Fri. Oct. 17 -- Alto man Greg Osby, a torchbearer for the '90s avant but poking his flashlight into more accessible rooms as he grows older, leads a quartet with pianist Simona Premazzi, bassist Martin Nevin and drummer Adam Arruda. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $30 (students $25); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Oct. 18 -- French pianist Jacky Terrasson made quite a splash 20 years ago when he debuted with his impossible two-handed cascades, but he's full of surprises and affectionate Monk detours, and he's a crowd pleaser, so no predictions offered as he leads a trio with bassist Dave Robaire and drummer Jamire Williams. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $30 (students $25); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Oct. 18 -- Lookin' at the lineup of Crow Nuts (keyboardist Jeff Babko, bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Louis Cole and slammo guitarist Tim Young), I'm thinking this could be pretty damn wild & freaky nowsville fusion. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Oct. 18 -- Guitarist Anthony Wilson (whose father, the great Gerald, passed away recently) launches another creative version of The Curators, this one with violinist Petra Haden, pianist Patrick Warren, bassist Mike Elizondo and drummer Matt Chamberlain. Expect rooted shrubbery with ambitious foliage. 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.
Sat. Oct. 18 -- Relapse artists Nothing plow the melodic-atmospheric rock oceans in the unlikely company of headliner Ice-T's rage-metal outfit Body Count and Sacramento hardcore dudes Trash Talk. At Jewel's Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd. (east of Crenshaw), L.A. 90019; (323) 734-8849; www.catchonenightclub.com.
Mon. Oct. 20 -- The Gallagher brothers bring back Raven, the elemental trio that helped kickstart the New Wave of British Heavy Metal back in the '70s. With Night Demon, Hazard, Savage Reign, Warpath. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; doors 6pm; $15; (310) 652-4202.
Tues. Oct. 21 -- With their submerged beats, fragmented song structures, abstract axmanship and dire aggression, New York's Suffocation might be my favorite death-metal band, even without astonishing drummer Mike Smith. (Skinsman Kevin Talley, who's filled in with everyone from Black Dahlia Murder to the Red Chord to Slayer, is onboard for this tour, so no worries.) The substitution of Ricky Myers for familiar front man Frank Mullen is less bothersome to me than to some, since I'm more of an instro yob deathwise, and the brilliant guitar team of Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais stands firm. With Canadian death vets Kataklysm, plus Jungle Rot, Pyrexia, Internal Bleeding, more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Thurs. Oct. 23 -- Veteran alto saxist Kim Richmond has that warm, artfully shaped tone you rarely hear anymore (think Johnny Hodges), yet he's broad-minded enough to encompass our era's more abstract and alienated concerns. Great band, too, with ingenious trombonist-composer Joey Sellers, ear-grabbing pianist Andy Langham (who impressed in the Arthur Blythe tribute a few weeks back), trumpeter Brian Swartz, bassist David Hughes and drummer Adam Alesi. 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; $10; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.