Fri. Nov. 25 -- Veteran saxist Charles Owens will veer way outward and way inward within the mind-freeing environs of the old Tapscott hood. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. Nov. 25 -- Twenty years from now, brag that you saw pianist Jamael Dean when he wasn't famous. At Del Monte Speakeasy in the basement of the Townhouse, 52 Windward Ave., Venice 90291; 8pm; FREE; 21+.
Fri. Nov. 25 -- The hair, the voice, the pop-metal legend: Dokken. With Desert Dragon, Stonebreed. At the Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills 91301; 9pm; $28-$38; (818) 879-5016; www.canyonclub.net.
Fri. Nov. 25 -- Fri.-Sat. Nov. 25-26 -- Guitarist Michael Landau has that big, greasy, gritty sound that gets in yer pores; his ace trio includes bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Gary Novak. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Nov. 26 -- Munyungo Jackson is the main man when it comes to percussion, and he'll have a supergroovin' band. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sun. Nov. 27 -- Michael Landau switches to acoustic guitar to back wife Karen in Hazey Jane, the kind of deepblooded folk that might give you nightmares. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Nov. 27 -- Nik Turner's Hawkwind means the long-running saxist (dating back to 1969!) has assembled a Dave Brock-less version of the primordial space-jam outfit. With Hedersleben, Flying Hair. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 8pm; $18; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Wed. Nov. 30 -- Slippery-clawed guitarist Chris Poland (ex-Megadeth) fuses the cuise in Ohm with old bass pard Robert Pagliari and new drummer Carlos Cruz. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Nov. 30 -- Drummer Matt Gordy and 10 well-traveled pals including trumpeter Steve Huffsteter, pianist Sam Hirsh and bassist Chris Colangelo, put their spin on Stravinsky's "Petrouchka." 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed.-Sat. Nov. 30-Dec. 3 -- Miles/Dolphy bassist Ron Carter has always gone his own multidirectional ways with total authenticity; his trio includes guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Donald Vega. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30 & 10:30pm; $30-$45; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Thurs. Dec. 1 -- Individualistic pianist Stephen Lockwood exposes the music of distant relative Normand Lockwood (1906-2002), a little-known but respected composer and studio arranger. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Thurs. Dec. 1 -- Call it metal or call it a blast of shrapnel to the cerebrum, Helmet rocks like no other band cuz nobody wrangles guitar like Page Hamilton. With Local H. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8pm; $20; all ages; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Thurs. Dec. 1 -- Nick Mancini, poet of the vibraphone, puts together a new group (Hammond man Joe Bagg, drummer Abe Lagrimas, special guest saxist Danny Janklow) at a new Cuban venue, appropriately for revolutionaries who remember high Fidelity. At Mambo's Cafe, 1701 Victory Blvd., Glendale 91201; 8 & 9:45pm; $20 minimum.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.