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From "Jazz Giants" all the way out to the "Leading Edge," the 2010 San Francisco Jazz Festival promises a wide variety of music in its 28th annual fall concert series.

This year's performances, which begin September 14 with an exclusive "Listening Party" for SFJAZZ members featuring bassist Matt Penman, showcases a diverse array of musical "themes" that tie together the entire 40-concert fall schedule.

"Jazz Giants" features performances by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef (in a solo concert at Grace Cathedral on October 22), the Kenny Barron Trio with saxophonist David Sanchez (October 24 at Herbst Theatre), and drummer Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth Band (November 6 at Herbst).

"String Things" stretches the boundaries of jazz with bass sensation Esperanza Spalding (performing works from her new CD, "Chamber Music Society," which combines a classical string trio with a rhythm section and special guests Milton Nascimento and Gil Goldstein (October 10 at Davies Symphony Hall); Texas swing ensemble Asleep at the Wheel (October 20 at Herbst Theatre); and legendary sitar master Ravi Shankar (performing with his daughter, Anoushka Shankar, on October 27 at Davies Symphony Hall).

"Leading Edge" performances at this year's festival include the Chris Potter Underground (September 25 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts); guitarist Henry Threadgill's Zooid (October 3 at Herbst); Anat and Avishai Cohen (October 9 at Congregation Sherith Israel); saxophonist James Carter with Hammond B3 master John Medeski (October 21 at Herbst); the Steve Lehman Octet (October 28 at the S.F. Conservatory of Music); and "Bitches Brew Revisited," co-led by cornetist Graham Haynes (son of Roy) and keyboardist Marco Benevento, along with Antoine Roney (brother of Wallace), iconic jazz-rock guitarist James Blood Ulmer, monster-drummer Cindy Blackman and the famed DJ Logic on turntables (October 29 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre).

"Roots and Grooves" showcases the Marcus Shelby Orchestra (October 8 at the Jewish Community Center); Garaj Mahal (October 15 at the Swedish American Hall); a triple bill with Taj Mahal, Toumani Diabaté and Vieux Farka Touré (October 23 at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Oakland); Stew & the Negro Problem (October 28 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts); local vocal sensation Lesidi (November 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre); and the pairing of The Yellowjackets and the Jeff Lorber Fusion featuring Randy Brecker and Eric Marienthal (November 7 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre).

Three special concerts this fall highlight the unique sounds of Cuban jazz: pianist Chucho Valdèz (October 11 at Herbst); trumpeter Arturo Sandoval (October 29 at Herbst); and singer Omara Portuondo, rediscovered in the landmark 1996 documentary "The Buena Vista Social Club" and celebrating her 80th birthday (October 30 at Herbst).

The "Global Village" of jazz is represented this year with concerts by the Afro-Brazilian ensemble Olodum (September 24 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre); Mexican superstar singer Lila Downs (November 3 at Herbst); singer Natacha Atlas, who fuses Arabic and North African music with electronica, dance music and hip hop (November 4 at Herbst); and the riotous Slavic Soul Party!, bringing their trademark fusion of Gypsy, New Orleans, Mariachi, Latin, Klezmer and Asian music with American jazz, soul and even techno (November 13 at the Swedish American Hall).

Jazz vocals? This year's line-up features performances from Canadian teenage jazz/pop sensation Nikki Yanofsky (October 9 at the Florence Gould Theatre at the Legion of Honor); the Manhattan Transfer (October 14 at Herbst); Ethiopia-born singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero (October 16 at the Swedish American Hall); Gretchen Parlato (October 22 at the Swedish American Hall); Nellie McKay (October 30 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum); newcomer José James & pianist Jef Neve (November 7 at the Florence Gould Theatre); and Grammy-winning singer Rosanne Cash (November 14 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre).

And finally, three internationally-acclaimed pianists round out the fall concert series: Danilo Perez (in a solo performance October 10 at Herbst); the world premiere of "Angel Voices: Rhapsody on Angel Island Poetry" from East Bay virtuoso Jon Jang, with poet Genny Lim, a chamber jazz ensemble and a rhythm section (October 24 at the Conservatory of Music); and the Vijay Iyer Trio (November 14 at the YBCA Forum).

Families and jazz neophytes should check out this year's expanded series of "Family Matinee" concerts hosted by bassist, bandleader and composer Marcus Shelby. Each hour-long matinee features live performances, audience participation, question-and-answer sessions, and more. The 11 am programs showcase "The Drums" on September 24, "The Bass" on October 31, and "The Piano" on November 20.

The festival also presents a new "Discover Jazz" series of lectures from local bandleader, percussionist and educator John Santos. "African Spiritual Practices and Retentions in Latin Music" is a six-class series from August 4 through September 8 at the Museum of the African Diaspora; "From Ragtime to Rock and Roll: The Rise of American Popular Music" is a five-class series September 30 through October 28 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.

More information on classes and enrollment is available on the SFJAZZ website.

Here's the complete schedule for this year's San Francisco Jazz Festival:

Tuesday, September 14 at 7 pm
Matt Penman (SFJAZZ members only)
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak Street, San Francisco

Friday, September 24 at 8 pm
Olodum
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Saturday, September 25 at 11 am
Family Matinee: The Marcus Shelby Trio
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Saturday, September 25 at 8 pm
Chris Potter Underground
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco

Sunday, October 3 at 7:30 pm
Henry Threadgill's Zooid
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Friday, October 8 at 8 pm
Marcus Shelby Orchestra, "MLK"
Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street, San Francisco

Saturday, October 9 at 2 pm
Nikki Yanofsky
Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, San Francisco

Saturday, October 9 at 8 pm
Anat/Avishai Cohen
Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California Street, San Francisco

Sunday, October 10 at 3 pm
Danilo Perez solo (SFJAZZ members only)
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Sunday, October 10 at 8 pm
Esperanza Spalding
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Monday, October 11 at 7.30 pm
Chucho Valdés
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Thursday, October 14 at 7.30 pm
Manhattan Transfer
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Friday, October 15 at 8 pm
Garaj Mahal
Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street, San Francisco

Saturday, October 16 at 8 pm
Meklit Hadero
Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street, San Francisco

Sunday, October 17 at 7 pm
Richard Galliano CANCELLED
Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street, San Francisco

Wednesday, October 20 at 7.30 pm
Asleep at the Wheel
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Thursday, October 21 at 7.30 pm
James Carter & John Medeski
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Friday, October 22 at 8 pm
Yusef Lateef
Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Francisco

Friday, October 22 at 8 pm
Gretchen Parlato
Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street, San Francisco

Saturday, October 23 at 8 pm
Taj Mahal, Toumani Diabaté & Vieux Farka Touré
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland

Sunday, October 24 at 3 pm
Jon Jang
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak Street, San Francisco

Sunday, October 24 at 7 pm
Kenny Barron Trio with David Sánchez
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Wednesday, October 27 at 8 pm
Ravi Shankar
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Thursday, October 28 at 7.30 pm
Stew & the Negro Problem
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco

Thursday, October 28 at 8 pm
Steve Lehman Octet
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak Street, San Francisco

Friday, October 29 at 8 pm
Bitches Brew Revisited
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Friday, October 29 at 8 pm
Arturo Sandoval
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Saturday, October 30 at 8 pm
Omara Portuondo
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Saturday, October 30 at 8 pm
Nellie McKay
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco

Sunday, October 30 at 11 am
Family Matinee: The Marcus Shelby Trio
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Wednesday, November 3 at 7.30 pm
Lila Downs
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Thursday, November 4 at 7.30 pm
Natacha Atlas
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Friday, November 5 at 8 pm
Paquito D'Rivera CANCELLED
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Saturday, November 6 at 8 pm
Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Saturday, November 6 at 8 pm
Ledisi
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Sunday, November 7 at 2 pm
José James & Jef Neve
Florence Gould Theatre, Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, San Francisco

Sunday, November 7 at 7 pm
The Yellowjackets
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Friday, November 12 at 8 pm
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars
Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street, San Francisco

Saturday, November 13 at 8 pm
Slavic Soul Party!
Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street, San Francisco

Sunday, November 14 at 7 pm
Roseanne Cash
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street, San Francisco

Sunday, November 14 at 8 pm
Vijay Iyer Trio
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco

Saturday, November 20 at 11 am
Family Matinee: The Marcus Shelby Trio
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Tickets are now on sale for all SFJAZZ events. For more information, call 866.920.5299 or visit www.sfjazz.org.