You don’t have to go to school to enjoy jazz, but what if you could? For years I’ve looked longingly at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s educational offerings — programs for children and families, free listening parties for adults (where artists like Rudresh Mahanthappa introduce and play their latest CDs), “Swing University” classes on jazz history, listening, context and culture.

Back when Brilliant Corners was open in St. Paul, Jeremy Walker led a series of classes on jazz history. In 2007, several organizations collaborated to present “Looking at Jazz, America’s Art Form” at the Minneapolis Public Library. When Kelly Rossum ran the jazz program at MacPhail, he taught classes on jazz history and literature. (Adam Linz, I’m talking to you.) I keep waiting for the University of Minnesota’s Compleat Scholar program to get together with Northrop Jazz.

This fall, jazz radio station KBEM will partner with Minneapolis Community Education to present a series of classes led by the station’s knowledgeable show hosts.

First up: Ed Jones, host of REEL Jazz and the Morning Show (where he lets me sit in with him each Friday morning at 8:30) will talk about jazz in film and on stage. When: Wednesday, October 6, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Washburn High School, 201 W. 49th St., Minneapolis, 612-668-3450. How much: $15, $10 for Jazz88 members. Register online or call the school.

Other classes (held weekly through Nov. 17) will focus on big band music, women in jazz, jazz and the blues, and jazz and the spirit. I’ll try to mention each one as it approaches. In November, classes move to Northeast Middle School.

Meanwhile, the jazz picks for this Labor Day weekend are enough to make you want to stay in town.

Saturday: Tony Hymas, Brian Roessler, and Pete Hennig. The online biography of British pianist/composer Tony Hymas begins “Chorister, Exeter Cathedral.” Since then he has branched out, playing for Cleo Laine and Frank Sinatra, recording and touring with Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck (“Guitar Shop”), and Stanley Clarke, forming Ursus Minor with François Corneloup, Jef Lee Johnson and Dave King, collaborating with Native American musicians including Carlos Nakai, writing a symphony, and performing music of Debussy, Brahms, and Prokofiev. His latest CDs are “Correspondances” (music of Satie and Debussy) and the suite “De L’Origine du Monde” based on the works of Gustave Courbet. Hymas will join Fantastic Merlins bassist Brian Roessler and drummer Pete Hennig at the Black Dog, the cozy café in Lowertown, for an utterly unpredictable evening. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, corner of 4th and Broadway, Lowertown. No cover.

Sunday: Rene Marie. Read a preview here. 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall ($20). Tickets online or call 612-333-5299.

Monday-Tuesday: Ramsey Lewis Trio. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard was originally booked to play these dates. When that didn’t happen, the Dakota asked around and found a replacement: the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Think, “Sorry, Bishop Tutu isn’t available, how about the Dalai Lama?” Or something like that. Legendary pianist and Grammy winner Lewis and his trio — Larry Gray on bass, Leon Joyce Jr. on drums — played Orchestra Hall last August and I loved every minute of that show. At age 75, Lewis is deep into a new passion: composing. We’ll hear music from his most recent recording, “Ramsey Plays Ramsey,” new solo works, and selections from an as-yet-untitled suite. Plus, of course, “The In Crowd” and “Hang on Sloopy.” 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 6-7, Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall ($70-$40). Tickets online or call 612-333-5299.

Remember, if you’re at the Fair, you can see and hear jazz for free (with the price of admission). Here’s the lineup for Friday-Monday:

Friday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 4: International Bazaar: Ticket to Brasil. Guitarist Pavel Jany and his Brazilian jazz combo. 10:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:15 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 5, and Monday, Sept. 6: International Bazaar: Charanga Tropical. Saxophonist Doug Little and his Cuban band. 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.

Pamela Espeland keeps a Twin Cities live jazz calendar, blogs about jazz at Bebopified and tweets about jazz on Twitter.