Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Dec. 16.

Songwriter Andy Razaf was born this day in 1895. He was one of the great lyricists who teamed up regularly with pianist Fats Waller. Together, they wrote "Ain't Misbehavin' and "Honeysuckle Rose."

Trombonist and traditional jazz bandleader Turk Murphy was born this day in 1915 in Palermo, Calif. He died in San Francisco in 1987.

Guitarist John Abercrombie was born this day in 1944 in Port Chester, N.Y.

On this day in 1944, a small plane carrying bandleader Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel. Miller was on his way to Paris to make arrangements for the arrival of his Armed Forces band from England a few days later. The band continued under the leadership of drummer Ray McKinley. Miller's Army band was an elite outfit formed during World War II. It boasted stars from many of the great Swing Era bands, including members of Miller's former civilian band.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

"Rediscovering Dave Brubeck," a one-hour documentary about the 81-year-old jazz pianist, will air tonight at 10 p.m. on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings). Former New York Times correspondent Hedrick Smith was executive producer for this look at the career of one of the busiest piano figures in jazz. Brubeck continues to compose and perform -- and is also looking to nurture the future of jazz. He and his wife Iola have established the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific "to preserve, promote, and pass on jazz's rich legacy to future generations." Bassist Christian McBride is artistic director of the new program at Brubeck's alma mater.

On the New York jazz scene, guitarist Peter Leitch and bassist Dwayne Burno are at Walker's tonight. David Murray winds down a weeklong run at Iridium with his octet. Pianist Bill Charlap's trio is at the Village Vanguard tonight. Chick Corea is at the Blue Note with his sextet, Origin. The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band is at Birdland. Pianist Myra Melford's Equal Interest is at the Knitting Factory.

In greater Boston, Stem Cell Research and Treeonic are at the Center for the Arts in Natick. Pianist Mark Shilansky is at the Acton Jazz Cafe. Saxophonist Daniel Ian Smith's Collective Directive is at the Church of Our Saviour in Brookline.

The Seacoast Big Band is at the Press Room in Portsmouth, N.H., tonight.

Singer Michael Cady and the Jay Harmon quartet perform tonight at the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society holiday party at Club 75 in Cleveland.

In and around Chicago tonight, Joey and Papa John DeFrancesco wind down their weeklong organ duel at the Jazz Showcase tonight. Carlos Cannon opens a weeklong run at the Backroom. The Chicago Composer's Collective performs this afternoon and singer-pianist Patricia Barber's trio is in its usual Sunday night spotlight at the Green Mill. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. The Russell Rowe Trio with McKinley Carter is at Pops for Champagne. Larry King's Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is at FitzGerald's in Berwyn, Ill. Jackie Allen and Judy Roberts team up tonight at Pops for Champagne in Highwood.

On the New Orleans jazz scene, singer Topsy Chapman joins David Torkanowsky and Friends tonight at Donna's. David Dunbar is at El Matador. The Brotherhood of Groove is at the Old Point. Harold 'Duke' Dejean's Olympia Brass Band is at Preservation Hall. Quintology is at Snug Harbor tonight. There are also several jazz brunches in the Crescent City today, with trumpeter Greg Stafford's quartet at the Hotel Inter-Continental and the Lars Edegran trio at Indigo.

In California, the Blay Ambolley Afrikan Jazz Band is featured at a matinee appearance at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, where singer Rene Marie winds down a weeklong run with her quartet tonight. Pianist McCoy Tyner's trio closes out a weeklong run at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood tonight. Tenor saxophonist David Sanchez's band is at Yoshi's in Oakland for matinee and evening appearances. Kristin Korb is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. Saxophonist Anton Schwartz is at Cato's Ale House in Oakland. Yancy Taylor and the Jazz Experience are at The Fifth Amendment in Oakland. Alcatraz Angels Jazz Band is at Dick's Restaurant in San Leandro this afternoon. In San Francisco, flugelhorn player Dmitri Matheny's group is at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Wesla Whitfield and Mike Greensill are at The Plush Room and the Rudy Salvini Big Band is at the Boathouse this afternoon.

Bassist Chris Tarry's Collective Conscience is at the Norman Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver, Canada, tonight.