Fri. March 22 -- Demanding your notice as one of America's rising soul-stirrers, pianist Joshua White assembles an extraordinary sextet with drummer Alex Cline, vibesman Nick Mancini, trombonist Michael Dessen, saxist Steve Lehman and bassist Dean Hulett. 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.
Fri. March 22 -- Violinist Karen Briggs stretches your melodic-jazz expectations with bassist Robin Bramlett, drummer Forrest Robinson and keyboardist Nick Smith. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $25; www.theworldstage.org.
Fri. March 22 -- Renowned pianist and soundtracker Michael Wolff cuts loose fevered melodies beyond the borders of jazztown. Upstairs at Vitello's, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City 91604; 7:30pm; $20 ($30 day of show) plus $20 minimum; (818) 769-0905; tickets here.
Fri. March 22 -- Metaljazz fusionmasters Cosmosquad (Jeff Kollman, Shane Gaalaas, Kevin Chown) saw themselves in half; read my record review here. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $28; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. March 23 -- With the chops of a studio musician and the imagination of a Picasso, South L.A. sax mainstay Charles Owens leads a band topmost in feel and experience featuring pianist Theo Saunders, bassist Henry Franklin and drummer Don Littleton. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. March 23 -- Pianist Omar Sosa floats into trancy world improvisation with Senegalese kora player & drummer Seckou Keita, plus percussionist Gustavo Ovalles. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8pm; $40 ($30 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. March 23 -- Take an afternoon siesta under a tree while absorbing the world/jazz experience of percussionists Carlos Niño & Alex Cline (plus guest); Black Nile Duo; Matthewdavid's Mindflight; Yialmelic Frequencies; Anandamide. At La Tierra de la Culebra Park, 240 S. Avenue 57, Highland Park 90042; 1pm; FREE; all ages.
Sat. March 23 -- This edition of the always artistic and tuneful Nick Mancini Collective conscripts the vibraphonist leader-composer plus singer Celia Chavez, saxist Danny Janklow, clarinetist John Tegmeyer, guitarist Adam Ratner, pianist Mike Ragonese, percussionist Scott Breadman, percussionist Pete Korpela and bassist Cooper Appelt. Whew. 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. March 23 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's combo stays main, and not just with the obvious tunes, either; good originals too. At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sat. March 23 -- Churn, tumble and groan; it's Bay Area metalmen Ulthar, plus Pestilent Death, Illegible Logos and more. At Five Star Bar, 267 S. Main St., downtown 90012; doors 8pm; $10; https://fivestarbardtla.com; (323) 428-4492.
Sat. March 23 -- The disciplined newmusical women of Eclipse Quartet perform compositions by Philip Glass and adventurers from around the world. At Brand Library and Art Center, 601 W. Mountain St., Glendale 91210; 2pm; FREE.
Tues. March 26 -- Dig into a low groove with the most unindebted of Bob's family, Stephen Marley. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7pm; $40; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Wed. March 27 -- Fearsome fusion chopsman Otmaro Ruiz plugs in for an electric Latin/jazz set featuring saxist Bob Sheppard, bassist Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu and drummer Jimmy Branly. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Wed. March 27 -- Saxist David Binney's long-running Whale residency continues to tweak ears with his concentrated tone and mathematical extrapolations. 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.
Thurs. March 28 -- Uzu Uzu is the unpinnable avantstar quartet of vocalist Kaoru, percussionist Brad Dutz, guitarist Ken Rosser and bassist Zephyr Avalon. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.
Thurs. March 28 -- Jazz Journalists Association awardee Zakir Hussain & Masters of Percussion make your heartbeat feel at home anywhere on the planet. A CAP presentation at UCLA's Royce Hall; 8pm; $30-$70; www.cap.ucla.edu.