Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Oct. 27.

Saxophonist and bandleader Boyd Raeburn was born this day in 1913 in Faith, S.D. He led an innovative bop band in the 1940s.

Singer Babs Gonzalez was born this day in 1919 in Newark, N.J. He formed his own group, Three Bips and a Bop, in 1946 with Tadd Dameron and Rudy Williams. He made the first recording of "Oop-Pop-A-Da," which later became a hit for Dizzy Gillespie. Gonzalez was a tireless promoter of jazz, and at one time also worked as a chauffeur to actor Errol Flynn. He died in 1980.

Bebop pianist George Wallington was born this day in 1924 in Palermo, Sicily. In the mid-1950s, he led a quintet of future jazz stars whose ranks include Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, Jackie McLean, Arthur Taylor and Phil Woods.

On this day in 1955, the band that would become Miles Davis's greatest quintet went into the recording studio to cut its first session. That band included Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Jo Jones. The four bebop songs they recorded were "Ah-Leu-Cha," "Two Bass Hit," "Little Melonae" and "Budo," which was a rearrangement of Bud Powell's "Hallucination." Since Davis was still under contract to Prestige Records, these first tracks made for Columbia were released sporadically.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene, singer Roberta Gambarini's quartet is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. The Lee Konitz All-Stars are at Iridium. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's quartet is at the Village Vanguard. Tuck and Patti are at the Blue Note. The Knitting Factory lineup tonight includes Grant Lee Phillips, Stereo Total, Momus, Tara Jane O'Neil, Mark Helias's Open Loose trio with Tom Rainey and Tony Malaby, plus the Darren Lyons Group. Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis's septet is in the spotlight tonight at the Music Hall in Tarrytown.

In and around Boston, singer Lisa Thorson and her band are at the Center for the Arts in Natick tonight. The Bruce Katz band is at the Acton Jazz Café.

Pianist Monty Alexander is in New Bern, N.C., tonight for the Community Arts Series.

Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove bring their Directions in Music tribute tour to Butler University's Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis tonight.

On the Chicago jazz scene,. the 2001 edition of the Asian American Jazz series continues tonight at the Museum of Contemporary Art with Tatsu Aoki's Rooted: Origins of Now band and the Eyvind Kang trio. The Erma Thompson quintet is at Andy's this evening. The Kevin Tkacz quartet with Bill Carrothers is at the Green Mill tonight. Saxophonist David Sanchez's Melaza sextet is at the Jazz Showcase for tow more nights. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium.

In New Orleans tonight, Marc Adams is at Cobalt. Streetbeat is at the Crescent City Brewhouse. The George French Band is at Donna's. Jeremy Davenport is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. Carmen White and the Wild Magnolias are at the Funky Butt. Soulive is at the House of Blues' Parish room. Henry Butler is at Le Bon Temps Roule tonight. Lionel Ferbos leads the traditional band at the Palm Court. Wendell Brunious leads the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on its home turf. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe is at the Saenger Theater. Michael Pellara is at Snug Harbor for a CD release gig. Topsy Chapman and Tim Laughlin headline separate sets at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor, while Banu Gibson and her band are at its Jazz Alley venue. The New Wave Brass Band is at the Crescent City's French Market Complex this afternoon.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is at The Alley in Flagstaff, Ariz., tonight.

The San Francisco Jazz Festival's 19th annual edition continues tonight with a celebration of American song featuring Rosemary Clooney and popular local jazz chanteuse Paula West at Davies Symphony Hall. Clarinetist Don Byron's Music for Six Musicians band, now exploring the Latin tinge, is at the Herbst Theatre. Elsewhere in San Francisco, Upsurge is at the Presidio's Main Post Chapel, Raw Deluxe is at the Black Cat and Blue Bar, Sharon Knight is at the Plush Room, the Don Alberts trio is at the Cypress Club, and the Walter Savage Ensemble is at Pearl's.

Elsewhere on the California jazz scene, saxophonist Steve Heckman's trio is at Pairs Restaurant in Napa. Juan Carlos Quintero is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. The Larry Vuckovich trio is at Spiedo Emeryville. The Fred Ramirez Latin jazz band is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight.

Pianist Myra Melford's trio is in concert tonight at the Norman Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. Blues, jazz and boogie woogie pianist Michael Kaeshammer is at the Centennial Theatre tonight in North Vancouver.

Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa's Septet performs tonight at Lyon Auditorium in Lyon, France.