Fri. May 6 -- A near-mainstreamer with heart and focus, former Marsalis pianist Eric Reed leads a quartet. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. May 6 -- Munyungo Jackson's Jungle Jazz puts the Miles/Wayne hand drummer up front in an African-rooted ensemble featuring violinist Karen Briggs, bassist Ric Fierabracci, guitarist Yohei Nakamura, keyboardist Dominique Taplin and drummer Euro Zambrano. 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.
Fri. May 6 -- I bet trumpeter John Daversa will still be semifusionizing selections from his new album of Beatles covers with guitarist Zane Carney, bassist Jerry Watts and thunderslappin' drummer Gene Coye. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. May 6 -- Black-robed rock monks Sunn O))) rumble the chthonic substrata via their mystical drones. With Big Brave, Hissing, DJ Sam James Velde. At the Regent Theater, 448 S. Main St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $18-$38 ("off sale" likely means it's sold out); 18+; www.theregenttheater.com.
Fri. May 6 -- I See Hawks in L.A. drop a tab and explore the country with handpicked psych-hick billmates Nocona. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 9pm; $5; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Fri.-Sun. May 6-8 -- I don't always fall for old-fashioned light-fingered melodic pianists, but Bill Charlap is so damned sincere about it. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm (Sun. 7:30pm); $25-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. May 7 -- Daniel Rosenboom turns up the simmering menace of '70s Miles to a full boil of modern social warfare with a new band and album by Burning Ghosts, wherein the trumpeter's cool lyricism contrasts against the noisy electric onslaught of guitarist Jake Vossler; bassist Richard Giddens and drummer Aaron McLendon lend flexible support to a variegated soundscape that also offers oases of lovely repose. Travis Flournoy contributes live video accompaniment. 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. Photo by Eron Rausch.
Sat. May 7 -- Noise from two substantially different kinds of machine: Brit grindcore originators Napalm Death and loud American experimentalists The Melvins. Melt Banana opens At the Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8pm; $30 (sold out); www.troubadour.com.
Sat. May 7 -- Industrial metal forefathers Fear Factory remain at the top cuz in Dino Cazares they possess a lead shredder who ain't just about FX boxes; they'll play their 1995 classic "Demanufacture" in its entirety. And: Screamin'/croonin' Krauts Soilwork may pour out pretty brokenhearted headbang, but they can write an effin tune. With Omnikage, Spades & Blades. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7pm; $26; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Sat. May 7 -- Microfest presents the vocal group Accordant Commons, singing microtonal compositions by Nomi Epstein, Daniel Corral, Evan Johnson and Lelah Reid. At Automata, 504 Chung King Court, Chinatown 90012; 8pm; $18; (213) 819-6855; www.automata-la.org.
Sun. May 8 -- One of the more orchestrated (not orchestral, though somewhat influenced by classical) death-metal dealers, Black Dahlia Murder effectively blends fury and development. Bay Areans Fallujah (recently signed to Nuclear Blast) combine ceaseless doublekick with echoing ping guitars, which actually sounds pretty damn swell, reminds me of Cynic. With Disentomb. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 7pm; $20 (looks like this one's sold out too, but, y'know); 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Sun. May 8 -- Vocalist Cristina Scabbia and veteran Italian metallians Lacuna Coil flog their new "Delirium" with a new guitarist. With Butcher Babies and two more whose names I can't read. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7:30pm; $23; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Sun. May 8 -- Barbara Morrison sings the jazz & blues from where they were born. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 11:30am; $55 includes Mother's Day brunch & vodka (whaddaya mean it's too early?); (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Thurs. May 12 -- With the help of rockers such as Geezer Butler, Matt Sorum, Steve Jones, Chad Smith and lots more, Adopt the Arts honors the honorable Glenn Hughes and Robin Zander (now there's two rockers who can blotty well sing) for being honored by inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7pm; $40-$500; all ages; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.