The fall music season is in full swing and there’s still plenty of great acts to catch before holiday-themed events start to take over the calendar. Fans of ’80s and ’90s harDCore can see luminaries from that era perform in an intimate jazz club setting, while our pick-of-the-month is one of the finest jazz guitarists working today.

If you only catch one show this month: 

GUITAR GREAT: Julian Lage was pegged as a future jazz great while he was still in high school — and a music prodigy well before that (he played onstage with Carlos Santana when he was 8 years old). Today, he’s an established jazz musician — some say one of the best guitarists of his generation — carving out a varied and impressive career with his fluid lines and impeccable tone. Lage’s most recent album, View With A Room, was released in September to much-deserved critical acclaim. His working trio consists of drummer Dave King (The Bad Plus) and bassist Jorge Roeder and later in the month the group will perform with guest vocalist Arny Margret. (Nov. 30 at Sixth & I Synagogue, 8 p.m.; $26 in advance/$31 at the door).

If you want to see local talent:

VIOLIN RESIDENCY: Dave Kline is a violinist who stretches the boundaries often associated with the instrument. His music blends blues and jazz into a variety of styles from around the globe including Africa and Latin America. Kline is holding down a residency at Blues Alley for three Tuesdays this month, featuring a different band each evening. Special guests include Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Jenny Langer, and others. (Nov., 15, 22 at Blues Alley, 7 & 9 p.m. sets; $30 + minimum/surcharge)

Ed. note: Blues Alley recently experienced a fire and as a result is temporarily closed. The club’s ownership believes that the venue will reopen as soon as next week, but patrons should confirm before purchasing tickets. 

DMV ALL-STARS: Pianist Larry Brown won numerous Wammies (D.C.’s local music awards) during the aughts with a style that recalls the classic hardbop of the 1950s and ’60s. This month, he’s assembled a team of contemporaries equally skilled on their respective instruments for Jazz Night in Southwest. The ensemble features trumpeter Thad Wilson, saxophonist Peter Fraize, bassist Kent Miller, and drummer Greg Holloway. (Nov. 4 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6-9 p.m.; $10 at the door)

CARR KEYS: The musical sparring that takes place when Paul Carr and Marshall Keys share the bandstand is always a treat. Carr is a respected performer and educator who has mentored numerous local musicians, while Keys has worked with luminaries like Stevie Wonder and organist Jimmy McGriff. The two saxophonists team up from time to time in the delightfully named Carr Keys. (Nov. 12 at Takoma Station, 7-10 p.m.; $15 in advance/$20 at the door)

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Nasar Abadey is a long time faculty member in the jazz department at the venerable Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins. Also an active performer, the first-call drummer is celebrating his 75th birthday with his working band, SUPERNOVA, and ace trumpeter Sean Jones as a special guest. (Nov. 21 at Blues Alley, 7 and 9 p.m. sets; $25 + minimum/surcharge)

BIG BAND JAZZ: Every music fan should avail themselves of seeing a proper jazz orchestra in concert. The occasion is increasingly rare, due to the economics surrounding a 15- to 17-piece ensemble. Musicians like area trombonist Bobby Felder still take it upon themselves to convene these types of bands from time-to-time, and we’re all better for it. (Nov. 25 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6-9 p.m.; $10 at the door)

If you want to see acts coming through town:

OGRESSE: Cécile McLorin Salvant returns to D.C. to present Ogresse, a jazz fairy tale that brings whimsy and a sense of theatricality not often seen in a jazz performance. The musical arrangements are by New York-based composer Darcy James Argue. The story is a classic yarn about an outcast who falls in love — with the twist that she is a cannibal. (Nov. 12 at The Kennedy Center, 7:30 p.m.; $29-$89).

GOSPEL JAZZ: Saxophonist Javon Jackson teams up with the esteemed poet Nikki Giovanni and renowned vocalist Nnenna Freelon to present an evening of poetry, hymns, and spirituals placed in a jazz context. The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni is aimed at commemorating and celebrating the resilience, struggle, and sacrifice of the African American community. (Nov. 18 at The Kennedy Center, 7:30 p.m.; $30-$35)

HERO TRIO: Local music organization District of Raga is teaming up with Wolf Trap to present a series of concerts that highlight music of the South Asian diaspora. The first performance features saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa with his Hero Trio, featuring drummer Rudy Royston and bassist François Moutin. The band’s latest effort, Animal Crossing, features music by Pat Metheny, Chuck Mangione, and George Michael. (Nov. 17 at The Barns of Wolf Trap, 8 p.m.; $37-$42)

If you’re looking to get out of your comfort zone:

DUOS: Folks have multiple chances to see guitar wiz Anthony Pirog perform this month.  First, he teams up with Janel Leppin (cello), performing as Janel & Anthony. They are on a bill of duos, sharing the stage with Ryley Walker and J.R. Bohannon, a guitar/pedal steel pairing whose sound uses American roots music as a springboard for sonic explorations. (Nov. 9 at Rhizome DC, 7 p.m.; $15)

PUNK JAZZ: The Messthetics, a collaboration between aforementioned guitarist Pirog and Fugazi’s rhythm section, is one of the most exciting projects to come out of the local music scene in recent years. They’ll take the stage at a decidedly non-punk venue for this show, but we’re excited to see how that changes the band’s presentation. (Nov. 29 at Blues Alley, 7 and 9 p.m. sets; $25 + minimum/surcharge)

If you’re in search of global sounds:

Venezuelan singer Nella is a rising star in South America, but her level of fame isn’t as high in the United States. That kind of success is quite possibly in her future, so this week’s performance is a chance for everyone to say, “I saw her when…” (Nov. 4 at AMP, 6:30 and 9 p.m. sets; $28-$52)

Pianist and singer Eliane Elias explores the bossa nova sounds of her native Brazil on Mirror Mirror, an album that took the Grammy this year for Best Latin Jazz Album. She comes to Northern Virginia to play material from that release along with compositions from her latest, Quietude. (Nov. 5 at The Barns of Wolf Trap, 8 p.m.; $57-$62)