5 perennial hits

You may have heard of this little gathering before. Founded by Jimmy Lyons and the late, great San Francisco Chronicle jazz critic Ralph J. Gleason in 1957, it’s been going strong– and blowing hot– ever since. It’s a can’t-miss event for locals and members of the international jazz community alike.

This year’s performers include Berkeley’s own Joshua Redman, Cassandra Wilson, Maceo Parker (Charlie’s son– “Bird’’ lives!) with the MJF Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider, Christian McBride, Nancy Wilson, Kurt Elling, British piano/vocal phenom Jamie Cullum, Tom Scott, Terence Blanchard and Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express. For the young ’uns, the Lyons Lounge will present 4onefunk and Quantic. Plus more, of course– much, much more. (See a complete, in-depth report in the Sept. 18 Weekly.) [PW]

6pm gates open Friday; 11:30am Saturday; 11am Sunday. $45-$110. 2000 Fairground Road, Monterey. 925-275-9255, http://www.monteryjazzfestival.org.

In the sky, breaking the sound barrier is blasé for some pilots– smashing the imagination membrane is more their speed. The relentless lineup of heaven-scraping studs includes the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Sean Tucker and Sky Hawks Canadian Forces Parachute Team. [MCA]

9am-4pm Saturday-Sunday. 30 Mortensen Road, Salinas. $16-$55 in advance; $19-$60 at the gate. 1-888-845-SHOW, http://www.salinasairshow.com.

Apparently the brains behind the oldest wine affair in the land decided to get strategic. This year, between the transcendent Grand Tasting at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (300 wines, 70-some wineries, dozens of gourmet food tables, 20 local restaurants, one white shark) and the redesigned anchor event at the fairgrounds (110 wineries, seemingly endless experts, live music, more fabulous food), they’ve built in a day to recover. Very smart. [MCA]

7:30-10:30pm Thursday; 4-9pm Saturday. Monterey Bay Aquarium, 880 Cannery Row, Monterey; Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey. $99/event. 1-800-422-0251, http://www.montereywine.com.

Every year, a stampede of bean-eatin,’ 10-gallon hat wearin,’ saddle-sore characters ride into town for this hoedown with heart. For the 10th annual installment of this popular festival, our town welcomes the “Polish-hobo-rodeo-poet” Paul Zarzyski and 2001 Will Rogers Award winner for Yodeler of the Year Sourdough Slim, who has performed at Carnegie Hall and Gene Autry’s 88th birthday party.

6pm Friday; 9am Saturday; 9am Sunday. Monterey Marriott, 350 Calle Principal, Monterey. $15-$200. 1-800-722-9652, http://www.montereycowboy.org.

It’s December. Got that snowflake waltz stuck in your head yet? No? Time for the Dance Kids of Monterey production of Tchaikovsky’s most famous creation. It’s pretty. It’s frilly. It’s the best way for dads to display security in their masculinity. [JK]

7pm Friday; 7pm Saturday; 2pm Sunday. Sunset Center, San Carlos between Eighth and Ninth, Carmel. $28/adults; $25/students, military and seniors; $20/kids 12 and under. 373-7300, http://www.dancekids.org.