hand drummer Kahil El'Zabar, trumpeter Corey Wilkes and baritone saxist Alex Harding of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, with whom Cherry was touring in England when he passed; saxist Ralph Moore; pianist Joshua White; and more. A special occasion. At South L.A.'s Nate Holden Performing Arts Center; tickets here.
The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Sat. Feb. 25: vintage Bay thrash from Vio-lence. Mon. Feb. 27: Kiss' own Ace Frehley. Fri. March 17: Satan. Sat. March 18: Marty Friedman. Tues. March 21: Possessed. Sat. April 15: L.A. Guns. Fri. April 28: Angel. Sun. April 30: Supersuckers. Fri. May 5: Fear Factory. Fri. May 12: Lynch Mob. Thurs. & Fri. May 25 & 26: Doyle. Sun. June 4: Loudness. Wed. June 14: Otep. Calendar here.
Tues. Feb. 28: Just Jazz presents George, the quartet of famed avant drummer-pianist John Hollenbeck featuring saxist Aurora Nealand, wind player Anna Webber and keyboardist Chiquita Magic. At Boyle Heights' The Paramount L.A.; tickets here.
The Regent downtown books some heavy music. Thurs. March 16: Fleshgod Apocalypse. Wed. March 22: Eluveitie. Sun. March. 26: Morbid Angel. Thurs. April 20: Iggy Pop and the Losers, featuring Chad Smith, Andrew Watt and Duff McKagan. Fri. May 5: Whitechapel. Sat. May 6: Wolves in the Throne Room. Tues. June 6: Cattle Decapitation. Sat. June 10: Dark Funeral. Full lineup here.
Downtown's Disney Hall presents some jazz and events of note beyond classical. Thurs. & Fri. March 16 & 17: Ziggy Marley. Sun. April 2: Herbie Hancock. Tickets here.
The Broad Stage in Santa Monica holds occasional jazz presentations. Fri. March 23: Maria Schneider Orchestra presents "Data Lords." Tickets here.
Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Thurs.-Sat. March 23-25: Steve Smith & Vital Information. Fri. & Sat. April 14 & 15: Pete Escovedo. Sun. April 23: Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita. Fri. & Sat. April 28 & 29: Billy Childs Quartet. Check full calendar here.
The Wiltern (Wilton & Western) occasionally harbors metal. Sat. March 25: Powerwolf. Sat. May 27: Kreator, Sepultura. Full calendar here.
Piano Spheres always has topflight outward programming from the classically trained world at the Thayer or Zipper halls downtown. Tues. March 28: Gloria Cheng. Calendar here.
Downtown's Teragram Ballroom occasionally presents heavy and improvisational music. Wed. March 29: Soulfly. Fri. March 31: Tortoise. Fri.-Sun. April 14-16: Dark Angel. Calendar here.
The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills occasionally melts faces or brings in an outside master. Sat. April 1: L. Shankar. Calendar here.
The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm. Thurs.-Sat. April 13-15: Simon Phillips' Protocol. Tues. April 18: Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Full schedule here.
Downtown's Belasco Theater stages a few rock & metal shows. Sat. April 15: Static-X. Fri. April 28: Dying Fetus, Suicide Silence. Sun. April 30: Carcass, Municipal Waste. Thurs. May 11: Black Dahlia Murder. Wed. May 17: KMFDM. Fri. May 19: Lacuna Coil. Calendar & tix here.
The Fonda Theater in Hollywood has occasional metal. Sat. April 22: Enslaved, Insomnium. Fri. May 19: Obituary. Calendar here.
The Orpheum downtown rocks at times. Mon. April 24: Iggy Pop and the Losers, featuring Chad Smith, Andrew Watt and Duff McKagan. Tickets here.
Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Fri. June 2: metal with Helloween, Hammerfall. Calendar here.
REDCAT (beneath downtown's Disney Hall) presents some experimental music and jazz. Fri. & Sat. June 16 & 17: Partch. Tickets here.
The Hollywood Bowl has some jazz etc. Sat. & Sun. June 18 & 19: Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival. Sun. July 23: Reggae Night with Beres Hammond, Steel Pulse. Wed. Aug. 9: Joe Bonamassa With Orchestra. Fri. Aug. 11: Ruben Blades. Wed. Aug. 23: Herbie Hancock. Wed. Sept. 6: Buddy Guy. Details here.
Fri.-Sun. Aug. 25-27: Metallica plays SoFi Stadium. If you had tickets for the Super Bowl, you're probably going to this too.
Mon & Tues. Sept. 11 & 12: Ghost & Amon Amarth haunt the Forum in Inglewood; tickets here.
Santa Monica's Jacaranda music series presents a great selection of forward-looking modern classical and world music. Inquire regularly here.
Keep up with L.A. Jazz Society events, including its Young Musician Showcases, here.
Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz. Full schedule here.
The Jazz Salon presents top singers on Thursdays at downtown's Los Angeles Athletic Club. Check in here.