LONG GONE ARE the nights when North Beach was bopping with the sounds of Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, or Thelonius Monk playing at the Jazz Workshop, El Matador, or the Coffee Gallery. Nowadays there are more sex toy emporiums and trawling tourists than bop shops and beats. But those evenings are far from forgotten – every year for the past nine, the North Beach Jazz Festival has paid tribute to those forward-thinking days of yore by filling the park, streets, and clubs with stalwarts and up-and-comers. The July 30 lineup at "Jazz on Grant," a free showcase of more than 40 artists performing at clubs throughout North Beach, pairs unusual suspects such as Logato with DJ J-Boogie, Irish Frenzy, and Stroke 9 with vets the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, the Mary Stallings Duo, and Tony Saunders (and includes the reopening of Jazz at Pearl's with new owner Kim Nally). In the following days the fest makes its way into St. Francis of Assisi Church for an evening of acoustic Afro-Cuban jazz with Jesus Diaz y FolkCuba (July 31), settles down in Washington Square Park for tasty New Orleans sounds by artists like the Rebirth Brass Band and Soul of John Black (Aug. 2) and boogaloo by the likes of Masters of Groove and the Pharcyde's Tre Hardson Aug. 3, and spills into other hoods for performances by the Sam Kininger Band, DJ Tom Thump, and the Melvin Sparks Band. Free except for some shows at venues such as the Velvet Lounge, the Elbo Room, and the Great American Music Hall. Various times and locations. For a schedule of events and more information, go to www.nbjazzfest.com. (Kimberly Chun)