My advice: Don't choose just one.

Instead, catch three great jazz gigs in town this month. First, the Jazz Is Society brings the 2008 National Jazz Awards’ saxophonist of the year, Phil Dwyer, to Beat Niq on Saturday, October 16. Sure, his credits include composing, arranging and educating — as well as being a talented multi-instrumentalist — but he's played with the likes of Dave Holland and Jim Hall. Indeed, he's considered one of the country's best jazz musicians. Period.

Which is cool enough, but for his Calgary date, Dwyer will be paired with Don Thompson, whose work on bass and piano make him a legend in his own right. A central figure in Toronto and Montreal’s jazz scenes, Thompson has also played with heaves in Sarah Vaughn and Red Rodney, and has served time on the faculty at the Banff Centre. As a bandleader, composer and arranger — you name it, he’s done it — Thompson’s been a vital part of Canada’s jazz scene.

Between both, they’ve influenced — and been influenced by — the who's who in Canadian jazz. And in putting both Dwyer and Thompson in one performance, you’ll likely witness a chemistry seldom seen at jazz gigs.

Dwyer and Thompson aside, however, Ernesto Cervini's Quartet plays the Beatniq on Friday, October 15. Cervini's opened for the likes of Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland and Pancho Sanchez, and his new release, Little Black Bird, plenty of positive press in the August issue of Downbeat. And for good reason: If you’re looking for some excellent modern jazz fronted by an amazing drummer, look no further.

Cervini will be backed by three stellar musicians: Joel Frahm (sax), Adrean Farrugia (piano) and Dan Loomis (bass). Frahm, who started his career studying classical piano and later switched to jazz saxophone, has been described as the perfect foil for Cervini's performances. Farrugia, on the other hand, cites influences ranging from Keith Jarrett to Brad Mehldau. Cadence Magazine, for its part, has called Dan Loomis “a forceful and creative bass player.” In other words, expect a performance that’s backed by pedigree — and they play for one night only.

The weekend following has its own delights, coming in the form of one of Vancouver's hottest vocalists, Mary Kastle. She's been compared to Norah Jones and Ray Charles on her critically acclaimed 2010 album, Beneath the Folds. Released on Black Hen Music, Kastle has described it in a statement as, “A little bit of folk, a little bit of jazz and a lot of soul.”

Either way, the release showcases her talents as pianist and vocalist; she’s equally adept with swing, bossa nova, folk and a plethora of other genres. She's joined in Calgary by two of our brightest local musicians, Kodi Hutchinson (bass) and Tyler Hornby (drums). Catch the trio at Beatniq on Friday, October 22.