Is this lineup of jazz performances richer and more mouth-watering than we’ve seen in many a year? Yep.

By Steve Elman

Did I travel back in time? Have I been transported to Jazz Heaven? Or is it just that the schedule of performances at our small and large venues through the end of 2018 is richer and more mouth-watering than we’ve seen in many a year?

Whatever it is, I don’t want to go back to the moribund scene of yesterday, and I hope to be hearing a lot of music in the next few months. I was very critical of our local producers not too long ago, and I’m happy to be eating my words this season.

Scullers continues to offer some outstanding shows, despite the departure of Freddie Taylor as their programmer. The Celebrity Series is giving us a jazz walk along the Charles this month and several more fine events in the months ahead. The ICA is offering music and multimedia in a Jason Moran exhibition. There are interesting offerings at the Cabot in Beverly. Berklee is putting some excellent players out on the street for the Beantown Jazz Festival. And Regattabar, all is forgiven!

Here are some compelling reasons to get off that chair and get out to hear some music between now and December 31, roughly (in my view) in the order of their artistic importance, along with my reasons for recommending each one. In the “More” section below, you’ll find a chronological list of everything I would attend in the coming weeks if I had the time and cash.

Live music! It’s the greatest thing you can do for your ears.

Level One: Must-hears:

Dee Dee Bridgewater (vo), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, October 26 & Saturday, October 27, 8 & 10 p.m. The greatest living jazz vocalist, right now at the top of her game. No accompanists have been announced, but her band last year included trumpeter Theo Croker, saxophonist Irwin Hall, pianist Michael King, and a great rhythm section – so important for a singer – bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Kush Abadey, who’s worked with Donal Fox. Her last CD was a smart selection of tunes associated with the Memphis soul tradition (see my thumbnail review) and she will probably do some of that material, but frankly, anything Dee Dee sings these days can send chills down your spine. Although you shouldn’t misinterpret this next link as an indication that she will do only pop-oriented material at Scullers, here’s a YouTube video of B. B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone” from last year that shows how strongly she can rock out when she wants to:

Chick Corea (p) “Vigilette Trio”, with Carlitos del Puerto (b), Marcus Gilmore (dm) – Scullers, Wednesday, September 19, Thursday, September 20, Friday, September 21, Saturday, September 22 (8 & 10 p.m. each night) and Sunday, September 23 (7 & 9 p.m.). This is a Genuine Event in our area, all the more remarkable because of how rare an occurrence it now is – a jazz artist of the first rank, playing in the most intimate of settings, in a FIVE-night stand. Shades of the Jazz Workshop! Listeners will have the opportunity to hear a master on several different nights, and the master will have the chance to relax and get comfortable in the club setting. Saturday and Sunday, Corea’s final performances, promise to be nights to remember. As for the billing (“Vigilette Trio’), this is a bit of a puzzle. The reference is to Corea’s 2013 release The Vigil, which was a quintet session with guest artists. Drummer Marcus Gilmore was on that date, but bassist Carlitos del Puerto was not. The repertoire may include material from that CD, but my guess is that the group will range through all phases of Corea’s huge repertoire.

Jason Moran (p) and the Bandwagon [probably Tarus Mateen (b/e-b) & Nasheet Waits (dm)] – Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater at the Institute for Contemporary Art, Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. Any chance to see the innovative pianist Jason Moran and his longstanding rhythm partners is something to take note of, but this performance, in the ICA’s acoustically beautiful concert space, is especially worthwhile because it spotlights Moran’s debut as an exhibiting artist in other media. Elsewhere in the building, the ICA is presenting a show of his collaborations with visual artists, including Lorna Simpson, Glenn Ligon, Joan Jonas, and Stan Douglas, along with displays of his own sculptural pieces and charcoal drawings. Go early on October 12, see the visuals with both eyes, and then listen to the music with both ears. If you can’t make the concert, the exhibition runs from September 19 through January 21, 2019.

Eddie Palmieri (p), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 2 & Saturday, November 3, 8 & 10 p.m. It’s not enough to call Eddie Palmieri a living legend of Afro-Latin music. He embodies and transcends the full range and richness of Cubania (especially salsa), adding to the familiar rhythms and conventions a jazz musician’s understanding of complex harmony and a master composer’s gifts for instrumentation. Seeing him live is an absolute necessity. He has a new release, Full Circle, with a big ensemble, although it’s not likely that the Scullers gig will feature all the players on the CD. Fear not – even if the ensemble is small, the music will be big. Expect the local Latin community to be out in force, so get your tickets early.

Jazz Along the Charles, with 25 ensembles playing along the Boston shore of the Charles River, including the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble Brass Band and groups led by Rebecca Cline (p), Kevin Harris (p), Yoron Israel (dm), Charlie Kohlhase (as/ts/bari), Jason Palmer (tp), Tim Ray (p), and Rebecca Shrimpton (vo) – On the footpath from the Community Boating building near the Longfellow Bridge to the Fairfield Street Bridge near Stoneman Playground, Sunday, September 23, 2-4 p.m. Created and sponsored by the Celebrity Series of Boston. Do you really need an excuse to walk along the Charles? This event will give you one, along with the chance to sample a wide range of the outstanding talent in our area. A great additional twist: each band will select its repertoire from a list of sixteen Boston-related tunes selected by Ken Field, a member of Birdsongs of the Mesozoic and leader of the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble Brass Band. The tunes include Benny Carter’s “Back Bay Boogie,” Gary Burton’s “Boston Marathon,” Horace Silver’s “Peace” (WGBH host Eric Jackson’s theme song, dontcha know), and, of course, The Standells’ “Dirty Water.” You’ll hear something you like and come away with the names of several artists you’ll want to follow, this I can guarantee. Pray for good weather, so that you can linger at each stop. Each band will play two 45-minute sets.

Level Two: If you have the time, don’t miss these:

Kenny Werner (p), Dave Liebman (ts/ss/fl), Esperanza Spalding (b) & Terri Lyne Carrington (dm) – Scullers, Friday, September 28 & Saturday, September 29, 8 & 10 p.m. An all-star quartet. Liebman is a monster saxophonist. Werner is a superb pianist. These vets are uniting with two younger players – drummer Carrington, whose status has grown and grown since she left the Bean for the Big Time, and bassist Spalding, who has gotten huge buzz for her songwriting and singing. This meeting of four great talents should be fascinating.

Donal Fox (p) “Magical Duets” with Special Guest “Steinway Spirio” (“the world’s finest high-resolution player piano,” according to its maker) – Regattabar, Friday, October 26, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Fox has come to own the musical crossroads where classical intersects jazz. This evening should be a prime example of his cross-genre invention, but it also will be unlike anything you’ve heard previously in a live context. It offers a literal meeting of musical minds as Fox uses a Steinway player piano to resurrect J. S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Johannes Brahms, Federico Mompou, and Frederic Chopin on the classical side, along with Thelonious Monk from the jazz world, and intertwine his improvisations and compositions on a second piano with their music. He’s already recorded some of his work along these lines, but this will be the first live outing for the concept. He’ll play solo, too.

Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons, playing the US premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s “Remembering: In Memoriam Evan Scofield” – Symphony Hall, Thursday, November 1, 8 p.m.; Saturday, November 3, 8 p.m.; Tuesday, November 6, 8 p.m. I include this concert for several reasons. Nelsons has professed an interest in jazz, and this program may be the first indication that he’s bringing that interest into his music direction. “Remembering: In Memoriam Evan Scofield” is a new piece, co-commissioned by the BSO, commemorating the son of guitarist John Scofield, with whom Turnage has a long friendship. Look for Sco in the hall on one of those nights.

And BTW, the BSO has a milestone concert coming on March 23, 2019, when conductor Thomas Wilkins leads the orchestra and saxophonist James Carter in a program exclusively devoted to African-American and Latino composers. It includes Carter playing Roberto Sierra’s saxophone concerto and Duke Ellington’s “A Tone Parallel to Harlem.”

Ran Blake (p) & Sara Serpa (vo) – Regattabar, Wednesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. Nothing else in the world sounds like a Ran Blake recital with a singer. His unique style of accompaniment brings out hidden depths in any vocalist, and with a simpatico partner, the results can be transcendent. Serpa is Portuguese-born, so there may be touches of fado.

Bill Pierce (ts), with Javon Jackson (ts), Mark Turner (ts), Antonio Hart (as), Melissa Aldana (ts), David Gilmore (g), Lawrence Fields (p), John Lockwood (b), Ron Savage (dm); and with Kevin Eubanks (g), Jake Sherman (org), Terri Lyne Carrington (dm) – Berklee Performance Center, Wednesday, September 26, 8 p.m. A much-deserved Berklee tribute, produced by Carrington, honoring the veteran saxophonist and teacher Bill Pierce. The collection of talent and the outpouring of emotion for a beloved figure on the local scene guarantee some great playing and a night to remember. In the first half, the four saxophonists above (all former students of Pierce, and all now leaders in their own rights) play with Fields, Lockwood and Savage. After intermission, Pierce himself fronts a team of his regular sidemen.

George Burton (p) Quintet, with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, October 5, 8 & 10 p.m. A pianist who knows what he’s doing, capable of setting the bandstand on fire. This quintet date promises steaming post-hard bop, at the minimum. There’s no guarantee that the personnel at Scullers will be the same as on this YouTube video of Burton and his band ripping through “Bernie’s Tune”  but count on a similar level of excitement when the band plays here.

T. S. Monk (dm), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Saturday, October 6, 8 & 10 p.m. Thelonious Monk’s son, a terrific drummer, who usually works with top-class sidemen. They will surely do some of Monk Senior’s tunes, which T. S. always interprets definitively. There will also be a lot more post-bop, well-played. This full-length concert video  will show you how good T. S. and his group can be – be sure you stick through it to hear the band play his father’s classic, “Monk’s Dream.”

Messenger Legacy Band [Brian Lynch (tp), Bobby Watson (as), Bill Pierce (ts), Geoff Keezer (p), Essiet Essiet (b), Ralph Peterson (dm)] – Scullers, Thursday, October 11, 8 p.m. Ralph Peterson has taken on a noble challenge – keeping alive the great tradition of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, a band that was the finishing school for a whole generation of post-bop players. The front line for this gig is stellar. Bobby Watson (a Blakey vet himself) and Brian Lynch are both first-rate tunesmiths who have contributed mightily to the Legacy Band’s book, and Bill Pierce (another Blakey vet) is a Boston veteran with many longtime fans here, who will just have been honored with an all-star Berklee tribute (see above). All three of them are crackerjack soloists. With the foundation of Keezer, Essiet, and Peterson, this should be a brilliant evening. Below is a YouTube video of the band at Berklee:

John Scofield (g), with Gerald Clayton (p), Vicente Archer (b), Bill Stewart (dm). – Scullers, Wednesday, December 5 & Thursday, December 6, 8 & 10 p.m. A new band for Sco, who almost always has an annual gig at Scullers. He’ll have a new CD in September, to be called Combo 66 in honor of his 66th birthday. One of his most congenial drummers, Bill Stewart, anchors the group, with Clayton and Archer, two very promising younger players, providing new blood. Expect the usual guitar mastery from the leader and a new raft of those amazingly tasty Scofield originals. How could you stay away?

Charles Lloyd (ts/fl), Lucinda Williams (vo), The Marvels [Bill Frisell (g), Greg Leisz (pedal steel/dobro), Reuben Rogers (b), Eric Harland (dm)] – Berklee Performance Center, Sunday, December 16, 7 p.m. Sponsored by Celebrity Series of Boston. There’s no simple way to characterize this colloid, but you may never get the chance to see anything like it again. In 2016, singer-songwriter Williams and Lloyd teamed up with Bill Frisell’s countryish band The Marvels to record Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War,” and the single caught fire. So a CD (Vanished Gardens) and a tour made sense, and here it comes to Boston. The CD showcases Williams in four of her originals and Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel,” but she is not leading the way. It’s a real partnership. Damn the genres and full speed ahead.

Pat Metheny (g), with Gwilym Simcock (kb), Linda May Han Oh (b), Antonio Sanchez (dm) – Cabot Theater, Beverly, Sunday, September 30, 7 p.m. Here’s your chance to get out of town and see what all the North Shore Cabot buzz is about. The music is bound to be good – hey, it’s Pat Metheny.

Hot Tuna [Jorma Kaukonen (g) & Jack Casady (e-b)] – Cabot Theater, Beverly, Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. Another reason to get up to the Cabot. I know, it’s not “jazz,” but I should at least put one more ringer into the mix. It will not be nostalgia to see two of the most brilliant rock virtuosi of all time in the intimate duet setting where they have been their most adventurous. There will be blues, but it will not be blues as you imagine it.

Level Three: Well worth your time and money:

Kenny Barron (p) Quintet, with other players to be announced – Regattabar, Friday, November 16 & Saturday, November 17, 7:30 & 10 p.m. If you took them for granted, you lost your chance to see Horace Silver, Elmo Hope, Red Garland, Phineas Newborn, John Lewis, Hank Jones, and now Randy Weston . . . a frightening number of the great jazz piano stylists who came up in the fifties and sixties are gone. But if you’re lucky, you can still see Harold Mabern, Barry Harris, or Kenny Barron. Kenny is leading a quintet when he visits our town, and the results cannot fail to be delightful.

Paquito D’Rivera (as/ss/cl), with Diego Urcola (tp/v-tb), Alex Brown (p), Oscar Stagnaro (b), Mark Walker (dm) – Regattabar, Saturday, October 19, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Paquito’s mastery of the reeds is something we now tend to take for granted – although the chance to see one of the great Cuban virtuosi should never be ignored. The addition of Diego Urcola, a talented and simpatico brass player, and what promises to be a strong rhythm section, put this gig high on the list.

Russell Malone (g), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Thursday, October 25, 8 p.m. One of Sonny Rollins’s favorite collaborators, Malone often follows a path on guitar that is less traveled – the chordal melody and solo. In single-string work, his debt to Wes Montgomery is obvious, but that’s hardly a reason to avoid him. In fact, it may be one of the best reasons to see him, for keeping the Montgomery tradition alive and well. Here’s a bird’s-eye view of his work in a YouTube clip below, assembled without particular regard for the segues – but it shows how well he can play.

Stefon Harris (vib/mar) and Blackout [probably including Casey Benjamin (as/bcl) and possibly Jean Baylor (vo)] – Regattabar, Friday, Nov 30, 7:30 p.m. A mallet virtuoso who made more than a mark holding the vibes chair in the SF Jazz Collective, and who was just co-honored (with Dee Dee Bridgewater and others) with a Doris Duke Foundation award. Like one of his primary influences, Bobby Hutcherson, he is equally fluid on vibes and marimba. He and Blackout, which usually features reedman Casey Benjamin, are touring behind the fall release of a new CD, Sonic Creed. The preview tracks, which also include vocals by Jean Baylor, are very promising, and this should be a fine night of music. Also, apparently, it will be a bargain. Since the Regatta isn’t selling tix for the second set, your single entrance fee will most likely get you as many sets as Stefon chooses to play.

Stan Strickland (ts/ss/vo) / Josh Rosen (p) “Trio and Quartet,” with RaKalam Bob Moses (dm), Bruno Råberg (b), Dave Fox (dm) – Regattabar, Tuesday, September 25, 7:30 p.m. For Strickland and Moses alone, this date is worth putting on your calendar. Strickland is a magisterial Presence who always brings special qualities of grace and power to a gig, and Moses is a percussionist of supreme inventiveness. Hearing them play together should be special. Strickland has worked for some time with pianist Rosen – to hear how effective they are together, you can sample their duo CD called Instinct on the website of Ziggle Zaggle Records.

Benny Green (p), with David Wong (b), Kenny Washington (dm) – Scullers, Friday, November 16, 8 & 10 p.m. Green may not be flashiest or loudest pianist you’ve ever heard, but Taste is (or ought to be) his middle name. He has technique to match anyone on the scene, and he always employs it in the service of smart improvisation and sensitive interpretation. This will be a night that will reward careful listening, so if you like to spend a lot of time talking during the music, show some restraint – you’ll be cheating yourself and spoiling the evening for the folks at the next table.

Tetrapych [Bert Seager (p), Hery Paz (ts), Max Ridley (b), Dor Herskovits (dm)] – The Lilypad, Wednesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. Tuneful free playing . . . is it possible? And how. See my review and then go see Bert’s terrific quartet. (The band has been working the Lilypad on the first Wednesday of the month; hopefully this will continue through the end of the year, but further dates have yet to be announced.)

Christian Sands (kb), with Caio Afiune (g), Eric Wheeler (b), Jonathan Barber (dm), and “guests to be announced” – Scullers, Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. Sands is gifted, no doubt, and he’ll probably bring along some great additions to this solid rhythm section. Below is a YouTube video of Sands with Eric Wheeler playing “I Got Rhythm,” which begins with a solo statement that shows off his beautiful technique and the impressive independence of his two hands; when the rhythm comes in, this unit really catches fire.

Eliane Elias (p/vo), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 23 & Saturday, November 24, 8 & 10 p.m. Elias’s recent CD, Dance of Time, may be the best balance she has yet achieved in juggling her Brazilian heritage, effortless-sounding vocals, and brilliant keyboard work. Expect this gig to be very Brazilian, but never lightweight – there’s steel inside her velvet gloves. Example: this YouTube clip  of João Gilberto’s “O Pato” from the new release. The only Portuguese you need to know is that “O Pato” means “The Duck,” and you’ll have a hard time keeping a straight face – but listen to her piano solo, too.

Joey Alexander (p), possibly with Reuben Rogers (b), Eric Harland (dm) – Cabot Theater, Beverly, Sunday, November 11, 7 p.m. One of Fred Taylor’s Jazz and Heritage concerts at The Cabot. You know the drill – another wunderkind jazz player trying to grow into maturity before our ears. But Alexander’s new CD, Eclipse, is not showoffy or self-conscious, and that makes it encouraging. It isn’t groundbreaking, to be sure, but the music is solid mainstream jazz with dollops of elegance and sensitivity. For those steps ahead, he should be commended and applauded. If the support at The Cabot is the same as on the CD (although Rogers and Harland are currently touring with Charles Lloyd), you should have a lot of good listening.

Julian Lage (g) Trio, probably with Scott Colley (b), Kenny Wolleson (dm) – Berklee Performance Center, Friday, November 30, 8 p.m. Sponsored by Celebrity Series of Boston. The new CD, Modern Lore, brims with tuneful stuff, and the trio format shows off Lage’s trademark fuzzy twang, showing a little bit rock and more than a little bit country, rooted in a firm jazz sensibility. The Berklee concert will surely draw the guitar crowd, so Lage will have to bring his A game to the stage.

Luciana Souza (vo), with Chico Pinheiro (g), Scott Colley (b), other players to be announced & / Yellowjackets [Russ Ferrante (kb), Bob Mintzer (ts/ss), Dane Anderson (b), Will Kennedy (dm)] – Berklee Performance Center, Friday, November 9, 8 p.m. Sponsored by Celebrity Series of Boston. Souza and Yellowjackets both have new CDs (The Book of Longing [see Fuse review] and Raising Our Voice), and both have enthusiastic followings. Yellowjackets also features Souza on half of its CD, so the groups will play separately and then join forces.

Ben Wendel (ts) Seasons Band [probably including Aaron Parks (p), Gilad Hekselman (el-g), Matt Brewer (b), Henry Cole (dm)] – Regattabar, Thursday, November 29, 7:30 p.m. When this group played Sanders Theater under the auspices of the Celebrity Series, they were mightily impressive. (Here’s my review of that date.) A club gig should be looser and even livelier, and this one will feature material from their new CD, due out October 12.

Arturo Sandoval (tp), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 30 & Saturday, December 1, 8 & 10 p.m. The fiery Cuban trumpet player, who started out with Chucho Valdes and Irakere decades ago, never fails to put on a great show. His technique is stunning, and his choice of supporting players is usually impeccable. Read my colleague Steve Provizer’s review of Sandoval at the Cabot in Beverly to whet your appetite.

Alexander Claffy (b), with David Kikoski (p) and Kurt Rosenwinkel (g) – Scullers, Thursday, November 1, 8 p.m. Claffy is touring behind a new CD of standards (due to be released at just about the same time he plays this gig) featuring Kikoski and Rosenwinkel, each of whom is a first-rate stylist in his own right. The repertoire should be very agreeable, and the massive talent on the stand virtually guarantees a satisfying evening. No drummer has been announced, but Claffy will surely bring along someone who can cut it.

Bob James (kb) Trio, probably with Michael Palazzolo (b), Billy Kilson (dm) – Regattabar, Friday, October 9 & Saturday, October 10, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Yes, THAT Bob James, the guy who began his career as an avant-garder, made a ninety-degree turn to play on and produce dozens of near-smooth-jazz LPs on CTI and CBS, and then faded from the charts. He has reemerged occasionally since his glory days to play concerts and small venues. He’ll come to Cambridge with an acoustic trio, touring behind the new CD Espresso. Who knows what they will play? If the supporting musicians are Palazzolo and Kilson (the guys on the CD), the repertoire will be straight-ahead, and the feel will be post-Bill Evans, with the occasional rockish detour. Let’s hope he puts his serious persona out front and shows off his considerable gifts on the good old grand.

Marco Pignataro (ts/ss), with Alan Pasqua (p), Eddie Gomez (b), Adam Cruz (dm) – Massachusetts Avenue Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 2:25 p.m. Sponsored by Berklee. Free. Italian saxophonist Pignataro codirects the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. His sound falls somewhere between Coltrane and Getz, and his playing is also infused with what might be called “Italian soul.” This all-star group also plays on his new CD, Almas Antiguas.

Ralph Peterson (dm), with Gary Thomas (ts/fl), Mark Whitfield (g), Davis Whitfield (p), Curtis Lundy (b) – Massachusetts Avenue Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 3:40 p.m. Sponsored by Berklee. Free. In addition to leading the Messenger Legacy Band (see above), Peterson leads Aggregate Prime, this quintet of formidable talents.

Dave Frank (p) – The Lilypad, Sunday, September 16, 3:15 p.m. A renowned teacher-performer with incredible facility on the keyboard, in the area’s most intimate venue. You could compare his work to that of Lennie Tristano. The repertoire is supposed to be mostly bebop. Haven’t heard of him? Check this You Tube clip out:

Jerry Bergonzi (ts), with other players to be announced (at 8:30 p.m.) and The Fringe [George Garzone (ts/ss), John Lockwood (b), Bob Gullotti (dm)] (at 10:30 p.m.) – The Lilypad, Mondays, September 17 & 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29; Bergonzi, a saxophone giant, and The Fringe, one of the greatest free-jazz ensembles in the world, featuring fellow giant Garzone, play regularly at the Lilypad, leaving most concertgoers slack-jawed in astonishment at the sheer virtuosity on display. Don’t take them for granted. You should see them at least once a year – why not this coming Monday? OK, then, go next Monday.

Joe Locke (vib), Jim Ridl (kb), Lorin Cohen (e-b), Samvel Sarkisyan (dm) – Scullers, Saturday, November 17, 8 & 10 p.m. Locke has chosen to play vibes with four mallets, in the Gary Burton tradition, but he is his own man on the instrument, and this quartet has been working together long enough to develop a real partnership. I’ve never heard Ridl live, but on the strength of the band’s recorded work, I think he’s a player to watch. This link has a pair of clips from a gig the band did last year at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Manhattan.

Bert Seager (p) & Eden MacAdam-Somer (vla/vo) – Druker Auditorium at Newton Free Library, 300 Homer Street, Sunday, September 16, 2 p.m. A meeting of impressive creative talents. Seager is a gifted interpreter of material from standards to free jazz. MacAdam-Somer is a double threat – a violist with a fondness for Americana who often sings along with her playing, and she’s co-chair of Contemporary Improvisation at NEC. The results should range far and wide.

Yoko Miwa (p), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 9, 8 p.m. Amid all this other talent, it would be easy to overlook Miwa’s Scullers gig, but she is a very talented pianist getting more and more recognition, so this will undoubtedly be a worthwhile night out, without the distractions of a non-listening crowd. Miwa plays regularly on Fridays at The Mad (formerly Thelonious) Monkfish, whose Jazz Baroness Room is a better listening space than most – her currently scheduled dates there are September 14, 21, and 28. She also works on Saturdays at the noisier Les Zygomates.

More:

Here is a chronological list of everything I can recommend through December 31, according to the most recent club and venue schedules as of September 15. The events described above are simply included in order of performance date. Other events are described below in more detail.

Dave Frank (p) – The Lilypad, Sunday, September 16, 3:15 p.m. See above.

Bert Seager (p) & Eden MacAdam-Somer (vla/vo) – Druker Auditorium at Newton Free Library, 300 Homer Street, Sunday, September 16, 2 p.m. See above.

Jerry Bergonzi (ts), with other players to be announced (at 8:30 p.m) and The Fringe [George Garzone (ts/ss), John Lockwood (b), Bob Gullotti (dm)] (at 10:30 p.m) – The Lilypad, Mondays, September 17 & 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. See above.

Jazz Along the Charles, with 25 ensembles playing along the Boston shore of the Charles River, including the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble Brass Band and groups led by Rebecca Cline (p), Kevin Harris (p), Yoron Israel (dm), Charlie Kohlhase (as/ts/bari), Jason Palmer (tp), Tim Ray (p), and Rebecca Shrimpton (vo) – On the footpath from the Community Boating building near the Longfellow Bridge to the Fairfield Street Bridge near Stoneman Playground, Sunday, September 23, 2-4 p.m. See above.

The Bridge Trio [Conun Pappas (kb), Max Moran (e-b), Joe Dyson (dm)] – Scullers, Thursday, September 27, 8 p.m. An eclectic and interesting band extending the piano trio tradition into electric territory.

Chick Corea (p) “Vigilette Trio”, with Carlitos del Puerto (b), Marcus Gilmore (dm) – Scullers, Wednesday, September 19, Thursday, September 20, Friday, September 21, Saturday, September 22 (8 & 10 p.m. each night) and Sunday, September 23 (7 & 9 p.m.) See above.

Lucas Amorim (vib), with other players to be announced – The Lilypad, Thursday, September 20, 7:30 p.m. A gifted four-mallet player who knows how to caress a melody. Below is a sample of his solo work.

Mark Turner (ts) & Ethan Iverson (p) – Regattabar, Thursday, September 20, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Duets that will be cerebral, but not necessarily in the clouds. Here’s a YouTube sample.

Cassandre McKinley (vo), with other players to be announced – Regattabar, Friday September 21, 7:30 p.m.. Her style was called “jazzsoul” in the Globe and she has a new CD, Dragonfly.  Thanks to reader Nancy Grossman for the suggestion.

Matt Marcus (p) & Marshall Wood (b) – The Lilypad, Sunday, September 23, 6:30 p.m. Sometimes you just want to hear great musicians play beautiful straight-ahead jazz. This is that kind of gig. This YouTube video will show you how well Marcus gets around the piano, and you’ll hear Wood solo tunefully on bass, too.

Joe Hunt (dm), with other players to be announced – The Lilypad, Sundays, September 23 & October 28, 8:30 p.m. Joe is a consummate musician. He was the drummer in George Russell’s small groups, and worked with Stan Getz and Bill Evans, too – those ought to be enough reasons to see him. The fact that he plays at The Lilypad regularly is just another reason why this little venue needs and deserves your support.

Stan Strickland (ts/ss/vo) / Josh Rosen (p) “Trio and Quartet,” with RaKalam Bob Moses (dm), Bruno Råberg (b), Dave Fox (dm) – Regattabar, Tuesday, September 25, 7:30 p.m. See above.

Bill Pierce (ts), with Javon Jackson (ts), Mark Turner (ts), Antonio Hart (as), Melissa Aldana (ts), David Gilmore (g), Lawrence Fields (p), John Lockwood (b), Ron Savage (dm), Kevin Eubanks (g), Jake Sherman (org), Terri Lyne Carrington (dm) – Berklee Performance Center, Wednesday, September 26, 8 p.m. See above.

Sarah McKenzie (vo/p), with other players to be announced – Red Room at Café 939 (a Berklee venue), 939 Massachusetts Avenue, Thursday September 27, 8 p.m. A showcase for the Aussie singer-pianist, who possesses a crystalline voice and a light touch on the keyboard, supporting her new CD, Paris in the Rain.

Kenny Werner (p), Dave Liebman (ts/ss/fl), Esperanza Spalding (b) & Terri Lyne Carrington (dm) – Scullers, Friday, September 28 & Saturday, September 29, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Jason Palmer (tp), with other players to be announced – Massachusetts Avenue Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 1:10 p.m. Sponsored by Berklee. Free. A young trumpeter with great technique and interesting ideas, who had the wisdom to record two recent CDs in live performance at Wally’s, the great South End institution, the Godfather of Boston Jazz Venues. And also see November 3

Darcel Wilson (vo), with other players to be announced – Burke Street Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 1:15 p.m. Sponsored by Berklee. Free. A soulful singer just starting to make her mark.

Marco Pignataro (ts/ss), with Alan Pasqua (p), Eddie Gomez (b), Adam Cruz (dm) – Massachusetts Avenue Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 2:25 p.m. See above.

Philipp Gerschlauer (microtonal saxophone). David Fiuczynski (fretless g), Utar Artun (per), Drew Gress (b), Jack DeJohnette (dm) – Burke Street Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday September 29, 1:15 p.m. Sponsored by Berklee. Free. No, they’re not playing out of tune. Gerschlauer and Fiuczynski explore the spaces between the notes of traditional Western intonation, and their supporting players follow suit. Once you retune your ears, the music is straightforward. Like hearing a whole band playing “in the cracks,” à la Jackie McLean.

Ralph Peterson (dm), with Gary Thomas (ts/fl), Mark Whitfield (g), Davis Whitfield (p), Curtis Lundy (b) – Massachusetts Avenue Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 3:40 p.m. See above.

Tia Fuller (ts), with other players to be announced – Burke Street Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 5 p.m. Facile and sharp, Fuller has a new CD, Diamond Cut, and should provide a very worthwhile show.

Catherine Russell (vo), with other players to be announced – Massachusetts Avenue Stage at Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 29, 5 p.m. Russell has won Grammys for her deliberately retro approach. She draws inspiration from the great swing-era vocalists – you might think of her as a latter-day Helen Humes.

Pat Metheny (g), with Gwilym Simcock (kb), Linda May Han Oh (b), Antonio Sanchez (dm) – Cabot Theater, Beverly, Sunday, September 30, 7 p.m. See above.

Allan Chase (as), with other players to be announced – The Lilypad, Tuesdays, October 2 & December 4, 8 p.m. An impeccable improviser, a deep thinker, and a deeply respected teacher, Chase’s occasional visits to the Lilypad are more than worth your while.

Tetrapych [Bert Seager (p), Hery Paz (ts), Max Ridley (b), Dor Herskovits (dm)] – The Lilypad, Wednesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. See above.

Ran Blake (p) & Sara Serpa (vo) – Regattabar, Wednesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. See above.

George Burton (p) Quintet, with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, October 5, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

T. S. Monk (dm), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Saturday, October 6, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Messenger Legacy Band [Brian Lynch (tp), Bobby Watson (as), Bill Pierce (ts), Essiet Essiet (b), Ralph Peterson (dm)] – Scullers, Thursday, October 11, 8 p.m. See above.

Hot Tuna [Jorma Kaukonen (g) & Jack Casady (e-b)] – Cabot Theater, Beverly, Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. See above.

Christian Sands (kb), with Caio Afiune (g), Eric Wheeler (b), Jonathan Barber (dm), and “guests to be announced” – Scullers, Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. See above.

Noah Preminger (ts), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Thursday, October 18, 8 p.m. No accompanists have yet been announced for this gig, but Preminger, an accomplished saxophonist who won Down Beat‘s Rising Star award, has the juice to bring along some top talent.

Paquito D’Rivera (as/ss/cl), with Diego Urcola (tp/v-tb), Alex Brown (p), Oscar Stagnaro (b), Mark Walker (dm) – Regattabar, Saturday, October 19, 7:30 & 10 p.m. See above.

Charlie Kohlhase (as/ts/bari) & Explorer’s Club, with other players to be announced – The Lilypad, Wednesday, October 25, 7:30 p.m. Charlie has done everything from bebop to free music. These days he concentrates on the more traditional repertoire, but don’t be surprised if the music takes an out turn.

Russell Malone (g), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Thursday, October 25, 8 p.m. See above.

Dee Dee Bridgewater (vo), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, October 26 & Saturday, October 27. See above.

Donal Fox (p) “Magical Duets” with “Special Guest” “Steinway Spirio” (“the world’s finest high-resolution player piano”) – Regattabar, Friday, October 26, 7:30 & 10 p.m. See above.

Alexander Claffy (b), with David Kikoski (p) and Kurt Rosenwinkel (g) – Scullers, Thursday, November 1, 8 p.m. See above.

Juanito Pascual (g) Trio with Stan Strickland (ts/ss/vo) – Regattabar, Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. Pascual is a flamenco guitarist with beautiful technique. Hearing Strickland mesh with him should be ear-opening. Below Pascual plays solo:

Bob James (kb) Trio, probably with Michael Palazzolo (b), Billy Kilson (dm) – Regattabar, Friday, October 9 & Saturday, October 10, 7:30 & 10 p.m. See above.

Jason Moran (p) and the Bandwagon [probably Tarus Mateen (b/e-b) & Nasheet Waits (dm] – Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater at the Institute for Contemporary Art, Friday, October 12, 8 p.m. See above.

Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons, playing the US premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s “Remembering: In Memoriam Evan Scofield” – Symphony Hall, Thursday, November 1, 8 p.m; Saturday November 3, 8 p.m; Tuesday November 6, 8 p.m. See above.

Kenny Barron (p) Quintet, with other players to be announced – Regattabar, Friday November 16 & Saturday, November October 17, 7:30 & 10 p.m. See above.

Eddie Palmieri (p), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 2 & Saturday, November 3, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Jason Palmer (tp), with other players to be announced – Church of the Holy Spirit, 525 River Street, Mattapan, Saturday, November 3, 4 p.m. Sponsored by Celebrity Series of Boston. Free. Some star must be shining on Jason Palmer to give him TWO showcases, plus a gig at the “Jazz Along the Charles concerts – all in the same season (see September 23 and 29).

Yoko Miwa (p), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 9, 8 p.m. Miwa also plays regularly on Fridays at The Mad (formerly Thelonious) Monkfish – her currently scheduled dates there are September 14, 21, and 28. She also works on Saturdays at Les Zygomates. See above.

Luciana Souza (vo), with Chico Pinheiro (g), Scott Colley (b), with other players to be announced / Yellowjackets [Russ Ferrante (kb), Bob Mintzer (ts/ss), Dane Anderson (b), Will Kennedy (dm)] – Berklee Performance Center, Friday, November 9, 8 p.m See above.

Joey Alexander (p), possibly with Reuben Rogers (b), Eric Harland (dm) – Cabot Theater, Beverly, Sunday, November 11, 7 p.m. See above.

New England Conservatory Contemporary Improvisation Faculty, Students and Guest Artists (all players to be announced) – Jordan Hall, Monday, November 12, 7:30 p.m – Free, but a ticket is required. Here’s yet another in CI’s continuing series of three-ring musical circuses, this time celebrating the music of Billie Holiday and . . . George Jones? What could the premiere diva of jazz have in common with the “honky tonk legend” of country music? Leave it to the CI players and their guests to find out, and rest assured, you’ll hear the highest standards of musicianship contributing to the effort. Surprises are guaranteed.

Benny Green (p), with David Wong (b), Kenny Washington (dm) – Scullers, Friday, November 16, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Paquito D’Rivera (as/ss/cl) & Berta Rojas (g) with with other players to be announced – Berklee Performance Center, Thursday, November 15, 8 p.m. Paquito returns, a month after his Regattabar gig, for a more folkloric-classical outing, alongside virtuoso Paraguayan guitarist Rojas. They’ll feature music of Agustín Barrios Mangoré.

Joe Locke (vib), Jim Ridl (kb), Lorin Cohen (e-b), Samvel Sarkisyan (dm) – Scullers, Saturday, November 17, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Eliane Elias (p/vo), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 23 & Saturday, November 24, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Chris Speed (ts), Chris Tordini (b), Dave King (dm) – Regattabar, Tuesday, November 27, 7:30 p.m. Speed has a breathy, introspective approach to his instrument, and this new trio, touring behind the new CD Platinum on Tap, offers lots of interesting interplay. Two tracks can be sampled on the website of Intakt Records.

Ben Wendel (ts) Seasons Band [probably including Aaron Parks (p), Gilad Hekselman (el-g), Matt Brewer (b), Henry Cole (dm)] – Regattabar, Thursday, November 29, 7:30 p.m. See above.

Stefon Harris (vib/mar) and Blackout [probably including Casey Benjamin (as/bcl) and possibly Jean Baylor (vo)] – Regattabar, Friday, November 30, 7:30 p.m. See above.

Julian Lage (g) Trio, probably with Scott Colley (b), Kenny Wolleson (dm) – Berklee Performance Center, Friday, November 30, 8 p.m. See above.

Arturo Sandoval (tp), with other players to be announced – Scullers, Friday, November 30 & Saturday, December 1, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

John Scofield (g), with Gerald Clayton (p), Vicente Archer (b), Bill Stewart (dm). – Scullers, Wednesday, December 5 & Thursday, December 6, 8 & 10 p.m. See above.

Charles Lloyd (ts/fl), Lucinda Williams (vo), The Marvels [Bill Frisell (g), Greg Leisz (pedal steel/dobro), Reuben Rogers (b), Eric Harland (dm)] – Berklee Performance Center, Sunday, December 16, 7 p.m. See above.

All the big names above shouldn’t put you off going to the smaller clubs in the area.

Wally’s Café, at 427 Massachusetts Avenue in the South End is the Godfather, is still going in its seventieth year of operation. Talent usually appears without prior notice on the café’s website, but the players often include interesting musicians from Berklee and the Conservatory. Going to Wally’s is like going to Cape Cod League baseball games – you don’t know who’ll be there, but the craft is unfailingly good and you just might see a Tony Williams or Ricky Ford in the making.

The Mad (formerly Thelonious) Monkfish, at 524 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge (Central Square), consistently programs outstanding local jazz talent, usually Thursdays thru Saturdays. You’re likely to see and hear singers like Donna Byrne, Eula Lawrence, Patrice Williamson, and Daniela Schächter, pianists like Rebecca Cline and Yoko Miwa (Miwa usually plays on Fridays), and saxophonists like Andy Voelker, who often leads 10PM jam sessions after Miwa’s set on Fridays.

Darryl’s Corner Bar, at 604 Columbus Avenue in the South End, mixes R&B, soul and jazz into its bookings. Valerie Stephens sings there regularly.

Les Zygomates, at 129 South Street in the Leather District, is primarily a restaurant and wine bar, but the live music is jazz – if you can get the crowd to pay attention. Yoko Miwa plays there regularly on Saturdays.

The Beehive, at 541 Tremont Street in the South End, is far from a consistent jazz venue, but you can occasionally be surprised by the quality of the offerings.

And every once in a while, you’ll find jazz at the Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, halfway between Harvard Square and Porter Square.

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Steve Elman’s four decades (and counting) in New England public radio have included ten years as a jazz host in the 1970s, five years as a classical host in the 1980s, a short stint as senior producer of an arts magazine, thirteen years as assistant general manager of WBUR, and currently, on-call status as fill-in classical host on 99.5 WCRB since 2011. He was jazz and popular music editor of The Schwann Record and Tape Guides from 1973 to 1978 and wrote free-lance music and travel pieces for The Boston Globe and The Boston Phoenix from 1988 through 1991.