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Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

By KEN FRANCKLING, United Press International
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Today is Feb. 28.


Trumpeter and bandleader Lee Castle was born this day in 1915 in New York. He was a featured soloist with many of the major jazz big bands. After Jimmy Dorsey's death in 1957, Castle took over leadership of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

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Danish violinist Svend Asmussen was born this day in 1916 in Copenhagen. His musical partnerships ranged from the Mills Brothers to Fats Waller to Duke Ellington. In 1966, he made a Violin Summit recording with Stephane Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty and Stuff Smith.


Jazz and Latin percussionist and bandleader Willie Bobo was born this day in New York in 1934.


On this day in 1945, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie recorded together for the first time. The session was for the Guild label. Their band included Clyde Hart, Remo Palmieri, Slam Stewart and Cozy Cole. This session produced the first full-blooded bebop tracks on record, including "Shaw Nuff," "Hot House" and "Salt Peanuts."

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Looking at today's hip happenings...


The 44th annual Grammy Awards are history, and some well-known jazz talents are among the winners at last night's festivities in Los Angeles.

Bassist and veteran producer Marcus Miller took best contemporary jazz album honors for his project "M-squared" on Telarc Jazz. Fresh from her appearance at the Winter Olympics' closing ceremonies in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Dianne Reeves won best jazz vocal album honors for "The Calling," her newest Blue Note recording.

Tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker won the Grammy for best jazz instrumental solo for his playing on "Chan's Song" on his "Nearness of You: The Ballad Book" on Verve.

Tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins a 2002 Grammy for best jazz instrumental album for "This Is What I Do" on Milestone Records. The Bob Mintzer Big Band won the Grammy for best large jazz ensemble for "Homage to Count Basie," a DMP recording. Charlie Haden's "Nocturne" project on Verve was named best Latin jazz album.

"Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944"was voted best historical album by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.


On the New York jazz scene, drummer Bobby Previte reunites his Voodoo Orchestra tonight at the 55 Bar to play the music of Miles Davis's "Bitches Brew" electric jazz phase. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz project continues its seven years-plus tradition of Thursday nights at the Nuyorican Poets Café. Pianist Cecil Taylor is at Alice Tully Hall tonight.

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Singer Bebel Gilberto is at Irving Plaza. Saxophonist Jay Collins' band is at the Jazz Gallery tonight. The Charles Gayle trio is at Tonic. Nora York sings tonight at Joe's Pub. John Medeski sits in with Sex Mob tonight at the Knitting Factory. The Mingus Big Band is at the Fez.

Jazz at Lincoln Center presents a Kaplan Penthouse concert tonight called "Boudoir Tenors." It will features saxophonists Frank Wess, Lew Tabackin, Wayne Escoffery and Stephen Riley, backed by pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. They will perform some of the great jazz ballads, as well as uptempo numbers and blues.

Saxophonists Dave Liebman, Craig Handy and Jimmy Greene present a tribute to the late Joe Henderson at Birdland tonight through Saturday with the rhythm team of Don Friedman, Santi Debriano and Idris Muhammad. Fats Waller's guitarist, Al Casey, is at Chez Suzette tonight.

Ray Barretto and New World Spirit plus Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band are at the Blue Note through Sunday. Pianist Geri Allen's trio is at Iridium and bassist Ray Drummond's quartet is at the Village Vanguard all week.


On the Boston area jazz scene, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. The Caribbean Jazz Project is at Scullers jazz club in Boston.

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Guitarist John Scofield's band is at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia tonight. The Brian Woestehoff trio is at Chris's Jazz Café in Philadelphia.


On the Chicago jazz scene, the Mike Smith-Ron Freidman quintet is at Andy's tonight. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. The Tito Carrillo quartet is at Pops for Champagne. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park.


In New Orleans, King Snake Boogie and the Manabu Sakei jazz trio are at Checkpoint Charlie. Harry Connick Sr. is at Cobalt. Trumpeter Wendell Brunious brings his quartet into Donna's. Rebecca Barry and Bill Huntington team up at Dos Jefes. Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos are at El Matador. The Joe Krown Organ Combo is at the Funky Butt. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule.

The Crescent City Joymakers are at the Palm Court. John Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall tonight. Singer Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutte is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Quintology is at Snug Harbor. Saxophonist Nat Simpkins is at Tipitina's. Kermit Ruffins bring his the Barbecue Swingers into Vaughn's tonight.

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On the California jazz scene, guitarist Anthony Wilson's trio is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. Tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman's band is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Drummer Dave Weckl's band is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. Bobby Short is in the spotlight at Yoshi's in Oakland.

Don Bennett and Jim Putnam are at Saylor's in Sausalito. Larry Dunlap and Mike O'Neill team up tonight at the Cetrella Restaurant in Half Moon Bay. Wanda Stafford and the Si Perkoff Band perform tonight at the Panama Hotel and Restaurant in San Rafael. Spyro Gyra is at Kimball's East in Emeryville. Macy Blackman is at the Downtown restaurant in Berkeley.

In San Francisco, the Walter Earl Group is at Enrico's. Barbara Linn is at Café Bastille in San Francisco. The Blair Jazz Project is at Butterfly. Paula West is at the Plush Room. Bryce Rohde is at the Bix Restaurant and Supper Club. The Al Plank trio is at Jazz at Pearl's. Jim Campilongo and strings are at Bruno's. Ledisi is at Café du Nord with her group. The Jazz Knights are at the Pier 23 Café.

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The Molly Johnson quintet is at the Montreal Jazz Club and Bistro in Toronto tonight through Saturday.


The Ray Vega Latin Jazz is at the Casa de Cultura in Alcoy, Spain, tonight.

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