Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Oct. 3.

Jazz impresario George Wein was born in Boston this day in 1925. He began his music career as a pianist but is far better known as a festival producer. He ran the very first Newport Jazz Festival back in 1954, an event that launched thousands of festivals all over the world. Wein's firm, Festival Productions Inc, has produced many of them.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene, bassist and pianist Avishai Cohen's International Vamp Band Is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Guitarist Bill Frisell's trio with Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen is at the Village Vanguard this week. Bassist Ray Brown's all-star tribute to the late Milt Jackson continues at the Blue Note. Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove bring their Directions in Music tour to the State University of Mew York in Purchase tonight.

In and around Boston, trumpeter Greg Hopkins' 16-Piece-Plus Jazz Orchestra is at the Regattabar in Cambridge.

Percussionist Gregg Bendian's band Interzone is at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland tonight.

On the New Orleans jazz scene, pianist David Torkanowsky is at Cobalt, Chip Wilson is at the Columns, Chicago saxophonist Ken Vandermark's Vandermark 5 is at the Contemporary Arts Center. Leigh 'Li'l Queenie' Harris and Dave Ellington team up tonight at Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar. Have Soul Will Travel is at the Dragon's Den. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador. 3 Now 4 is at the Funky Butt. Leah Chase and Bill Solley are at the Hotel Intercontinental tonight and Thursday.

Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and his Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule. Drummer Johnny Vidacovich funks it up at the Old Point tonight with George Porter Jr. and North Mississippi All-Stars' guitarist Luther Dickinson. Guitarist Phil DeGruy is at Snug Harbor. Eddie Bo leads the jam at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Jim Markway's quartet is at Tipitina's Uptown. Quintology is in the spotlight at the University of New Orleans' Sandbar room.

On the California jazz scene, Toots Thielemans is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday with Oscar Castro-Neves and Kenny Werner. The Bob Schoen jazz quartet is at Anna's Place in Berkeley tonight. The Rio Fiumara-Tom Armbruster quartet is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight.

In San Francisco, the Mark Stock Trio is at the Cypress Club and Paula West is at the Plush Room tonight. Jack West and Curvature at are Levi's Park Plaza on the Embarcadero this noon as part of the SFJazz series.