Fri. March 31 -- The most tasteful bassist in SoCal, Darek Oles, plays the music of John Coltrane (who died 50 years ago) with an all-star group: resurgent saxist Ralph Moore, in-the-pocket saxist Chuck Manning, deep-rooted pianist Eric Reed, and Reed's former Black Note bandmate, drummer Willie Jones III. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat.-Sun. April 1-2 -- Steal a cabinet member's wallet and buy scalper tix for this big sold-out hardcore & metal bill featuring Nails, Toxic Holocaust, Final Conflict, Gatecreeper, Haarm. At the Hi-Hat, 5043 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; Sat. 6:30pm, Sun. 5pm; $20; all ages; www.hihat.la.
Sun. April 2 -- Fish to Birds insist that a group of vocalists (Cathy Segal-Garcia, Adrianne Duncan, Mon David, Emile Hassan Dyer, Ashley Maher and Cecily Gardner) can jam just as wild as instrumental avantists. Opening is the duo of Robert S. Hilton (who makes his own instruments out of found objects) and Breeze Smith (drums). At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Tues. April 4 -- A significant event: Fluidly blinding guitarist Allan Holdsworth celebrates the reissue of 11 albums and the release of "Eidolon," a self-selected two-disc compilation. While the production of his earlier recordings sometimes exhibits the cheese whiz endemic to the early '80s, there's no denying the individualistic imagination of his compositions and the technical acuity of his fusionary fretwork, which has put its stamp on generations of acolytes. Singer-guitarist Cameron Morgan opens. At Del Monte Speakeasy in the basement of the Townhouse, 52 Windward Ave., Venice 90291; 8:30pm; $20; 21+; www.townhousevenice.com.
Tues. April 4 -- Microfest continues to remember composer Lou Harrison's centennial with microtonally oriented performers: pianist Sarah Cahill, and Varied Trio (Aron Kallay, Shalini Vijayan & Yuri Inoo). At Monk Space, 4414 W. Second St. near Western, Los Angeles 90004; 8pm; $25 ($20 students); www.tuesdaysatmonkspace.org.
Thurs. April 6 -- "Hopscotch" musical director and "Skies of America" (Gurrisonic Orchestra) conductor Marc Lowenstein puts together a boundless program featuring operatic vocalists Justine Aronson, David Castillo & Grace Bernard; cellist Derek Stein; and fine nontraditional composer-vocalist-instrumentalist Jodie Landau. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20 (students $16); www.redcat.org.
Sat. April 8 -- Performing music from his remarkable Blue Note double album, "Lovers," guitarist Nels Cline and crew visit areas of mood and texture left unexplored since the 1950s, and the timing seems exactly right. New York guitarist Stephen Ulrich's instrumental trio, Big Lazy, opens. A CAP presentation at UCLA's Royce Hall; 8pm; $29-$59; www.cap.ucla.edu.
Sat. April 8 -- Blue Note saxist Joe Lovano brings the beef, the ease, the control and the technique to his tradition-based Classic Quartet. At Cal State L.A.’s Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. 90032; 8pm; $30-$50; (323) 343-6600; www.luckmanarts.org.
Sat. April 8 -- Lado B Brazilian Project unites pianist Otmaro Ruiz, guitarist Larry Koonse, windman Katisse Buckingham, bassist Edwin Livingston, drummer Chris Wabich and percussionist Clarisse Cast with singer Catina DeLuna and a raft of other singers for a rhythm & laziness experience. 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.
Sat. April 8 -- Dense guitars, sprung rhythms and thrashy explosions define Dallas' Power Trip. With Destruction Unit, Mizery. At Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W. Seventh St., downtown 90017; 9pm; $17; www.teragramballroom.com.
Wed. April 12 -- Riffy Boston stoners Gozu chug heavy & melodic, shades of Masters of Reality. With Ape Machine, The Oil Barons, Johnny Nasty Boots. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $10; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Thurs. April 13 -- The 1960-style jazz of trumpeter Elliott Caine and band make you forget that 3-wood shot you sliced into the pines on the 8th hole. Blue Guitar Club at Arroyo Seco Golf Course, 1055 Lohman Lane, South Pasadena 91030; 7:30pm (two sets); (323) 769-3500; $10-$15; www.blueguitar.club.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.