Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Jan. 24.

On this day in 1975, pianist Keith Jarrett set a new standard for recorded solo jazz performance. The occasion was a performance in Koln, Germany -- one in a series of live concerts in Europe after a brief stint in the Miles Davis band. The so-called Koln Concert recording on the ECM label captured Jarrett as a fully mature musician at age 29. This event and others like them, primarily during European tours, were totally improvised. There was no preconceived theme or structure. Jarrett would sit down at the piano with a blank mind and play creative, beautiful music from scratch. These instant compositions lasted for 20 minutes or more. The Koln Concert recording remains a classic, and a necessity for serious jazz recording collections.

Pianist Avery Parrish was born this day in 1917 in Birmingham, Ala. He worked with Erskine Hawkins from the early 1930s until 1941.

Tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest was born this day in 1920 in St. Louis, Mo. With a big sound and a hard-driving style, he played alongside Charlie Parker in Jay McShann's Kansas City big band in the early 1940s. Forrest's longest musical associations were with Andy Kirk and Count Basie.

Pianist Joe Albany was born this day in 1924 in Atlantic City, N.J. He worked with Benny Carter, Georgie Auld, Boyd Raeburn, Charlie Parker, Lester Young and Charles Mingus at various points in his career. He died in 1988.

Singer Jimmy Scott was born this day in 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio. The extraordinary balladeer is enjoying a sustained career revival after several decades of inactivity. Scott had his first hit in 1948 with Lionel Hampton's band. It was "Everybody's Somebody's Fool."

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross alternate sets with New York Voices at the Blue Note. The Pat Martino trio with Joey DeFrancesco and Byron Landham is at Iridium. Don Byron's Music for Six Musicians project is at the Village Vanguard. Jazz-blues organ player Rob Levy's new band, Spank, featuring jam band veterans Fuzz and Eric Kalb of Deep Banana Blackout, is at The Knitting Factory tonight, along with the Dave Scott quartet. Pianist Andrew Hill's sextet plus 11 project is at Birdland tonight through Saturday. His core band is augmented by 11 horns to play new compositions and arrangements for big band. The shows will be recorded by Palmetto records for a future release. The Jazz Composers Collective presents the music of saxophonists Peter Apfelbaum and Michael Blake tonight at the New School Jazz Performance Space. Blake will bring in his Elevated Quartet. Apfelbaum is working with his septet tonight. Trombonist Chris Washburn brings his SYOTOS Latin jazz band into the Nuyorican Poets Cafe tonight.

On the Boston jazz scene, Dead Cat Bounce is at the Good Life in Cambridge, the Ryles Jazz Orchestra is at Ryles in Cambridge and Bossa Chica is at the Milky Way Lounge in Boston.

Singer Dianne Reeves presents a celebration of the music of Sarah Vaughan tonight through Sunday at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh.

The Creative Arts Ensemble featuring Kaeef on piano is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus in Philadelphia tonight.

Pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

Irvin Mayfield and Bill Summers bring their Los Hombres Calientes band into the 1150 Club in Atlanta tonight.

On the Chicago jazz scene, Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues band is at the Jazz Showcase tonight through Sunday. The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra is at Symphony Center tonight. Charlie Johnson is at the Backroom tonight through Sunday. Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill tonight. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. The Jeff Parker trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. The 2002 edition of JazzFair opens tonight at the Chicago Cultural Center. Tonight's featured performances include WordJazz with poet Quraysh Ali Lansana and tenor saxophonist Von Freeman teaming up for duets with pianist Jason Moran. Other performers on Saturday and Sunday will include the Fred Anderson quartet, Salty Dogs of Chicago, Willie Pickens, George Freeman, Bobby Lewis, Joanie Pallatto and Sparrow, and David Young and more.

In New Orleans tonight, the Manabu Sakei jazz trio is at Checkpoint Charlie. New Orleans Streetbeat is at the Crescent City Brewhouse. Glenys Rogers is at the Dragon's Den. Joe Krown's organ combo is at the Funky Butt. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Roshi Bobo are at the Maple Leaf. John Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall. Kevin Clark, Tom McDermott and Tim Laughlin do the musical cooking tonight at Snug Harbor. Sharon Martin is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Vaughn's.

On the California jazz scene, 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. Guitarist Ron Eschete and singer Dewey Erney team up tonight at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton. James Moody is in the spotlight for four more nights at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood.

Singer Nancy Wilson is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle through Sunday.

Soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's trio is at Duc Des Lombards in Paris tonight through Saturday. Pianist and composer Omar Sosa performs tonight with Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles at La Coupe d'Or in Rochefort, France.

On the recording front...

Pianist Eyran Katsenelenbogen has released his sixth solo piano CD this month. "It's Reigning Kats and Dogs and Bogen" was recorded at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. It features the Israeli-born, Boston-based musician interpreting jazz classics and standards in styles ranging from swing and stride to bebop. He's a New England Conservatory faculty member. The project is out on his own Eyran Records label.