Fri. May 27 -- Underrated singer Joe Lynn Turner throws down the rich lungsmanship he brought to Rainbow and Deep Purple. With The Hard Way, Black Valentine, Terry Lauderdale, MyRockBand. Lotta shakin A-Go-Go way this week. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Fri.-Sun. May 27-29 -- For sheer impressiveness, invention and soul, improvisational singer Rachelle Ferrell can't be beat. Read my review from a few years back here. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm (Sun. 7:30 & 9:30); $30-$35; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. May 28 -- Otep changes identities, changes metallic slants, changes poetic subject matter, but never changes her commitment to change. With September Mourning, Doll Skin, Through Fire, Still Not Dead, Terry Lauderdale. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Sat. May 28 -- Guitarist Robert Jacobson brings the outworldly larnin' he got from Miroslav Tadic and Vinny Golia to Balkan I Otvŭd, his Eastern European-inflected postjazz quartet with co-stars Eric Barber (sax), Doug Lunn (bass) and Dave Lewis (drums), plus special guests. At Unurban Coffeehouse, 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 7:30-10:30pm; no cover with one-item minimum; free parking across the street behind US Bank; www.unurban.com.
Sat. May 28 -- Dig the unusual combination of groove and sprung harmony that Joshua White teases from his keyboards along with bassist Dean Hulett and drummer Jonathan Pinson. 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.
Sat. May 28 -- Superdrummer Alphonse Mouzon (Weather Report) leads a versatile please-all band featuring saxist Brandon Fields, keyboardist Tateng Katindig and bassist Bruce Lett. At Roscoe's Seabird Jazz Lounge, adjacent to Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, 730 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90802; $20-$30; 9pm-1am; (562-787-0899); www.seabirdjazzloungelbc.com.
Sat.-Sun. May 28-29 -- Trumpeter John Daversa's Contemporary Big Band goes original and semi-abstract, driven by the locomotive drums of Gene Coye. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. May 1 -- Persistent Vancouver thudders Anvil continue to peddle the '80s metal sleaze. With Night Demon, Unleash the Archers, Hazard, Slaughter Path, Grave Shadow. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Thurs. May 2 -- What's this, an '80s Canadian metal mini-fest? Quebecois sci-fi trippers Voivod rumble heavy. With King Parrot, Child Bite, Erode. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.