Fri. Sept. 4 -- This version of Ohm may be the metaljazziest yet. Both guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Nick Menza played in Megadeth, though not at the same time; they can also bond over injuries, since Poland triumphed over a hand smashed in a car door and Menza recovered from an arm sliced with a power saw. Jazzwise, Nick is the son of notable saxist Don Menza and learned from Buddy Rich. Best wishes for longtime Ohm bassist Rob Pagliari (whose fusion with Poland dates back to pre-'Deth days) to retain full use of all his limbs. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. Sept. 4 -- The museum presents its annual Jazz Treasure Award to storied guitarist Kenny Burrell prior to stuffing and displaying him in its permanent collection. I imagine they'll make him play, too. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri.-Sun. Sept. 4-6 -- A major mainstream name with a bit of an edge, trumpeter Wallace Roney can't be downplaying his Miles Davis influences when he teams up with Miles drummer Lenny White and bassist Rashan Carter (any relation to Miles bassist Ron?), plus pianist Victor Gould and saxist Benjamin Solomon. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm (7:30pm Sun.); $25-$27; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. Sept. 5 -- Saxist Azar Lawrence, a true son of the '60s, leads an all-star quartet featuring trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos (remember Black Note?), bassist Jeff Littleton and hall of fame drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $15; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat. Sept. 5 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's jazz-Latin postbop quartet grooves righteously. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat. Sept. 5 -- Tool drummer Danny Carey ventures outside the Tater with his heavy-jammin' Volto, featuring Lance Morrison, Matt Rohde and John Ziegler. At the Mint, 6010 Pico Blvd., LA 90035; 10pm; $15; (323) 954-9400; www.themintla.com.
Sat. Sept. 5 -- This month's "soundSpark" series (weird music to corrupt the youth) brings in multistylistic violinist-vocalist Yvette Holzwarth. A SASSAS presentation at the Children's Theater in West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; noon; FREE; www.sassas.org.
Sat. Sept. 5 -- Trumpeter John Daversa udates the big-band tradition with 16 skilled allies including drummer Gene Coye and saxist Bob Sheppard. 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; $20; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Sept. 6 -- John Daversa Contemporary Big Band employs many of the same players as last night (no Sheppard, though, says the site). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Sept. 6 -- Always presenting the height of creativity along with the height of skill, this month's Sunday Evening Concert brings rootedly celestial singer Dwight Trible together with conceptualist/multi-instrumentalist Will Salmon and universal percussionist Alex Cline to extrapolate on the poems of theologian and monk Thomas Merton (pictured) -- my gosh! Opening is a trio of tried and tensile avantists: windman Peter Kuhn, bassist Kyle Motl and drummer Nathan Hubbard. Glue your wig. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Thurs. Sept. 10 -- One of L.A.'s most reliably involving and multifaceted musicians, vibraphonist-composer Nick Mancini, cools duos with a couple of ace pianists: frequent partner Gary Fukushima (interpreting Bill Evans) and Marsalis vet Eric Reed (channeling Monk and Mingus). 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; $15; 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.