Fall Arts Guide | Billy Bang and Paul Rucker among fall jazz highlights

Billy Bang and Paul Rucker. A Vietnam vet turned spastic, free-form violinist, Bronx native Billy Bang played in the Sun Ra Arkestra after the war and now in his own quartet. Paul Rucker is currently one of Seattle's most famous bassists and will perform with his new ensemble. Oct. 19, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.

Aaron Parks Trio. Seattle native Aaron Parks is known around here as a piano prodigy. But the 24-year-old lives in Brooklyn now, and should immediately be known as the creator of "Invisible Cinema," his excellent debut album on Blue Note Records, a dramatic and hypnotic work of art that's tunefully accessible. He'll play from it with his trio. Oct. 23, Triple Door.

Ravi Coltrane Quartet. The son of John and Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane is jazz royalty. He plays his parents' material often, and has also dabbled in Indian music (yes, he's named after Mr. Shankar), but the Long Island, N.Y., saxophonist is a post-bop jazz star in his own right, a revivalist after his dad's heart. Looks just like him, too. Oct. 30, Triple Door.

Lee Oskar. You go to a Lee Oskar concert for one reason: harmonica wizardry. The Dane was part of the American funk band War, opening eyes and ears to the possibilities of the instrument. Widely considered a true virtuosic master, he's a touring circus freak of improvisational talent. Oct. 31, Highway 99 Blues Club.

Pigpen & Zony Mash. Kicking off a three-night, 20-year retrospective of Seattle-dwelling keyboard master Wayne Horvitz, the prolific musician takes a break from what he's been doing and revisits his old bands Pigpen and Zony Mash, both of which ought to have been sampled for hip-hop songs by now, with an all-star horn section. Nov. 1, The Tractor Tavern.

Andrew Matson: 206-464-2153 or amatson@seattletimes.com