MetalJazz

Select chronological listings.


* The World Stage in Leimert Park has Friday 8:30pm PT (and sometimes other days) in-person presentations with occasional simultaneous live streams of righteous jazz; keep up with the schedule here. Donations encouraged here. Fri. April 26: World Stage Big Band can't go wrong. Fri. May 3: bassist Ben Williams. Fri. May 10: bassist Al Threats. Sat. May 11, 7:30pm: Kenshaka Ali. Fri. May 17: drummer Brandon Sanders. Sun. May 19, 1pm: L.A. Jazz Society's Vibe Summit. Fri. May 24: saxist Charles Owens. Fri. May 31: Cosmic Vibrations featuring Dwight Trible. Fri. June 7: Mika 9 of Freestyle Fellowship. Tues. June 11, no charge: Founders Day featuring Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray. Fri. June 14: Katalyst. Fri. June 21: saxist Justo Almario. Fri. June 28: vocalist Arnae Batson.
* Knucklehead in Hollywood has metal DJs and live music. Fri. April 26: Liminal Faces, Guilty Strangers. Sun. April 28: the mighty churn & scream of Oakland's Ulthar, plus Crematory Stench, Swampbeast. Sun. May 5: Bewitcher, Deathspell, Haunter. Thurs. June 20: Forn, Guck, Holy Death. Thurs. June 27: Gorgatron, Casket Robbery, Voraath. Sign in here.
* The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. & Sat. April 26 & 27: veteran drummer Joe LaBarbera Quintet. Tuesday Happenings feature jams led by top local artists. Wed. May 8: Larry Goldings & John Sneider. Thurs. May 16: pianist Joshua White Quintet with Nicole McCabe, Chris Speed, Billy Mohler & Anthony Fung. Fri. & Sat. May 10 & 11: freaky keyboardist Adam Hersh. Sat. May 25: Andy Milne & Unison. Fri. May 31: drummer Roy McCurdy Quartet. Look here for full schedule and options.
* Frogtown's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Sat. April 27: Moroccan healing music from the NYC trio Innov Gnawa, plus the brilliant SK Kakraba on the big Ghanaian mallet instrument called the gyil. Sun. May 5: Setting, Jeff Parker. Sun. May 12: Arto Lindsay. Mon. June 17: Kahil El'Zabar. Wed. June 19: Saccharine Trust performs "Paganicons." Thurs. June 20: Zoh Amba-Chris Corsano-Bill Orcutt. Thurs. Aug. 29: Dale Crover Band. Fri. Sept. 6: The BellRays. Full calendar here.
* The Jazz Bakery sponsors live shows at mostly Westside venues; view its calendar here.. Sat. April 27: distinguished pianist Fred Hersch (Charlie Haden, Bill Frisell, Drew Gress) samples from his vaporous new solo ECM recording at Little Tokyo's Aratani Theater. Sun. May 5: explosive pianist Jacky Terrasson at Santa Monica's Moss Theater. Sat. May 11: singer Carmen Lundy at Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theater. Sun. May 19: big event with abstract piano great Vijay Iyar Trio at Santa Monica's Moss Theater. Sat. June 8: Steve Lehman Trio featuring Mark Turner at Westwood's Nimoy. Sat. June 29: saxist Chris Potter at Westwood's Nimoy. Sat. Sept. 7: singer Jazzmeia Horn at Westwood's Nimoy.
* Healing Force of the Universe Records in Pasadena has live music 7:30-10:30. Sat. April 27: Mike Watt & the Missingmen. Sat. May 4: Big Shapes Trio featuring Dave Harrington; The Stubbs Project featuring Nicole McCabe. Wed. May 15: Epstein, Harrington, Kowalsky. Fri. June 7: bassist Logan Kane. Thurs. June 13: touring avant trumpeter Steph Richards. Calendar here.
* Sat. April 27, 7:30-11pm: KJazz Tracks at downtown's Union Station presents singer-drummer Kassa Overall, avant saxist Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few and singer Darynn Dean; free with recommended RSVP here.
* The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Sat. April 27: Greek power metal from former Ozzy axman Gus G. and Firewind. Tues. April 30: ex-Misfit Doyle, theatrical metal mistress Otep. Sat. May 18: Orianthi. Fri. July 19: Robby Krieger. Thurs. Aug. 29: Graham Bonnet Band. Calendar here.
* 1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Sat. April 27: Finnish folk metal from Korpiklaani. Sat. May 11: Born of Osiris. Sun. May 19: Decapitated. Fri. June 7: Gatecreeper. Thurs. June 20: Dreadworm. Wed. July 24: Fallujah. Sat. Sept. 21: Autopsy, Repulsion. Full calendar here.
* The Fonda Theater in Hollywood has occasional metal & world. Sat. April 27: Australian deathcore from Thy Art Is Murder. Calendar here.
* Sun. April 28: A world of drummers/percussionists (and dance) -- Christopher Garcia, Malik Sow, Shoji Kameda, Nadia Calmet & Gian Luiggi Cortez Mejia mix it up at Neighborhood Unitarian Church in Pasadena; more here.
* Why, sure, Teragram Ballroom downtown mixes in metal. Sun. April 28: guitarist Page Hamilton's distinctive approach to clanging '90s metal with Helmet. Fri. May 3: Exciter, Warbringer. Sun. July 28: Pallbearer, Inter Arma. Calendar here.
* The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) usually has Sunday jazz shows anchored by pianist Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
* Downtown's Belasco Theater stages some rock, metal, etc. shows. Tues. April 30: Finnish melodic death metal from Insomnium. Fri. May 24: Cattle Decapitation, Carnifex. Tues. Aug. 30: Tinariwen. Thurs. Sept. 26: Boris. Calendar & tix here.
* JustJazzTV is a great resource for live jazz. Thurs. May 2: Creole-soul trumpeter Etienne Charles at the Town House Venice. Wed. July 3: trumpeter Curtis Taylor at the Paramount in Boyle Heights. Thurs. July 18: Billa Jazz at the Ford Amphitheater in the Cahuenga Pass.
* Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Fri. & Sat. May 3 & 4: guitar marvel Stanley Jordan. Fri. May 31 & Sat. June 1: trumpet great Arturo Sandoval. Tues. & Wed. June 11 & 12: pianist Adam Wakeman's brilliant Black Sabbath interpretation Jazz Sabbath! Fri.-Sun. June 14-16: Poncho Sanchez. Full calendar here.
* The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm nightly. Fri.-Sun. May 3-5: Steve Smith & Vital Information. Fri. May 17: Jeff Lorber Fusion. Thurs.-Sun. May 23-26: John Daversa Progressive Big Band. Tues. June 4: Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Sat. June 15: Mike Garson Trio. Fri. June 21: Soft Machine. Fri. & Sat. June 28 & 29: Billy Childs. Full schedule here.
* The new-music and avant-jazz series Soundwaves presents monthly Saturday 3:30pm concerts (usually) at Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; FREE. Sat. May 4: Saccharine Trust/Mecolodiacs guitarist Joe Baiza Quartet with vocalist Jessika Kenney, bassist David O. Jones and drummer Brian Christopherson. Sat. June 1: bassist Steuart Liebig's Minim with oboeist Breana Gilcher, cellist Maggie Parkins and pianist Vicki Ray. Sat. July 6: The Present Quartet with bassist Jeff Schwartz, flutist Ellen Burr, harpist Anne LeBaron and windman Charles Sharp.
* Open Gate Theater has moved its long-running and invaluable avant concert series to the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, 301 N. Orange Grove Ave., Pasadena. Sun. May 5: operatics from Anne LeBaron featuring violinist Mark Menzies. Sun. June 16: Steuart Liebig/Minim; more. More here.
* Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz singers. Sun. May 5: Cinco de Mayo with Louie Cruz Beltran. Tues. May 21: Robby Krieger. Full schedule here.
* LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile offers FREE outdoor jazz concerts every Friday at 6pm through November. Fri. May 10: altoist Nicole McCabe Quintet. Fri. May 24: saxist Katisse. Fri. June 7: tenorman Teodross Avery Quintet. Fri. June 14: pianist Larry Nash & the Jazz Symphonics. Fri. June 21: alto man Devin Daniels Quintet. Calendar here.
* McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica has jazzy stuff now and then. Sat. May 18: Scott Amendola & Sticklerphonics. Calendar here.
* Keep up with L.A. Jazz Society events, including its Young Musician Showcases, here. Sun. May 19, 1pm: Vibe Summit at Leimert Park's World Stage.
* El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile books yer occasional metal show. Wed. May 22: Armored Saint. Calendar here.
* 2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Fri. May 24: Carlos Niño & Friends. Sat. June 29: SUMAC & Shiroishi, White Boy Scream, Zachary James Watkins. Listings here.
* Alva's Showroom in San Pedro brings in some intriguing music from the edges in addition to tributes and stuff. Sun. June 2: Nick Mancini Collective. Fri. June 7: Nili Brosh. Full lineup here.
* First Street Pool & Billiard Parlor downtown has live music. Fri. June 7: Necrot. Info here.
* Midtown's The Wiltern hosts eclectic acts within its classic Art Deco halls. Fri. June 14: Buckethead. Tues. Oct. 15: Hatebreed. Lineup here.
* REDCAT (beneath downtown's Disney Hall) presents some experimental music and jazz along with its culturally edgy programming. Fri. & Sat. June 14 & 15: Partch Ensemble performs Anne LeBaron's "LSD -- Huxley's Last Trip" and other compositions to conclude this year's MicroFest. Calendar here.
* The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival runs Sat. June 15 (Charles Lloyd, Christian McBride et al.) and Sun. June 16 (Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper et al.). Sun. Aug. 4 is the Bowl's Reggae Night. Calendar here.
* You say The Regent downtown has bits o' metal? Fri. June 28: Cryptopsy, Death to All (drummer Gene Hoglan & co. celebrating the music of the late Chuck Schuldiner's band Death). Calendar here.
* The Greek Theater in Griffith Park has outdoor shows. Sat. July 13: Slash, Warren Haynes Band, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Bellwether rocks a fair amount. Sat. July 20: Ziggy Marley. Calendar here.
* The Mayan downtown has jazz and rock sometimes. Sun. July 21: Jazz Is Dead presents 1982 dancehall hitmaker Sister Nancy. Calendar here.
* Thurs. Aug. 1: Artistic bassist-composer Esperanza Spalding plays the Luckman Auditorium at Cal State L.A. east of downtown. Tickets here.
* The Orpheum downtown rocks and jazzes at times. Sat. Aug. 3: Dweezil Zappa. Tickets here.
* Highland Park's Lodge Room occasionally books jazz, metal, heft and influential obscurities. Mon. Aug. 5: The Melvins' Buzz Osborne is Buzzo of King Buzzo & Trevor Dunn; Dunn is a fantastically adaptable bassist. Full schedule here.
* The Kia Forum in Inglewood gets heavy now and then. Wed. Aug. 21: Lamb of God, Mastodon. Tues. Oct. 8: Iron Maiden. Sat. Dec. 7: Aerosmith, Black Crowes. Listings here.
* Sat. Aug. 31: Leimert Park Jazz Festival at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza rooftop, 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Details eventually here.
* The Canyon in Agoura Hills books its share of metal, fusion and original good stuff. Sat. Sept. 28: Glenn Hughes. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Disney Hall presents some jazz and events of note beyond classical. Fri. Oct. 11: Jason Moran. Tickets here.
* Piano Spheres always has topflight outward programming from the classically trained world at venues around town. Calendar here.
* The Jazz Salon presents top singers on Sundays at downtown's Los Angeles Athletic Club. Check in here.
* The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills occasionally melts faces or hosts an outside master. Calendar here.
* Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Peacock Theater (formerly Microsoft Theater) occasionally books heavy music. Lineup here.