Fri. March 30 -- Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker supplies the lines and electronic abstractions; saxist-keyboardist Josh Johnson, bassist-synthesist Paul Bryan and drummer Jamire Williams frame the canvas. 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.-Sat. March 30-31 -- Organ trio? Call Joey DeFrancesco, the pre-eminent living Hammond exponent. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $25-$30; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com. Photo by Gloria DeFrancesco.
Sat. March 31 -- Major-league percussionist Munyungo Jackson drives a quintet with keyboardist Daren Johnson, guitarist Errol Cooney, bassist Benjamin Shepherd and drummer Euro Zambrano. 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 31 -- Theo Saunders & Chuck Manning are the playful & skillful keys-sax front line, supported by drummer Mark Stevens and bassist Harvey Newmark. Fun jazz at the outer edges of the tradition. At Desert Rose Restaurant, 1700 N. Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7-11pm; free, reservations advisable; (323) 666-1166; desertroserestaurant.com.
Sat. March 31 -- Anthony Wilson plays easeful post-trad jazz guitar with conceptual implications and a fine band: pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Joshua Crumbly, drummer Jay Bellerose and keyboardist Patrick Warren. At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8:30pm; $35 ($25 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. March 31 -- Screamin' Oakland blackened death churners Vale top a metal bill with Cave Bastard, Arachnigod, Anshelm. At The Blvd., 2631 Whittier Blvd., Boyle Heights 90023; doors 8pm; $7; 21+; (323) 264-3499.
Sun. April 1 -- Another unstoppable quartet of local improv masters (two from Slumgum): Drummer Trevor Anderies, clarinetist Brian Walsh, pianist Cathlene Pineda and bassist David Tranchina are Three Fingered Jack. Opening are Oakland psychedelic multigenrists Grex. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Tues. April 3 -- Ionospheric pianist Vicki Ray interprets music by Daniel Corral and five other modern composers. A Piano Spheres presentation at the Colburn School's Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 8pm; $20-$35 tix here.
Wed. April 4 -- Deep-breathing space groovers Maetar are joined by on-the-spot painter Norton Wisdom and special guests for an evening of relaxed exploration, always a good investment. At Corazon Performing Arts Center, 125 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga 90290; 9pm (two sets); $20 suggested donation; all ages; www.corazonperformingarts.com.
Wed. April 4 -- Elana Mann & John Burtle plug their new book about conceptual performance and demonstrate what it's all about, along with a Skype appearance by Dana Reason. At the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; 7:30pm; free; smpl.org; (310) 458-8600.
Thurs. April 5 -- Touted by Christopher Garcia (and me) as a great underrecognized composer, not to mention trombonist, Michael Vlatkovich assembles an ensemble with avant notables Tom McNalley (guitar) and Mayo Grout (drums). At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
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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.