Fri. June 17 -- You can't kickstart summer without reggae, and the heaviest boot belongs to true Jamaican originators Toots & the Maytals. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 9pm; $26; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Fri. June 17 -- Discovered busking on zither by Brian Eno, Laraaji made one of Eno's ambient albums in 1980 and is still giving you room to breathe. Support comes from Inga (saxist Sam Gendel's trio), Matthew David's Mindflight and opening DJ Carlos Niño. At Highland Park Ebell, 131 S. Avenue 57, Highland Park 90042; 7pm; $15 advance tix here.
Fri. June 17 -- Request once & future country rockers I See Hawks in L.A. to play "Stop Driving Like an Asshole," and buy singer Rob Waller's soulful & trippy covers CD (Neil Young, Doors, Willie Nelson, et al.). At the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N. Lake Ave., Altadena 91001; 8pm; $18; reservations (626) 794-2424; cash or checks only; no booze; www.coffeegallery.com.
Fri. June 17 -- Miles & Herbie windman Bennie Maupin injects the ghost of blues into his richly contoured chamber-jazz experience with bassist Darek Oles, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, drummer Michael Stephens and a special guest (Gautama?). 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; $30; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. June 18 -- You never know what Grammy-winning keyboardist Billy Childs will throw at you, but it's gonna be musicianly, intelligent and thoroughly considered. With windman Katisse Buckingham, bassist Ben Shepherd, drummer Louis Cole and poet Paul Calderon. 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.
Sat. June 18 -- Superdrummer Alphonse Mouzon pays tribute to Trane & Wayne with yet another all-star combo featuring saxist Ernie Watts (Charlie Haden's Quartet West), pianist Mahesh Balasooriya and bassist Jeff Littleton. 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.
Sun. June 19 -- I don't care if you like classic (but original) souljazz, steaks or martinis, but your dad does, so take him to see Elliott Caine for Fathers Day. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Tues. June 21 -- Femme-fronted, fire-belchin' blackened deathsters Immortal Bird serve you petit fours with InAeona, Voices of Ruin, Cetacean. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 8pm; $10; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Thurs. June 23 -- The high-abstraction, high-intellect, high-subtlety Claudia Quintet gets you high through the ministrations of drummer John Hollenbeck, bassist Drew Gress, windman Chris Speed, vibesman Matt Moran and accordionist Red Wierenga. 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.
Thurs. June 23 -- Venom Inc. is Brit thrash forefathers Venom without vocalist Cronos, so make your own call. With Necrophagia, Fortress, Mysticism, Luna Occulta. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Thurs. June 23 -- Happy birthday, Glenn Danzig. From his current "Skeletons" album, I strongly recommend GD's heartbreaking cover of "Crying in the Rain," for real.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.