Fri. Aug. 3 -- Vibesman Nick Mancini has pulled a bunch of new tunes out of the Vulcanian forge and aligned them for his new Collective: trumpeter John Daversa, cellist Artyom Manukyan, pianist Vardan Ovsepian, bassist Dave Robaire and drummer Dan Schnelle. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. Aug. 3 -- Drummer Matt Slocum has been proving himself all over town, and he's got the players to let you really hear him: Darek Oles (the ideal bassist for most any situation) and Josh Nelson (bringing a fresh breeze to the piano tradition). 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; $10; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri.-Sun. Aug. 2-5 -- The new "Spirit Fiction" is saxist Ravi Coltrane's most relaxed album, spontaneous yet controlled. The rhythms are often more implied than defined, the compositions veering toward the abstract while retaining a high degree of melody. With super players switching off in two separate ensembles -- including Geri Allen on piano, Drew Gress on bass, Ralph Alessi on trumpet, EJ Strickland and Eric Harland on drums -- we hear many different textures without feeling schizy, and a tumbling take on Ornette Coleman's "Check Out Time" was a reet inspiration from one of today's most sophisticated musical minds. I can't find out who'll be in the band, but I'm betting crownworthy longtime allies Gress, Alessi and Strickland. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm (7:30pm Sun.); $20-$25; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Aug. 4 -- Afro-blue singer Dwight Trible appreciates the socially conscious legacy of the late singer Oscar Brown Jr. with a superior band featuring pianist John Beasley, bassist Trevor Ware, drummer Paul Legaspi and percussionist Breeze Smith. A Jazz Bakery presentation at Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena 91106; 8:30pm; $25; (626) 683-6883; www.bostoncourt.com.
Sat. Aug. 4 -- Blue Whale host Joon Lee was a singer first, and with rising pianist Vardan Ovsepian accompanying him, you'll get the full picture. Show Lee how much you dig all he's done for our jazzforsaken burg. 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; $10; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Aug. 4 -- The power and the fantasy: guitarist Chris Poland's Ohm, with bassist Rob Pagliari and drummer David Eagle. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $15; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Aug. 5 -- Multidisciplinary trombonist George McMullen heads for the out side with all-star accompaniment from saxist Brian Walsh, bassist Devin Hoff and drummer Alex Cline; multiwindster Andrew Pask and his gang of FX boxes team up for a tribute to ECM moodman John Surman. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. Aug. 5 -- Tenor saxist Ernie Watts has played with Charlie Haden, Frank Zappa and the Rolling Stones. You haven't. At Levitt Pavilion, 30 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91103; 8pm; FREE; (626) 683-3230; www.levittpavilionpasadena.org.
Mon. Aug. 5 -- Sell your children and see Aerosmith and Cheap Trick once more before the American idols crumble into dust. Scalpers bought all the tickets to this one long before they went on sale to you. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 7:30pm; a few singles left around $250; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Tues. Aug. 7 -- Blues triple threat Buddy Guy played with the Rolling Stones too, but the Stones were the ones who thought he was doing them a favor. With Jonny Lang, who ain't no slouch either. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7:30pm; $48-$82; www.greektheatrela.com.
Wed. Aug. 8 -- Just the idea of a Bowl orchestra playing Duke Ellington tunes and celebrating Stan Kenton's centenary makes me feel old (Duke died when I was 23), but the upside is that if I went, I'd be surrounded by folks even more ancient than me. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068;8pm; $2-$146; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Wed. Aug. 8 -- If I call sludge-metal king Wino Weinrich's recent acoustic tunes with Conny Ochs "haunting," will somebody quote it and embarrass me? What the hell. At the Satellite, 1717 Silverlake Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; 9pm; $12; 21+; (323) 662-7728; www.thesatellitela.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.