Fri. Aug. 28 -- Guitar legend Albert Lee fronts an all-singin', all-playin' bluesrocketcetera quartet with keyboardist JT Thomas, bassist Will MacGregor and drummer Jason Smith, plus special guest Cindy Cashdollar on lap steel. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30-$35; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri.-Sat. Aug. 28-29 -- A 75th birthday so nice he has to celebrate it twice: Former Headhunter Bennie Maupin gathers up all his wind instruments and works his fusion-blues-chamber magic with a super quintet featuring pianist Patrice Rushen, bassist Darek Oles, drummer Gene Coye and percussionist Munyungo Jackson. 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; $25; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Aug. 29 -- Mainstream pianist George Kahn loads up on ace sidemen: saxist Azar Lawrence & Chuck Manning, trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, bassist Jeff Takiguchi and drummer Paul Kreibich. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Ch icken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $15; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. Aug. 29 -- Few could pay tribute to the three Kings of the blues -- B.B., Albert and Freddie -- with more feel and verve than guitarist Joe Bonamassa. I only regret that he ain't playing with Glenn Hughes anymore. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7:30pm; $73-$130; www.greektheatrela.com.
Mon. Aug. 31 -- Conjuror of the n'goni (four-stringed African mandolin) as well as her classic gold Strat, Leni Stern stirs up a spicy soup with her astonishing African Trio mates, Senegalese bassist Mamadou Ba and hand drummer Alioune Faye. Stern has lived an adventurous international life, including a stint in her adoptive home of Mali during the 2012 coup, so this is also a special opportunity to hear her in a Q&A session, probably after the music. At the Garage at Los Angeles College of Music, 300 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena 91105; 8-10pm; FREE; first come, first served, so guarantee a seat with an RSVP here.
Mon. Aug. 31 -- If Enrico Rava and Bill Frisell ever did a duet, it might sound something like Tin/Bag's "The Stars Would Be Different." Trumpeter Kris Tiner and guitarist Mike Baggetta give their lyricism all the space it needs to expand and interact in lovely plaints that can't help but get inside your heart. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Mon. Aug. 31 -- Kenny Burrell's Jazz Orchestra Unlimited plays the classic guitarist's music and that of his faculty in the UCLA Jazz Department, which he chairs. And you know he don't hire no slackers. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Thurs. Sept. 3 -- Tall lurker Alex Noice cuts a mysterious figure (and cuts mysterious guitar figures) in Daniel Rosenboom's band; hear what this unusual musician has up his sleeve with his own sextet featuring alto man Gavin Templeton, bassist Colin Burgess, drummer Andrew Lessman, and vocalists Karina Kallas & Argenta Walther. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.