Links: L.A. performances (5/31/24).

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. May 31: Cosmic Vibrations featuring Dwight Trible is the soul trip to the stars you've been longing for, riding the flexible vocals of Trible along with the abandoned groove of hand drummer Christopher Garcia and trapsman Breeze Smith, plus Pablo Calogero's sensitive winds and embellishments from Peter Jacobson's cello; pick up their excellent recordings. 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. Wed. June 19: Juneteenth Celebration. Fri. June 21: saxist Justo Almario. Fri. June 28: trumpeter Tatiana Tate.
* STREAMING REPLAY: Last Saturday, Mindful Music Festival in Escondido featured the boggling Free Cloud Collective (drummer Alex Cline, guitarist Nels Cline, keyboardist Joshua White, clarinetist Peter Kuhn, violinist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, trumpeter Chris DiMeglio, bassist Curtis Robertson Jr.). They start at 3:36 after the opening performers here; hit the DONATE button to show your appreciation. More words later.
* The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. & Sat. May 31 & June 1: fine veteran drummer Roy McCurdy Quartet. Thurs. June 6: trumpeter Julien Knowles explores the melodic modernism of his new album with a crack quartet featuring drummer Jonathan Pinson, pianist Chris Fishman, bassist Jermaine Paul and a special guest. Sat. June 8: ace pianist Paul Cornish Quartet with drummer Tina Raymond and saxist Devin Daniels. Fri. June 14: keyboardist John Escreet. Sat. June 29: keyboardist Rachel Eckroth Trio. Fri. & Sat. July 12 & 13: Peter Erskine Trio. with bassist Billy Mohler & drummer Jonathan Pinson. Thurs. Aug. 8: Michael Wolff Trio with drummer Joe LaBarbarbera and bassist Edwin Livingston. Look here for full schedule and options.
* Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Fri. & Sat. May 31 & 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. Thurs.-Sun. July 1-4: Steve Gadd Band. Full calendar 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. June 1: bassist Steuart Liebig's all-star Minim with oboeist Breana Gilcher, cellist Maggie Parkins and pianist Vicki Ray, one of the edgemusic events of the year, with Westsiders having a shot at it here and Eastsiders in Pasadena 6/16. Sat. July 6: The Present Quartet with bassist Jeff Schwartz, flutist Ellen Burr, harpist Anne LeBaron and windman Charles Sharp.
* 1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Sat. June 1: Maryland Deathfest presents Swedish deathmen Bloodbath and Grave, plus Irish extremists Primordial, Finns Archgoat; and Ascended Dead, Mortal Wound. Fri. June 7: Gatecreeper. Thurs. June 20: Dreadworm. Wed. July 24: Fallujah. Sun. Aug. 16: Goatwhore. Sat. Sept. 21: Autopsy, Repulsion. Full calendar here.
* Alva's Showroom in San Pedro brings in some intriguing music from the edges in addition to tributes and stuff. Sun. June 2: full-spectrum vibesman Nick Mancini Collective. Fri. June 7: Nili Brosh can sling that metaljazz ax. Full lineup here.
* Sun. June 2, doors 5pm, music 6pm: Andy & the Rattlesnakes bring their versatile '80s roots rock back to town after Andy's relocation back East, remembering dearly departed members Paul Lacques and Rob Hasick. At The Three Clubs, 1123 Vine St., Hollywood 90038; no admission charge but drink up and tip!
* The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) usually has Sunday jazz shows anchored by pianist Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
* The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm nightly. 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.
* LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile offers FREE outdoor jazz concerts every Friday at 6pm through November. Fri. June 7: Tranetime tenorman Teodross Avery Quintet. Fri. June 14: true tradition pianist Larry Nash & the Jazz Symphonics. Fri. June 21: quick young alto man Devin Daniels Quintet. Calendar here.
* Healing Force of the Universe Records in Pasadena has live music 7:30-10:30. Fri. June 7: bassist Logan Kane leads a star ensemble featuring keyboardist John Escreet, saxist David Binney and drummer Benjamin Ring; torrential saxist Nicole McCabe plays solo. Thurs. June 13: touring avant trumpeter Steph Richards Power Vibe. Wed. June 26: Dave Harrington & Friends. Calendar here.
* 2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Fri. June 7: floaty electronic jazz from the duo Black Decelerant and harpist Nailah Hunter; plus the opening keyboard-cello duo Salenta & Topu. Sat. June 29: SUMAC & Shiroishi, White Boy Scream, Zachary James Watkins. Listings here.
* First Street Pool & Billiard Parlor downtown has live music. Fri. June 7: modern metal from Necrot. Info here.
* The Jazz Bakery sponsors live shows at mostly Westside venues; view its calendar here. Sat. June 8: sax heaven with 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.
* The Fonda Theater in Hollywood has occasional metal & world. Sun. June 9: Power Trip. Calendar here.
* Midtown's The Wiltern hosts eclectic acts within its classic Art Deco halls. Fri. June 14: ax pyroman Buckethead. Wed. July 31: All-day Summer Slaughter Tour headlined by Veil of Maya, Brand of Sacrifice. Tues. Oct. 15: Hatebreed, Carcass. 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.
* Grand Performances presents free 6pm open-air multi-culti shows Fridays and Saturdays downtown through August. Sat. June 15: Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Sat. June 22: Max Roach Centennial featuring his M'Boom and local luminaries Munyungo Jackson, Jeff Littleton, Dexter Story, Brandon Coleman et al. Full schedule 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.
* 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. June 16: Steuart Liebig/Minim; more. More here.
* Echo Park's EchoPlex hosts a smattering of metal. Sun. June 16: Exhumed. Sun. Sept. 15: Veteran Finnish moody progsters Amorphis; Dark Tranquillity. Website here.
* Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz singers. Sun. June 16: Latin-jazz Fathers' Day with Louie Cruz Beltran. Full schedule here.
* Frogtown's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Wed. June 19: abstractionist poetic OG punx (Joe Baiza, Jack Brewer) Saccharine Trust perform their classic SST EP "Paganicons." Thurs. June 20: the young wave of energy jazz, Zoh Amba-Chris Corsano-Bill Orcutt. Thurs. Aug. 29: Dale Crover Band. Fri. Sept. 6: The BellRays. Full calendar here.
* Knucklehead in Hollywood has metal DJs and live music. Wed. June 19: Ex Lover, Obscuros, The Grin, Total Pleasure.Thurs. June 20: Forn, Guck, Holy Death. Tues. July 9: Mizmor. Thurs. June 27: Gorgatron, Casket Robbery, Voraath. Sat. July 20: Ceremonial Bloodbath, Abstracter, Negative Vortex. Sign in here.
* The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Thurs. June 20: The Dead Daisies. Fri. June 28: Gene Loves Jezebel. Fri. July 19: Robby Krieger. Thurs. Aug. 29: Graham Bonnet Band. Sat. Aug. 31: K.K.'s Priest. Calendar here.
* Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park is again hosting free eclectic Saturday 7pm music events this summer. Sat. June 22: cumbia with Vilma y la Sonora, La Diabla et al. Sat. Aug. 10: reggae with Wailing Souls, DJ Boss Harmony, Dub Club DJs. Full schedule here.
* Sun. June 23, 7pm: Those recalcitrant eclecticists of songwriting and harmony Garretson & Gorodetsky (dig Vince Meghrouni's harmonica workout on the new "Marriage"), along with cabaret star Jane Cantillon and singer Lisa Moncure, play the Blind Barber, 5715 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park 90042; drinx available.
* You say The Regent downtown has fragments o' metal? Thurs. & Fri. June 27 & 28: Cryptopsy, Death to All (drummer Gene Hoglan & co. celebrating the music of the late Chuck Schuldiner's band Death). Calendar here.
* JustJazzTV is a great resource for live jazz. 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.
* The Greek Theater in Griffith Park has outdoor shows. Sat. July 13: Slash, Warren Haynes Band, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales. Calendar here.
* Highland Park's Lodge Room occasionally books jazz, metal, heft and influential obscurities. Tues. July 16: Mark Guiliana. Mon. Aug. 5: The Melvins' Buzz Osborne is Buzzo of King Buzzo & Trevor Dunn; Dunn is a fantastically adaptable bassist. Sun. Aug. 11: Jazz Is Dead presents '70s Ghanaian Afrobeat kickstarter Gyedu Blay Ambolley. Thurs. Sept. 19: modern fusion from Kiefer Trio. Full schedule 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.
* Why, sure, Teragram Ballroom downtown mixes in metal. Sun. July 28: Pallbearer, Inter Arma. 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. Sat. Oct. 19: Van Morrison. Tickets here.
* Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Fri. Aug. 9: Megadeth. Wed. Oct. 30: Opeth. Calendar 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.
* Wed. Aug. 28: Jazz Is Dead presents producers The Mizell Brothers and the Blackbyrds, storied saxist Gary Bartz, local high rollers Katalyst and singer Melanie Charles for a night of urban groove, old and new. At Ford Amphitheater in the Cahuenga Pass; tickets here.
* Downtown's Belasco Theater stages some rock, metal, etc. shows. Tues. Aug. 30: Tinariwen. Thurs. Sept. 26: Boris. Calendar & tix 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.
* Wed. Oct. 9: Jazz Is Dead presents Ghanaian legends Ebo Taylor & Pat Thomas. At Ford Amphitheater in the Cahuenga Pass; tickets 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.
* Keep up with L.A. Jazz Society events, including its Young Musician Showcases, here.
* El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile books yer occasional metal show. Calendar here.
* The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills occasionally melts faces or hosts an outside master. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Peacock Theater (formerly Microsoft Theater) occasionally books heavy music. Lineup here.