When it comes to music, October is going to be a merry month indeed. On Saturday and Sunday, for example, Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, kicks off an absolutely amazing month of sounds with alto saxophone David Binney’s band that performs at 7 and 9 p.m. on Saturday and 6 and 8 p.m. on Sunday ($22/$18 students, 303-839-5100). Binney occupied the top spot in the rising-star alto saxophone category in Down Beat’s 2007 “Critics Poll.” As the magazine, quite correctly, pointed out, the saxophonist “is one of the most gifted, independent-minded bandleaders on the New York scene.”

On his current CD Third Occasion, the saxophonist has two of the three players appearing with him at Dazzle –  keyboardist Craig Taborn, who was named rising-electric keyboard star in the 2009 Down Beat “Critics Poll,” and Brian Blade, who is near the top of anyone’s list when it comes to drummers. Norwegian-born bassist Eivind Opsvik, who came to New York in 1998 and has established quite reputation since then, rounds this group in which all of the players are leaders in their own right.

Returning to Blade for a moment, I first noticed the drummer when he was a young, high-school student in Shreveport, Louisiana. It didn’t require any special skills to hear that he had it all. And he’s just gotten better over time, working with saxophonists Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman and Kenny Garrett, along with his own Fellowship band. Blade is not only a musical monster, whose latest effort is Mama Rosa, but he begins some serious drummer madness at Dazzle that continues on October 10 and 11 with Matt Wilson and then on October 16-17 with Al Foster.

Before Binney and friends get to town, singer Rene Marie launches her one-woman show Slut Energy Theory tonight at the Crossroads Theater, 2590 Washington St. in Five Points. The show runs tonight through Saturday and then again on Oct. 7 through Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. ($15, 303-832-0929).

While the idea behind the show has been brewing for a number of years, it was only recently that Marie decided to perform it with a musical soundtrack. That’s an added bonus. As a singer, Marie has been near the top of my list for a longtime. And though she is relatively new to the actress thing, her 2008 performance in the Shadow Theater production of the play Dinah Was displayed how comfortable she is on stage beyond her role as a vocalist.

Of course, anyone who has heard her sing knows Marie’s strengths as a performer. Capturing an audience is something she does with a natural ease. Unfortunately, over the past year or so, discussions of Marie focus too much on the controversy that has surrounded her. That focus is misleading. She is a great singer and strong performer. And the originals she writes are out of this world. That’s the reason to catch her theory of “slut energy.

Also this evening, the hard-driving band Convergence pays it monthly visit to Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. ($15). Then, on Friday, trumpeter Al Hood and saxophonist Rich Chiaraluce bring a quintet to Dazzle for a tribute to the Adderley brothers (“Cannonball” and Nat) with pianist Dave Hanson, drummer Todd Reid and bassist Ken Walker at 7 and 9 p.m. ($12).

Friday also finds popular, crossover saxophonist Gerald Albright, who has his own Denver roots, at the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1^st, for shows at 7 and 10 p.m. ($30-$40, 303-830-9214). In addition to Albright, you can also find Gil Scott-Heron and the Rippingtons at the Dove on Oct. 8 and 9 respectively.

On Tuesday, CU in Broomfield offers a free performance of the music of Cole Porter and other contributors to the great American songbook at 7 p.m. in the Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Rd. (303-464-5835). And before the month ends, vibraphonist Stefon Harris and his band Blackout, with Terreon Gully on drums, is at Mount Vernon Country Club on Oct. 15. Singer Claudia Acuna follows Harris at Mount Vernon on Oct. 28 (303-526-0616). Additionally, on Oct. 9-11, there’s the annual Summit Jazz event at the Four Points by Sheraton Southeast (303-670-8471), while the Fred Hess Big Band launches its mighty, new CD at Dazzle on Oct. 8 and 9 and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel l"> (who plays with Blade’s Fellowship band) brings his Standards Trio to the club on Lincoln on Oct. 22-23. This all makes for an impressive month of music.

Normanprovizer@aol.com