We looked at the calendar of upcoming shows, ready to raise the curtain on fall, and asked the question: What type of person are you, and could we pick a list of shows to match your personality? Shows that span the genres, that give you classical class and take advantage of that extra pop that jazz has. And of course, every kind of rock ‘n’ roll tour comes knocking. Some people like big tours; some don’t. And why not be thrifty? But rather than trying to do everything, we asked our critics — Greg Kot, John von Rhein and Howard Reich — to pick shows to watch out for. We even have a choice roster of local heroes for you folks who like your music like your farmers markets: regional. So let’s go.
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CLASSICAL
Fans of big deals
Renee Fleming: The soprano is conspicuously absent — again — from the Lyric Opera roster, which means that her solo appearance at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s gala opening-night concert is the only chance local fans will have to hear the superstar diva downtown all season. She will perform Samuel Barber’s nostalgic “Knoxville, Summer of 1915” and songs by Richard Strauss.
Oct. 3, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $50-$130 reception/concert only; 312-266-8729, 312-294-3185
Christopher Taylor: The “Goldberg Variations” can be an out-of-body experience, especially when this pianist applies his sensitive and probing fingers to its sublime intricacies. He will perform J.S. Bach’s keyboard masterpiece on the world’s only dual-manual Steinway, built during the 1920s and refurbished expressly for him.
Oct. 31, Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th St.; $32, $5 students; 773-708-8068
The adventurous
Leonard Bernstein: The conductor and composer’s “Mass” fuses sacred and secular manners, rock, jazz, gospel, blues and Broadway into a sprawling and audacious music theater piece that seems as socially pertinent today as when it was new, nearly 40 years ago. Dominic Missimi directs performers from Northwestern University’s Theatre and Interpretation Center.
Nov. 12-15, Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston; $25, $22 seniors/faculty/staff/educators/administrators, $10 students; 847-491-7282
“Pierrot Lunaire”: Arnold Schoenberg’s atonal masterpiece has retained its “shock of the new” nearly a century after it opened the ears of musical Vienna. The astonishing soprano Lucy Shelton joins the virtuosic eighth blackbird ensemble for a new staging, complete with dance.
Dec. 8, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 200 E. Randolph St.; $30; 312-337-7777
Cheapskates
Civic Orchestra of Chicago: This ensemble’s concerts have long been among the best classical bargains in town, enabling audiences to hear one of the world’s finest youth training orchestras perform under leading maestros — for free. Principal conductor Cliff Colnot directs the season opener, which pairs Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony with Hindemith’s delightful “Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Weber.”
Sept. 28, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; free, but tickets required; 312-294-3000
Conservative tastes
“The Three Concertmasters”: It’s a nifty gimmick: engage three top first-chair orchestral violinists from the Chicago area, set them loose on a clutch of favorite fiddle showpieces. Soloists Robert Hanford, David Perry and David Taylor will join conductor Joel Smirnoff and the Chicago Philharmonic for this opening program of the orchestra’s 20th anniversary season.
Oct. 18, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $20-$70, $10 students; 847-866-6888
— John von Rhein
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JAZZ
Fans of big deals
“Dianne Reeves: Strings Attached”: In a jazz world overcrowded with ineffectual vocalists, Reeves stands out. The voluptuousness of her instrument and the acuity of her technique easily dwarf the work of far more celebrated female vocalists. Reeves kicks off the Jazz at Symphony Center series with her “Strings Attached” show, the strings belonging to guitarists Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo.
8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $24-$83; 312-294-3000
The adventurous
Renee Baker and the Mantra Blue Free Orchestra: An uncommonly versatile player who seems to thrive in unusual settings, violinist Baker has made the Velvet Lounge her laboratory for delving into jazz-meets-classical ventures. The Mantra Blue Free Orchestra pushes further still, bringing together instrumentalists from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and the Chicago Sinfonietta, as well as modern jazz and alternative rock idioms. With personnel such as flutist Nicole Mitchell, trombonist Steve Berry, saxophonist David Boykin and violinist James Sanders, it clearly has a great deal going for it.
9:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd.; $10-$20; 312-791-9050
Cheapskates
Hyde Park Jazz Festival: It may be free, but that doesn’t mean it’s second-rate. On the contrary, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival stands as one of the more exciting recent developments in Chicago music: Listeners can stroll from one alluring venue to another, including such unconventional settings as Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, Robie House and the Oriental Institute Museum. Trolleys also circulate among the concerts, which will feature such formidable musicians as Von Freeman, Jon Faddis, Corey Wilkes, Dee Alexander, Maggie Brown, Tammy McCann, Willie Pickens and Bobby Broom, among others.
Starting 11 a.m. Sept. 26 and running past midnight at various Hyde Park locations; free; 773-834-3534 or hydeparkjazzfestival.org
Conservative tastes
Willie Pickens-Stu Katz Quartet: At least by the standards of Chicago jazz, which always has leaned toward the boldly experimental, the new group co-led by pianist Pickens and vibist-pianist Katz might be considered conservative. At the very least, both artists are deeply rooted in bebop vernacular, which has been around since the 1940s. Regardless of category, though, the prospect of hearing Pickens play piano while Katz plays vibes — with Lorin Cohen on bass and Robert Shy on drums for most of these dates — is tantalizing. Pickens and Katz have large competitive streaks, and it will be fascinating to hear one playing off the other.
8 and 10 p.m. Sept. 28, Oct. 12 and 26 at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct.; $10-$20; 312-360-0234
— Howard Reich
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ROCK
Fans of big deals
Riot Fest: If you’re a punk fan, it’s hard to beat this five-night blowout that plugs dozens of bands into five clubs and theaters, including Screeching Weasel, the Butthole Surfers, the Dead Milkmen and 7 Seconds.
Oct. 7-11 at Congress Theatre, Metro, Subterranean, Beat Kitchen and Liars Club; various prices and multiday packages available; details at riotfest.org; tickets at ticketweb.com
Maxwell: After a nearly decade-long hiatus, the singer brings the R&B sensuality like the second coming of Marvin Gaye on his latest album, “BLACKsummers’night.”
Oct. 8 at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., $20-$150; ticketmaster.com
Taylor Swift: At age 16 in 2006, Swift took the country-pop charts by storm and hasn’t let up since, filling the void left by Shania Twain.
Oct. 9-10 at Allstate Arena, Rosemont, $20, $39.50, $49.50; ticketmaster.com
Wilco: It’s a long way from Lounge Ax — the sextet steps up to the arena level in its hometown.
Oct. 18-19 at the UIC Pavilion, 1150 W. Harrison St., $39.50; ticketmaster.com
The Jesus Lizard: The legendary noise-rock quartet caps off its comeback year with two hometown shows. No guarantees the band will continue after these concerts, so prepare accordingly.
Nov. 27-28 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., $25; etix.com
The adventurous
Faust: German art-rock renegades, key to the ’70s “Krautrock” movement that also included Can and Neu, re-emerge.
Oct. 7 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., $20; ticketweb.com
Califone: Singer-guitarist Tim Rutili goes multimedia. He’ll debut his feature-length movie, “All My Friends Are Funeral Singers,” and lead his band in playing the soundtrack live.
Oct. 10-11 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., $20; mcachicago.org
Cheapskates
Phoenix: The French quartet is one of the year’s big success stories. After three up-and-down albums, it knocked it out of the park with the anthemic electro-rock on “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.”
Wednesday at the Aragon, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., $21; ticketmaster.com
Death: Detroit’s proto-punk trio returns after three decades with a sound that’ll blow your doors off if you’re a fan of hard, fast, politically charged guitar rock.
Sept. 26 at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., $15; ticketweb.com
Kool Keith: One of hip-hop’s most vibrant and unpredictable talents since his days as a founding member of the Ultramagnetic MC’s, Keith is bound to channel several of his personas. My personal favorite: Dr. Octagon.
Nov. 7 at Reggie’s Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., $14; ticketweb.com
Conservative tastes
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Classic rock doesn’t get any more classic than the Boss and his band performing their 1975 “Born to Run” album in its entirety.
Sunday at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., $65 and $98; ticketmaster.com
Allen Toussaint: The New Orleans master songwriter and producer is also a pretty darn good piano player.
Sept. 26 at Old Town School, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., $24-$28; 773-728-6000
Swell Season: The “Once” couple returns with “Strict Joy,” due out soon.
Dec. 3 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., $30 and $42.50; ticketmaster.com
— Greg Kot
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LOCALS
Big deal fans
Oh My God/Record Low/Brighton, MA: All three acts pack in the unvarnished rock thrills, particularly Oh My God, with its druggy, organ-fueled freakouts. Even better? At a little more than $3 a band, this show remains one of the best deals out there.
10 p.m. Sept. 26, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.; $10; 773-489-3160 or ticketmaster.com
Brilliant Pebbles/Aleks and the Drummer: Brilliant Pebbles channel Yeah Yeah Yeahs at their spazziest, while Aleks and the Drummer work up a feverish, gypsy-tinged lather that sounds freshly imported from the Old World.
9:30 p.m. Sept. 26, Subterranean, 2011 North Ave.; $8 (21+); 773-278-6600
The adventurous
Disappears/Implodes: Disappears make magic out of the most primal elements (drums, bass and feed-backing guitars), while Implodes sound every bit as scuzzy and barnacle-caked as an ancient shipwreck. Consider earplugs a vital accessory.
9 p.m. Oct. 8, The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; $10; 773-227-4433 or ticketweb.com
Mic Terror/Kidd Russel: Mic Terror, the self-proclaimed “Black Bart Simpson,” headlines a bill packed with inventive wordsmiths. Here’s hoping the MC busts out the hilarious, Denis Leary-channeling “I’m an [Expletive].”
9 p.m. Sept. 28, Subterranean, 2011 North Ave.; $10 (21+); 773-278-6600
Cheapskates
White Mystery: The Whistler never charges a cover, and its intimate confines will surely be rocking when Miss Alex White and Co. lock in. A word of warning: Arrive early, as space is limited.
9 p.m. Monday, The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.; free; 773-929-3680
Headlights: Act now to score a $5 ticket to see the local crew perform songs from its excellent new album, the forthcoming “Wildlife.”
10 p.m. Oct. 17, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.; $5 (limited); 773-276-3600 or ticketweb.com
Conservative tastes
The August: This rootsy crew records gorgeous folk anthems that sound as if they could have been penned decades earlier.
9 p.m. Oct. 2, Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.; $10; 773-404-9494 or musictoday.com
Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra: The longtime Chicagoan brings a garage-rock flair to much of his latest release, “Pink,” while still channeling a junkyard troubadour on the slower tunes; both sounds should shine equally in this shopworn setting.
9 p.m. Oct. 9, Fitzgerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn; $15 (21+); 708-788-2118 or ticketweb.com
— Andy Downing
