Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Oct. 11.

Drummer Art Blakey was born this day in 1919 in Pittsburgh. He became a one-man jazz university during his long and productive career. Blakey's band, The Jazz Messengers, became a training ground for many future bandleaders, including Jackie McLean, Johnny Griffin, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Mangione, James Williams and Wynton Marsalis. Art Blakey died in 1990, a week after his 71st birthday.

Drummer Billy Higgins was born this day in 1936 in Los Angeles. In addition to playing with a veritable who's who in jazz, he played an important role as a jazz educator in Los Angeles until his death in 2001.

Trumpeter Lester Bowie was born this day in 1941 in Frederick, Md. The versatile co-founder of the Art Ensemble of Chicago was also an adventurer with his own Brass Fantasy band.

On this day in 1939, Coleman Hawkins first recorded "Body and Soul." It became his most famous solo. It also set the standard for the reworking of popular ballads by tenor saxophonists.

On this day in 1953, Clifford Brown recorded his first big band album in Paris after hours while touring with an all-star aggregation led by Lionel Hampton.

On this night in 2001, Jazz at Lincoln Center's "Duets on the Hudson" series opened its 2001-02 season with two pairings... alto saxophonist Lee Konitz and drummer Paul Motian, and accordionist Richard Galliano and violinist Mark Feldman.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... guitarist Jim Hall is at the Village Vanguard through Sunday. Bassist Dave Holland's 13-piece big band is at Birdland through Saturday. The Arthur Blythe quartet is at the Jazz Standard this week. The Sam Rivers trio and the Andrew Hill quartet are at Iridium. Two duos... Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone plus Benny Green and Russell Malone... share the billing at the Blue Note this week. The Matthias Lupri Group with George Garzone is at the Cornelia Street Cafe. The Danny Mixon trio is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem tonight and Saturday.

Jazz at Lincoln Center's Jazz at the Penthouse series presents "Caribbean Classics -- Pan Drums" tonight and Saturday featuring an ensemble led by David "Happy" Williams, with Othello Molineaux on pan drums. It's at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. Bill Cole and the Untempered Ensemble are at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, performing the world premiere of his new work, "The Living Lives Not Among the Dead. Why Seek It There?"

Guitarist Scott Henderson brings his "Well To The Bone" blues-rock tour to The Van Dyck in Schenectady.

On the Boston area jazz scene... the Bebop Guitars are at Ryles jazz club in Cambridge, Mass., tonight. Pianist Donal Fox performs Blues on Bach tonight at the Regattabar in Cambridge. Guitarist Larry Coryell's trio featuring drummer Paul Wertico and bassist Buster Williams is at Scullers tonight.

Singer Barbara Knight and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra perform Great American Songbook selections by George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Jerome Kern tonight at the Cuyahoga Community College West Campus auditorium.

Singer Nnenna Freelon is at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., tonight.

Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom and his trio are at the Bird of Paradise in Ann Arbor, Mich., tonight and Saturday.

In the Chicago area... pianist Cedar Walton's trio is at the Jazz Showcase this week. The Chris Lega-Pat Mallinger quintet is at Andy's tonight. Judy Roberts is at the Chicago Firehouse Thursdays through Saturdays. Skinny Williams is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The King Fleming trio is at Philander's in Oak Park.

In New Orleans tonight... Julia LaShae and her trio are at the Bombay Club. David Torkanowsky is at Cobalt. New Orleans Streetbeat and Jerry and the Jazzmakers are at the Crescent City Brewhouse. The Treme Brass Band is at Donna's. Jeremy Davenport is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. James Rivers is at the Fine Arts Center.

Coogan, Seeger, Green and Moore and the Devin Phillips quartet are at the Funky Butt tonight. Topsy Chapman and Louis Ford are at Satchmo's jazz room at Harrah's tonight. The Rob Wagner Trio is at Loft 523. The Ernie Elly Slickshots with Thais Clark are at the Palm Court. Tim Green is at the Rene Bistrot. The Panorama Jazz Band is at the Seaport Cafe. The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are at the Spotted Cat tonight.

In California... the Jennifer York quartet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. Saxophonist Charles Owens is special guest tonight and Saturday with the John Heard trio at Charlie O's in Valley Glen. Steve Tyrell is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood tonight. The Bud Shank Quintet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight for a compact disc release party.

The Eliane Elias trio is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday. Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins is at the Powerhouse Brewing Company in Sebastopol tonight. The world jazz-pop vocal ensemble SoVoSo is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight. Percussionist John Santos and the Machete Ensemble present Rhythm and the Word, a concert celebrating their 17th anniversary and their new CD, "SF Bay," at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley.