Links: L.A. performances (5/3//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 3: bassist Ben Williams crosses over from his well-established jazz career into R&B and hip-hop with his new recording. 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.
* The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. May 3: bass fusion king Tim Lefebvre with David Binney, John Escreet & Zach Danziger, wotta band! Tuesday Happenings feature jams led by top local artists. Wed. May 8: Larry Goldings & John Sneider. Fri. & Sat. May 10 & 11: freaky keyboardist Adam Hersh. Thurs. May 16: pianist Joshua White Quintet with Nicole McCabe, Chris Speed, Billy Mohler & Anthony Fung. Fri. May 17: L.A. Jazz Quartet. Sat. May 25: Andy Milne & Unison. Wed. May 29: Billy Mohler Quartet with Chris Speed, Julien Knowles & Jonathan Pinson. Fri. & Sat. May 31 & June 1: drummer Roy McCurdy Quartet. Fri. June 14: keyboardist John Escreet. Look here for full schedule and options.
* Knucklehead in Hollywood has metal DJs and live music. Fri. May 3: Western-themed plod and blackness from Colorado's Wayfarer, plus Sonja, Civerous. Sun. May 5: Portland speedsters Bewitcher; Deathspell, Haunter. Sat. May 18: The Enforcers, Expect The Worst, More To Pride, Form Rank, Dark Uniform. Thurs. June 20: Forn, Guck, Holy Death. Tues. July 9: Mizmor. Thurs. June 27: Gorgatron, Casket Robbery, Voraath. Sign in here.
* Why, sure, Teragram Ballroom downtown mixes in metal. Fri. May 3: veteran Canadian speedsters Exciter, thrash soldiers Warbringer. Sun. July 28: Pallbearer, Inter Arma. Calendar here.
* 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: smart & strong fusion from drummer 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.
* 2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Sat. May 4: solo piano from one of the region's best, Jamael Dean. Fri. May 24: Carlos Niño & Friends. Sat. June 29: SUMAC & Shiroishi, White Boy Scream, Zachary James Watkins. Listings 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 brings you funky abstraction with an Ornettean twist. 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.
* Healing Force of the Universe Records in Pasadena has live music 7:30-10:30. 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.
* 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: outsider operatics from Anne LeBaron featuring violinist Mark Menzies (you did WHAT with that Dirt Devil?). Sun. June 16: Steuart Liebig/Minim; more. More here.
* Frogtown's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Sun. May 5: the rising North Carolina improv trio Setting, plus the always involving guitar electrix of 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.. Sun. May 5: exuberant French pianist Jacky Terrasson splashes out in every direction from his new "Moving On" 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.
* 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.
* The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) usually has Sunday jazz shows anchored by pianist Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
* Thurs. May 9, 8pm-ish: Free-blowing veteran Philly saxist & poet Elliott Levin puts together a super trio with avant-savvy bassist Jeff Schwartz and drummer Peter Valsamis at Industry Cafe & Jazz, 6039 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232 (great Ethiopian and soul food, beer & wine).
* 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.
* 1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. 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.
* McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica has jazzy stuff now and then. Sat. May 18: Scott Amendola & Sticklerphonics. Calendar here.
* The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Sat. May 18: mighty axtress Orianthi can play some dirty blues as well as shred. Fri. July 19: Robby Krieger. Thurs. Aug. 29: Graham Bonnet Band. 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.
* Sun. May 19: The annual Concert for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund at Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills headlined by Quiet Riot still has a few VIP tickets and is accepting donations. Info here.
* El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile books yer occasional metal show. Wed. May 22: Armored Saint. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Belasco Theater stages some rock, metal, etc. shows. Fri. May 24: Cattle Decapitation, Carnifex. Tues. Aug. 30: Tinariwen. Thurs. Sept. 26: Boris. Calendar & tix here.
* Wed. May 29, 5pm: Slash and band play Amoeba Records in Hollywood; tickets go to the first customers who buy his new record at the store starting May 17. Details 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.
* Sun. June 2, 5pm: 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.
* 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, 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Wed. Oct. 30: Opeth. Calendar 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.
* The Fonda Theater in Hollywood has occasional metal & world. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Peacock Theater (formerly Microsoft Theater) occasionally books heavy music. Lineup here.