FALL PREVIEW : Our Picks for the Best of the Coming Fall Season : <i> Calendar critics make their picks for the fall season’s best bets in pop music, jazz, stage, music and dance and the visual arts. : </i> : POP MUSIC

There won’t be 750,000 people on hand as there were at Central Park, but Paul Simon’s Sept. 27 and 28 stops at the Hollywood Bowl and the Pacific Amphitheatre, respectively, should be among the highlights in a series of fall shows that spotlight the sophisticated edge of contemporary pop music.

Like Don Henley and Sting, who also have Southland concerts scheduled, Simon--backed on the tour by an international cast of U.S., Brazilian and African musicians--combines imaginative textures and challenging, mature themes in his music.

Sting performed at the Wiltern Theatre in February at the start of his current tour and the intimate setting seemed ideal for the sensitive, introspective music from his excellent new album, “The Soul Cages.” So it will be interesting to see how he and his trio adapt on Oct. 2 and 3 to the larger Hollywood Bowl environment. Sting also plays the Pacific Amphitheatre on Oct. 4.

There isn’t as much instrumental experimentation in Henley’s music, but the former Eagle writes exquisite songs about social issues and relationships. He’ll be at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Saturday and Sept. 13 and at the Santa Barbara County Bowl on Sept. 14.

George Michael, who deliberately lowered his pop profile last year, returns to live shows Oct. 5 at the Forum with a program that supplements his own songs with Michael’s versions of favorite songs from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

On the rock front, Jesus Jones--the promising English group that mixes strong songwriting with winning dance-rock rhythms--will be at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday, while Fugazi--a U.S. band that mixes the independence of Black Flag and the political insistence of Gang of Four--will be at the Palladium next Sunday.