Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Dec. 8.

On this date in 1957, something wonderful occurred in a CBS television studio in New York. The Red Allen All-Stars, singer Billie Holiday, the Mal Waldron All-Stars, the Count Basie All-Stars and the Jimmy Giuffre went on live television for a show that was part of the "The Seven Lively Arts" series.

This pioneering show was called "The Sound of Jazz" and 44 years later it remains one of the finest programs of its kind. One viewer quickly wrote to CBS that it was a rare chance to "see real people doing something that really matters to them."

Jimmy Smith, acknowledged as the first important jazz player on the Hammond B-3 organ, was born this day in 1925 in Norristown, Pa. Smith's career took off in 1957 after an appearance at Birdland New York and at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Sol Yaged, inspired by Benny Goodman to take up the clarinet, was born this day in 1922. Yaged was technical adviser for the film "The Benny Goodman Story." He taught Steve Allen to play clarinet for his film role as Goodman.

Jazz guitarist Lawrence Lucie was born this day in 1907 in Emporia, Va. He worked with Duke Ellington, Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, Coleman Hawkins and Louis Armstrong at various points in his long career.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene, pianist Chick Corea's three-week run at the Blue Note features his Bud Powell Tribute band project with Roy Haynes, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard and Joshua Redman tonight and Sunday. Pianist Geri Allen's quartet is at the Village Vanguard tonight. Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc's trio and flute player Jamie Baum's sextet are at the Knitting Factory.

Saxophonist Joe Lovano leads an all-star quartet in a celebration of the music of John Coltrane at Birdland tonight. Bassist John Benitez brings his Latin jazz quartet, featuring saxophonist Dick Oatts, pianist Luis Perdomo and drummer Dafnis Prieto, into the Jazz Gallery tonight.

Moving upstate... singer Teresa Broadwell and Thriving On A Riff are in the spotlight tonight at the Van Dyck in Schenectady, N.Y.

Antonio Jackson is at Bob The Chef's in Boston tonight.

Trumpeter Nicholas Payton's quintet performs tonight at the Cleveland Museum of Art's Gartner Auditorium as part of the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society's Jazz on the Circle series.

In and around Chicago, pianist McCoy Tyner continues its weeklong run at the Jazz Showcase. Windy City tenor sax titan Von Freeman's quintet is at Andy's tonight. Detour is at the Backroom. Dee Alexander is at the Green Mill tonight. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium on the Navy Pier. Joanie Pallatto's quartet is at Pops for Champagne. Douglas Ewart and Inventions are at the Velvet Lounge. The Centano-Ojeda All-Star Band is at The Chambers in Niles, Ill.

On the New Orleans jazz scene, Marc Adams is at Cobalt tonight. New Orleans Streetbeat is at the Crescent City Brewhouse. Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias are at Donna's. Dr. Bone and the Hepcats are at Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar. Trumpeter Michael Ray's Cosmic Funk Quartet is at the Dragon's Den. Trumpeter Jeremy Davenport is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. Olivier Bou is at Le Meridien Hotel tonight.

Clarinetist Pete Fountain is in the spotlight at his longstanding club in the New Orleans Hilton. Trumpeter Wendell Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall. Astral Project is at Snug Harbor. Trumpeter Gregory Davis leads the dinnertime jam at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Medeski, Martin and Wood are at Tipitina's tonight. The Rachel Cook Project presents its Christmas Classics take on jazz this afternoon at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

In California tonight, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim's trio is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Singer Kurt Elling's band is at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Jeff Hamilton's trio is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton. Jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter's 20th Congress band is at the Sierra Vista in Tahoe City tonight.

Bobbe Norris and Larry Dunlap are at the Cetrella Restaurant in Half Moon Bay. Paul Breslin is at Spiedo Ristorante in San Jose with Larry Vuckovich and Danny Spencer. In San Francisco, Wesla Whitfield and Mike Greensill are at The Plush Room and Boco do Rio is at Butterfly.