Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Jan. 23.

Saxophonist Benny Waters was born this day in 1902 in Brighton, Md. He recorded with King Oliver in the 1920s and played with a succession of fine American bands into the 1950s. He remained active until shortly before his death in 1998.

Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt was born this day in 1910 in Liverchies, Belgium. He was the musician who laid the foundation for modern jazz guitar, pioneering a single-note guitar line that soon was stretched even farther by Charlie Christian.

Arranger, pianist and bandleader Marty Paich was born this day in 1925 in Oakland, Calif.

Gary Burton, the jazzman who popularized the use of four mallets on vibraphone, was born this day in 1943 in Anderson, Ind. Burton made a name for himself in jazz in the 1960s as a sideman with George Shearing and Stan Getz. Today, he's a busy performer and recording artist, and a top faculty member and senior administrator at Boston's Berklee College of Music.

On this date in 1943, Duke Ellington first performed his epic tribute work "Black, Brown and Beige" at Carnegie Hall in New York. It was Ellington's first thematic work. He called it a "tone parallel" exploring black ambitions and aspirations in America. The Carnegie Hall concert and a follow-up in Boston several weeks later were the only times Ellington performed the complete work. Several of its sections, "Come Sunday" and "The Blues" remain essential parts of the Ellington songbook.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Dianne Reeves has been selected to sing during the closing ceremonies next month of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Reeves says she will perform "Fascinating Rhythm," inspired by Sarah Vaughan's recorded version of the Gershwin standard with Michael Tilson Thomas.

The Jazz Gallery has been awarded a substantial grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs of New York City as partial funding for its new "Composers' Series." This year's series will present new compositions by James Hurt, Vijay Iyer, Jason Lindner, Jason Moran, Rudresh Mahanthappa and Dafnis Prieto. Gallery executive director Dale Fitzgerald says scheduling of those performances will be announced in coming weeks.

On the New York jazz scene, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross are at the Blue Note this week with New York Voices. The Pat Martino trio with Joey DeFrancesco and Byron Landham is at Iridium all week. Don Byron's Music for Six Musicians project is at the Village Vanguard. Saxophonist Sam Newsome's trio is at the Zinc Bar tonight. Bassist, pianist and composer Avishai Cohen brings his International Vamp Band into Birdland tonight. Michael Egbert sings jazz classics and original music with his quartet tonight at the Knitting Factory, where the schedule also includes the Mike Fortune quartet. Trombonist Chris Washburn and his SYOTOS Latin jazz band are at the Arka Lounge tonight in Washington Heights.

Guitarist Gene Bertoncini and bassist Michael Moore team up at Shanghai Jazz in Madison, N.J., tonight.

On the Boston jazz scene, singer Tania Maria is at Scullers jazz club tonight and Thursday. Fred Hersch performs an evening of original solo piano music tonight at the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall. The event will conclude his more than 20 years on the NEC faculty. Trumpeter Dave Douglas brings his "Witness" band into the Institute of Contemporary Art tonight for a musical tribute to nonviolent political protest. The Saxophone Quartet of the U.S. Marine Band plays the music of Duke Ellington and Boston composers tonight at MIT's Killian Hall in Cambridge.

Tenor saxophonist Bootsie Barnes and his organ trio are at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus in Philadelphia tonight.

The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra performs tonight at James Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo, Mich.

On the Chicago jazz scene, The Meta-Stable Zoo featuring Ian Frydrych, Paul Hartsaw and Shawn Sommer is at the Empty Bottle tonight. The Bill Porter Orchestra with Rich Fudoli is at Green Dolphin Street. Ken Saydak is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium tonight. The Frank Catalano trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Andrew Blendermann is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Scott Stevenson quartet is at Pops for Champagne tonight.

In New Orleans tonight, the Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador. Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and his Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule. Drummer Johnny Vidacovich is at the Old Point tonight with guitarist George Porter Jr., and pianist June Yamagishi. Trumpeter Wendell Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall. Fredy Omar's salsa band is at the Red Room. Ex-Roomful of Blues saxophonist and singer Greg Piccolo brings his band, Heavy Juice, into Snug Harbor tonight. Carl Leblanc is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. The Dukes of Dixieland perform for the dinner crowd aboard the Steamboat Natchez.

On the California jazz scene, the James Moody quintet is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood tonight through Sunday. Pianist McCoy Tyner is at Yoshi's in Oakland with saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster. Trombonist Curtis Fuller's quartet is at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. The Dennis Neill quartet is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. Wesla Whitfield and Mike Greensill are at The Plush Room in San Francisco for two more weeks. Drummer Vince Lateano's trio is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight and Thursday.

Singer Nancy Wilson and her band are at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle this week.