Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Feb. 11.

Composer and pianist Matt Dennis was born this day in Seattle in 1914. He is best remembered for the haunting ballad "Angel Eyes." Another sparkling Matt Dennis gem is "The Night We Called It a Day," which was first recorded by Tommy Dorsey's band in 1942.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene, Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes is scheduled to be special guest with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the Village Vanguard tonight. Singer Philip Manuel is in the Monday night spotlight at the Blue Note.

Baritone saxophonist Claire Daly's quartet celebrates the release of her new Koch Jazz CD "Movin' On" tonight at Makor, an event that will feature singer Nora York and trumpeter James Zollar as special guests.

The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin is at Birdland. Drummer Bobby Previte¹s Bump the Renaissance Band and the Moodswing Orchestra are at The Knitting Factory tonight. Guitarist Dom Minasi's trio is at The Jazz Gallery, celebrating the release of his new CD, "Takin' The Duke Out."

The Boston Jazz Repertory Orchestra presents a Duke Ellington program tonight at the Tremont Theater in Boston.

The Phil Giordano Jazz Orchestra is at Chris's Jazz Café in Philadelphia tonight.

The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra is at Rutherford Spindale Auditorium in Spindale, N.C., tonight.

On the Chicago jazz scene, Grazyna Auguscik, Paulinho Garcia and Gingi Lahera with Brad Williams pay tribute to Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim tonight in a "Night Before Carnival" concert at the Chicago Cultural Center's Randolph Café. The Yoko Noge Jazz Me Blues band is at HotHouse. Katherine Davis is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman team up at Pops for Champagne.

In New Orleans tonight, the ReBirth Brass Band is at Café Brasil. Bob French leads the Monday night jam at Donna's. The Li'l Rascals Brass Band and Soul Rebels Brass Band perform today at the French Market Complex. The Jessie McBride quintet is at the Funky Butt. The Hot 8 Brass Band and the Neville Brothers are at the House of Blues.

Bag of Donuts, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington, Russell Batiste and Da Orchestra from da Hood and the Li'l Stooges Brass Band perform this afternoon at Howlin' Wolf's free Lundi Gras Street Party. The Joe Krown Organ Combo is at Le Bon Temps Roule tonight. The Slip and Brotherhood of Groove are at the Old Point tonight.

Reginald Koeller leads the band at Preservation Hall. Charmaine Neville sings at Snug Harbor. Pianist Eddie Bo and the New Birth Brass Band are at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. The L'il Rascals Brass Band headlines the Pre-Orpheus Mardi Gras Bash at Tiptina's.

On the California jazz scene, Dianne Reeves is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight. The Mike Barone Big Band at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Roy McCurdy's CD release performance tonight at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood features him with Patrice Rushen, Kenny Davis, Shelly Berg and Jeff Clayton. Big Band 2000 is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton.

In San Francisco tonight, singer Carla Helmbrecht's trio is at the Top of the Mark, the San Francisco Symphony Players Jazz Jam takes place at the Beach Chalet, Jenna Mammina is at Enrico's and the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is at Jazz at Pearl's. There's a Mardi Gras celebration with Motordude Zydeco and Mal Sharpe's Big Money in Dixieland band at the Downtown Restaurant and the Renegade Sidemen are at Anna's Bistro in Berkeley.

The Terry Cade quartet is at the Montreal Jazz Club and Bistro in Toronto tonight.

Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield's quintet is at Q 4 in Rheinfelden, Germany, tonight.

On the recording front...

-- Another treat is in store this fall for fans of the late jazz pianist Bill Evans that is related to the "The Last Waltz" boxed set release of recordings that were made at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco in the week before his death in 1980. "Consecration" is another eight-CD set of material that was recorded the same week and in the same club. It was released in 1997 in Japan only. The Fantasy label has acquired rights to distribute the material outside Japan and plans to do so in September. Producer Todd Barkan says 'Consecration' favors first-set material from shows that week, while 'The Last Waltz' is more predominantly second sets, and the occasional third set that took place on the weekend.