THURSDAY OCTOBER 17
FRODE GJERSTAD TRIO
Norwegian free-jazz legend Frode Gjerstad blows into town with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and bassist Oyvind Storesund. Unlike the slickly aloof Scandinavian habitués of ECM Records like Jan Garbarek, saxophonist (and sometime-clarinetist) Gjerstad plays like his life depends on it. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union, 329-4224, 8 pm, $10.MASTERS OF GROOVE/JAMES BLOOD ULMER
Despite a moniker that seems better suited to a Phish-derived jam band, Masters of Groove is actually an old school organ-driven jazz combo. Featuring Blue Note cult organist Reuben Wilson, this quartet serves up the usual delights of the genre: bluesy solos, loping, feel-good grooves, and funky yet tight playing. The unclassifiable (think funk meets free jazz) guitar master James Blood Ulmer opens the show with a solo set. Also Fri-Sat Oct 18-19 at 8 and 10 pm, and Sun Oct 20 at 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729, 8 pm, $17.50/$21.50.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18
PROJECT W
Fresh from an East Coast tour with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, alto saxophonist Wally Shoup's Project W offers a "wreckquiem" for the soon-to-be-demolished Vital 5 Gallery. Along with the usual lineup of Brent Arnold (cello) and Greg Campbell (drums), vibraphonist Bob Rees joins the fray to commemorate a gallery that, unlike most others in our burg, was supportive of sound art. Vital 5, 2200 Westlake, 254-0475, 9 pm, $5.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 19
EARLY MUSIC GUILD
Prevented from touring the U.S. last September due to our government's paranoia that artists might be terrorists, the Dutch early-music outfit Musica ad Rhenum makes its belated Seattle debut. Led by flute virtuoso Jed Wentz and featuring soprano Nicola Wemyss, this ensemble presents music by two masters of the French Baroque, Couperin and Leclair. Preconcert lecture begins at 7 pm. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 325-7066, 8 pm, $10-$29.EUGENE ONEGIN
The Seattle Opera stages this Tchaikovsky opera about (what else?) love, lust, and loneliness. Sung in Russian with English supertitles. Oh, and don't forget my Fifth Law of Opera (identical to my First Law of Drinking and Second Law of SIFF): Eat light, dress nice, and most important, pee before you leave home. Also Sun Oct 20 at 2 pm and Wed Oct 23 at 7:30 pm. Mercer Arts Arena, 363 Mercer, 389-7676, 7:30 pm, $35-$109.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20
WECHKIN & IVES
Soprano Hope Wechkin and pianist Julie Ives perform delectable German lieder (i.e., songs) by Richard Strauss and Hugo Wolf and premiere works by Northwest composers Sheila Bristow and Christopher Shainin. Also on the program: some of Arnold Schoenberg's sumptuous early songs (op. 2, for those of you wary of his later and not necessarily tonal music) and the Seven Early Songs by his pupil Alban Berg. To give Wechkin's pipes a rest, Ives tackles Berg's nifty Piano Sonata. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave, 789-3628, 3 pm, $10/$15.