Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Today is March 5. Pianist Lou Levy was born this day in Chicago in 1928. In a widely varied career, the fleet-fingered bop pianist's longest association was 18 years of accompanying singer Peggy Lee. Advertisement Bass player Bill Pemberton was born this day in 1918 in New York. He performed and recorded with Art Tatum and toured Russia with Earl "Fatha" Hines. He spent his later years in Panama Francis's Savoy Sultans band. Pemberton died in 1984. On this day in 1955, alto saxophonist Charlie Parker played his last gig at the New York jazz room that was named for him, the club called Birdland. He died seven days later. The Glenn Miller band began it first important booking this night in 1939, playing at the Meadowbrook nightspot in Cedar Grove, N.J. At this location prior to his summer booking at the famous Glen Island Casino, Miller was able to whip the band into shape and build a following through 10 live radio broadcasts each week. Advertisement Looking at today's hip happenings... On the New York jazz scene, trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet opens a two-week run at the Village Vanguard tonight. Violinist Billy Bang's quintet is at the Knitting Factory tonight. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut's All-Stars are at Iridium this week. The band features vibes player Stefon Harris, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash. The Duke Ellington Orchestra, led by grandson Paul Ellington, is at Birdland tonight. In and around Boston, pianist Geoffrey Gee is at Scullers tonight. Pianist Tony Perez's trio is at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. Perez succeeded Chucho Valdes as pianist in the Cuban band Irakere. Saxophonist Dave Liebman is at the New England Conservatory today and tomorrow as part of its Jazz Masters Residency Program. He's in concert Wednesday night. The Berklee College of Music's Piano Week schedule includes performances today and tonight by Dave Limina, Bruce Katz, Matt Jenson, Eduardo Tancredi, Suzanna Sifter and Larry Goldings. Tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman opens a weeklong run at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago tonight. The Ken Vandermark Five are at the Empty Bottle. On the New Orleans jazz scene, Mafouz is at the Dragon's Den tonight. The Jazz Vipers are at El Matador. Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos are at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. The Pearl Harbor Jazz Ensemble and drummer James Alsanders' Jazz Project are at the Funky Butt. The ReBirth Brass Band is at the Maple Leaf. Pete Fountain is at his club in the New Orleans Hilton tonight. Trumpeter Gregg Stafford leads the band at Preservation Hall. Jesse McBride's quartet is at Snug Harbor. The George French band is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Advertisement In California, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band are at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight through Sunday. The Nick Vagenas quintet is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood tonight. Ron Kobayashi and Steve Hommel team up tonight at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton. The Terry Becker Band is at Café Caracas in Berkeley tonight. Dan and Chris Brubeck bring their Brubeck Brothers quintet into Yoshi's in Oakland tonight. The band includes pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Mike DeMicco and saxophonist Anton Schwartz. In San Francisco, there's a S.F. Symphony Players' Jazz Jam tonight at the Beach Chalet. Barry Lloyd is at the Plush Room. Alan Steger is at the Bix Restaurant and Supper Club. Spyro Gyra is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight through Sunday. Trumpeter Ray Vega's Latin jazz quintet is at the A-Trane in Berlin, Germany tonight as its first European tour continues.
