Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is June 4th.

Bass player Teddy Kotick was born this day in 1928 in Haverhill, Mass. He worked with many jazz players, but never for very long. His longest steady gig was three years with Charlie Parker, who called Kotick one of his favorite double bass players. He died in 1986.

Singer Morgana King was born this day in 1930 in Pleasantville, N.Y.

Saxophonist Oliver Nelson was born this day in 1932 in St. Louis, Mo. His fine playing got left behind in the early 1960s as Nelson immersed himself in writing and arranging for a variety of groups, including his own all-star big band, which produced the timeless jazz recording "Blues and the Abstract Truth."

Saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton was born this day in 1945 in Chicago. Braxton has used mathematical relationships and formulas as the basis for some of his writing and his playing. He has also been influenced by contemporary European art music.

Saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera was born this day in 1948 in Havana, Cuba. He got his first lessons from his father, a tenor player, and was influenced early by the styles of Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Paul Desmond.

D'Rivera defected in 1980 while touring Europe with the Cuban jazz group Irakere. He moved to New York where he began a close association with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Upon Dizzy's death in 1993, D'Rivera assumed leadership of the jazz band that Gillespie called the United Nation Jazz Orchestra.

Alto saxophonist Earle Warren died this day in 1994 in Springfield, Ohio at age 79.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Pharoah Sanders quartet is at Iridium all week. Singer-pianist Diane Schuur is at the Blue Note. The Jacky Terrasson trio with bassist Sean Smith and drummer Al Foster is at the Village Vanguard this week. Harvie S, the bassist formerly known as Harvie Swartz, is at the Zinc Bar tonight and Wednesday with his Latin band, Eye Contact. Pianist Lafayette Harris Jr. talks about the musical history of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and '30s at the Arkadia Music Center tonight.

Singer Meredith d'Ambrosio is at Scullers in Boston tonight, celebrating her new Sunnyside CD, "Love Is For The Birds."

Laura Martier is at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., with the John Toomey quartet tonight.

In Chicago... the Freddy Cole quartet is at the Jazz Showcase this week. Jimmy Sutton's Four Charms are at the Green Mill tonight. Ken Cheney is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. Von Freeman and Friends are at the New Apartment Lounge on Tuesdays. The Bobby Broom trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Marshall Vente is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight.

On the New Orleans jazz scene... Mahfouz is at the Blue Nile. Tom Hook is at Dos Jefes. The Jazz Vipers are at El Matador. Ingrid Lucia sings at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. James Alsanders' Jazz Project is at the Funky Butt. Topsy Chapman is at Satchmo's jazz room in Harrah's casino. David Torkanowsky and Matt Lemmler are at Le Salon at Windsor Court. The ReBirth Brass Band Brass Band is at the Maple Leaf tonight. Gregg Stafford leads the trad band at Preservation Hall. Seeger, Petersen and Marsalis are at Snug Harbor. Carl LeBlanc is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor.

In California tonight...the Ron Kobayashi trio with Debbi Ebert is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. Singer Curtis Stigers is at is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight and Wednesday. The Hamilton High Big Band is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight. The Phil Norman tentet is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood tonight.

The Pat Metheny Group is in concert in Stuttgart, Germany, tonight.

On the recording front...

Flora Purim today released her newest EMI album, "Flora Purim Sings Milton Nascimento."

Personnel on the project include Airto Moreira, Diana Moreira, Jose Neto, Giovanni Hidalgo, Gary Brown, Widor Santiago, Luis Avellar, Jeff Gressman, Bill Ortiz and George Duke.

Columbia/ Legacy has released "Explorations," a two-VD set by pianist Lonnie Smith that covers his work from 1978 to 1980 and bridges the gap between his work with Earth, Wind and Fire and Pharoah Sanders. His crossover fusion work helped form the roots of so-called "smooth jazz."

Columbia/ Legacy is out today with reissues of three Weather Report recordings plus a new compilation of 11 tracks called "The Best of Weather Report." The other CDs are "Mysterious Traveller," Tale Spinnin'" and "Black Market."