MetalJazz

Select chronological listings.


* The World Stage in Leimert Park has Friday 8pm PT (and sometimes other days) in-person presentations with occasional simultaneous live streams of righteous jazz; keep up with the schedule here. Fri. Dec. 8: saxist Azar Lawrence has a history from Elvin Jones to Earth, Wind & Fire, and he blows a healing gale. Donations encouraged here.
* The LAX-area bar Sam First offers 7:30pm and 9pm jazz shows, in person and sometimes STREAMING. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 8 & 9: experienced drummer Joe LaBarbera Quintet. Wed. Dec. 13: superstrong modern pianist John Escreet's Seismic Shift Quartet, an all-star unit featuring saxist Mark Turner, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Damion Reid. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 15 & 16: John Beasley Trio. Tuesdays often feature jams with world-class pianist Gerald Clayton. Sat. Dec. 23: Artyom Manukyan Trio with Vardan Ovsepian & Mark Ferber. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 29 & 30: Roy McCurdy Quartet. Look here for full schedule and options.
* Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood hosts mostly mainstream jazz and singers, but there are exceptions. Fri.-Sat. Dec. 8-9: guitarist Michael Landau, keyboardist Jeff Babko, trumpeter Walt Fowler and bassist Travis Carlton form the all-star ranks of legendary drummer Steve Gadd Band. Fri.-Sun. Dec. 29-31: Poncho Sanchez. Full calendar here.
* The new-music and avant-jazz series Soundwaves presents regular Saturday 3:30pm concerts at Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90401; FREE. Sat. Dec. 9: Berlin-based modern musician Cathy Milliken (English horn, voice & percussion) with Jeff Schwartz (upright bass) and Daniel Rothman (wetlands recordings).
* Sat. Dec. 9: Former Textone and Gene Clark duo pard Carla Olson splits a bill with chestful I See Hawks in L.A. singer Robert Rex Waller Jr., whose new album she produced; you haven't lived until you've heard him climb the tall mountain of the Walker Brothers' "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore." At West L.A.'s McCabe's; tickets here. This will sell out.
* 2220 Arts + Archives (Beverly Blvd. near Alvarado) hosts a variety of cultural presentations including jazz & electronic. Sat. Dec. 9: Wild Up presents the distinctive compositions and collaborations of Jodie Landau, performed by Jodie Landau, Meara O'Reilly & William Brittelle. Wed. Dec. 13: melodic abstractions from guitarist Dave Harrington & the Pictures Band; don't miss the daring but meditative electronified improvisational guitar & banjo duo of Robert Jacobson & Matt Piper, Mastless Into Dawn, which opens. Listings here.
* The Baked Potato in Universal City presents fusion (etc.) concerts at 8 & 10pm nightly. Sat. & Sun. Dec. 9 & 10: One of the fusion highlights of the year arrives with guitarist Mike Stern's band, featuring drummer Dennis Chambers, bassist Jimmy Haslip, saxist Bob Franceschini, and special Africanized spotlights from Leni Stern on n'goni and guitar. Thurs.-Sun. Dec. 14-17: Joe Bonamassa and Rock Candy Funk Party. Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 21 & 22: Jeff Lorber Fusion. Sat. Dec. 23: Mike Garson Trio. Fri. & Sat. Dec. 29 & 30: Billy Childs. Thurs. & Fri. Jan. 18 & 19: Mike Keneally. Full schedule here.
* ETA, a bar in Highland Park, brings top local (etc.) jazz. Check in anytime here, as it often books on short notice.
* LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile offers FREE outdoor jazz concerts every Friday at 6pm through November. Calendar here.
* 1720 (east of downtown, south of the 10 freeway) books metal etc. Sun. Dec. 10: Free Metal Sunday presents an unholy night of bands including Wyrmhaven, Last of Our Kind, Sacrificer, Velosity, Exile, more. Sun. Jan. 7: Behold the Monolith, Destroy Judas, more (free with RSVP). Mon. Jan. 22: Gorod. Fri. March 8: Ov Sulfur. Full calendar here.
* The Mint (Pico & Crescent Heights) has mostly Sunday jazz shows anchored by pianist Sam Hirsh Trio. Check listings here.
* Atwater's adventurous avant/modern/world club Zebulon offers surprises from the present and past. Tues. Dec. 12: Suicide's Martin Rev takes you back to the late '70s, when things were minimal, if not simple. Mon. Dec. 18: drummer Mark Guiliana. Full calendar here.
* The Whisky on Sunset Strip books metal etc. Thurs. Dec. 14: Kings of Thrash with Dave Ellefson & Jeff Young, both formerly of Megadeth. Sun. Dec. 31: L.A. Guns. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Belasco Theater stages some rock & metal shows. Fri. Dec. 15: Cattle Decapitation. Sat. Jan. 20: Zakk Sabbath. Sun. March 24: KMFDM. Calendar & tix here.
* The Kia Forum in Inglewood gets heavy now and then. Sat. Dec. 16: Queens of the Stone Age. Listings here.
* Open Gate Theater has moved its long-running and invaluable avant concert series to the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, 301 N. Orange Grove Ave., Pasadena. Sun. Dec. 17: Andrea Centazzo West Coast Chamber Jazz Trio, featuring the percussionist plus Ellen Burr on flutes and Jeff Schwartz on upright bass; also bassist Miller Wrenn Quartet with Steph Richards on trumpet, Cathlene Pineda on piano and Clint Dodson on drums. Sun. Jan. 7: new-musical piano genius Vicki Ray with the Open Gate Ensemble, plus the fantastic piano-drums duo of Joshua White & Alex Cline. More here.
* Sun. Dec. 17: Pianist Dan Tepfer explores the intersection between man and machine. At UCLA's Nimoy Theater; tickets/info here.
* Highland Park's Lodge Room occasionally books jazz, metal, heft and influential obscurities. Thurs. Dec. 21: Minaret Winter Jazz Festival presents eight of the label's signees, which include jazz (Sasha Berliner-Nicole McCabe Quartet) and DJs (DJ Mejiwahn). Sun. Feb. 4: Jazz Is Dead blowout with Gerald Clayton, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott, Matt Brewer. Thurs. Feb. 22: Bassekou Kouyate. Full schedule here.
* Vibrato, a luxurious restaurant high up in Bel Air, books mostly mainstream jazz. Thurs. Dec. 21: Latin music from Louie Cruz Beltran. Full schedule here.
* El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile books yer occasional metal show. Sat. Jan. 27: From Rob Halford to Marilyn Manson to Motley Crue to his own wild solo records, John 5 plays the hell out of a guitar. Calendar here.
* Sat. Feb. 10, 8pm: The wild twin guitars and rhythm of Double Naught Spy Car team up with Dr. Christoph Bull on the Great Organs of First Congregational Church in North Central L.A.; tickets here.
* Santa Monica's Jacaranda music series presents a great selection of forward-looking modern classical and world music. Sun. Feb. 25: Kahil El'Zabar directs the Lyris Quartet and his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in exploring the influence of Arnold Schoenberg's 12-tone music upon John Coltrane. Full listings here.
* Piano Spheres always has topflight outward programming from the classically trained world at the Thayer or Zipper halls downtown. Calendar here.
* Keep up with L.A. Jazz Society events, including its Young Musician Showcases, here.
* The Jazz Salon presents top singers on Thursdays and sometimes Sundays at downtown's Los Angeles Athletic Club. Check in here.
* REDCAT (beneath downtown's Disney Hall) presents some experimental music and jazz. Calendar here.
* Downtown's Disney Hall presents some jazz and events of note beyond classical. Tickets here.
* The Canyon in Agoura Hills books its share of metal, fusion and original good stuff. Calendar here.
* The Mayan downtown has jazz and rock sometimes. Calendar here.
* The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills occasionally melts faces or brings in an outside master. Calendar here.
* The Fonda Theater in Hollywood has occasional metal & world. Calendar here.
* Inglewood's midsize YouTube Theater brings variety programming. Calendar here.
* The Orpheum downtown rocks and jazzes at times. Tickets here.
* Downtown's Peacock Theater (formerly Microsoft Theater) occasionally books heavy music. Lineup here.