Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is July 1st.

Alto saxophonist Earle Warren was born this day in 1914 in Springfield, Ohio. He was Count Basie's first great lead alto player, joining the band in 1937 and staying for about 13 years.

Warren also got his share of vocal features with the Basie band. During one rendition of the song "I Struck a Match in the Dark," saxophonist Lester Young turned practical jokester and set Warren's sheet music on fire.

On this day in 1959, pianist Dave Brubeck first recorded his band's signature tune, "Take Five." The song, written in 5/4 time, was composed by alto saxophonist Paul Desmond at Brubeck's suggestion. Brubeck says "Take Five" evolved from an unusual rhythm pattern that drummer Joe Morello warmed up with offstage before performances. It remains Brubeck's biggest hit.

This was also the day, in 1935, when Benny Goodman first recorded the "King Porter Stomp" for the Victor label.

On this night in 2001, saxophonist Michael Brecker's portion of the 22nd Montreal International Jazz Festival's acclaimed "Invitation" series features him performing solo and in duos with Charlie Haden and Danilo Perez.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Tonight's Montreal International Jazz Festival features include singers Dianne Reeves, Coral Egan, Miriam Makeba and Omara Portundo, guitarists Bill Frisell and Bireli Lagrene, the Cuban group Orquesta Aragon and Norwegian pianist Ketil Bjornstad's trio.

In New York tonight... the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is at the Village Vanguard. Guitarist Les Paul is at Iridium. The Knitting Factory lineup tonight features Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers, RockFour, the So-Hum Quartet led by tenor saxophonist Joshua Smith and pianist Adam Fernandez, and Tres Tristes Tigres with Juan-Carlos Formell, Descemer Bueno and Pavel.

Upstate tonight, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra presents a tribute to Frank Sinatra at Artpark in Lewiston.

In and around Chicago... Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway are at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park tonight. Yoko Noge's Jazz Me Blues is at HotHouse. Kelly Brand is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium on the Navy Pier. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman are at Pops for Champagne. Nadine Baxter is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight. Terry Callier and Beyond are at the Green Mil.

In New Orleans... Bob French and Friends are at Donna's. The Jason Marsalis Quartet and the Just Off the Boat Refugee Jazz Band are at the Funky Butt. Joe Krown is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Pianist Ron Jones is at Le Meridien. Darrell Lavigne and Larry Sieberth are at Le Salon at Windsor Court. Have Soul Will Travel is at the Maple Leaf. Reginald Koeller leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Charmaine Neville is at Snug Harbor. The New Orleans Jazz Vipers and Ryan Burrage and the Rhythm Masters are at the Spotted Cat.

In California... the John Peace Superband is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. Martin Fierro and Eric Wiley are at Main Street Station in Guerneville. The Amina Figarova septet is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight. The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco. George Khouri is at the Bix Restaurant and Supper Club in San Francisco.

Bjorn Svensson's EST trio is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight.

The Vancouver Jazz Festival comes to a close today with a Canada Day celebration at Granville Island with 19 bands performing between noon and midnight at five locations.

The Pat Metheny Group is in Madrid, Spain, tonight.