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Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

By KEN FRANCKLING, United Press International
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Today is Dec. 12.


Saxophonist Eddie Barefield was born this day in 1909 in Scandia, Iowa. He worked in the midwestern territory bands before moving to New York with Bennie Moten. He played in the big bands of Cab Calloway, Don Redman and Fletcher Henderson -- and was Calloway's musical director through the 1950s.

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Singer Joe Williams was born this day in 1918 in Cordele, Ga. His sophisticated style of blues singing helped renew interest in the Count Basie Orchestra between 1955 and 1961. Williams died in 1999.


Pianist, singer and songwriter Bob Dorough was born this day in 1923 in Cherry Hill, Ark.


Pianist Dodo Marmarosa was born this day in 1925 in Pittsburgh.


Japanese pianist, composer and big bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi was born this day in 1929 in Manchuria. Akiyoshi is regarded as one of the finest orchestral jazz composers and bandleaders over the past three decades.

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Saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. was born this day in 1943 in Buffalo, N.Y. He moved to Philadelphia in the late 1960s, where he began working with soul-jazz organ combos before launching his highly successful recording career. Washington died from a heart attack after taping a network television program in New York on Dec. 17, 1999.


Drummer Tony Williams was born this day in 1945 in Chicago. He grew up in Boston where he started studying drumming with Alan Dawson at age 10. He moved to New York at age 17 and joined Miles Davis's band, staying with the trumpeter's group for six years. Tony Williams died in 1997 at age 51 after complications from gall bladder surgery.


Frank Sinatra, a musical giant heavily influenced by jazz and vice-versa, was born this day in 1915 in Hoboken, N.J.


Looking at today's hip happenings...


On the New York jazz scene... the Chris Potter quartet is at the Village Vanguard through Sunday. Oscar Peterson's quartet is at the Blue Note this week. The Josh Roseman group is at Jazz Standard tonight. The Ron Carter quartet is at Iridium through Sunday. The Jazz Gallery presents the Brian Lynch quartet plus special guest Miguel Zenon tonight. Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

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Birdland's first Charlie Parker Festival tonight features saxophonists Eric Alexander, Craig Handy, Ralph Lalama and David McMurray with a rhythm section of Don Friedman, Dennis Irwin and Billy Drummond. Marian McPartland, Judy Carmichael, Paula West, Chris Flory and Mike Hashim perform tonight at a Highlights in Jazz concert at Pace University's Downtown Theater.

Jazz at Lincoln Center will present "The Music Of Benny Goodman" tonight and Saturday at Alice Tully Hall with Bob Wilber and Paquito D'Rivera guesting on clarinet. Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Carol Sloane and Dave Frishberg for the second Singers Over Manhattan concerts tonight, Friday and Saturday in the Kaplan Penthouse.


The all-star free jazz collective Other Dimensions in Music and guitarist Joe Morris's trio perform tonight at the Tremont Theater in Boston.


Saxophonist Greg Abate is at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., tonight with his Evolution Band.


On the Chicago jazz scene... the Ron Freidman quintet is at Andy's tonight. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill. The Joey DeFrancesco trio is at the Jazz Showcase. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. The John Mose trio is at Michael's Jazz Bistro in Glen Ellyn. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Steve Ditzell duo is at Pops of Highwood.

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Saxophonist Dave Koz brings sixth annual "Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour" with David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell and Peter White to the Chicago Theatre tonight and Friday.


In New Orleans tonight... Rob Wagner trio is at Loft 523. Dr. Bone and the Hepcats are at the Banks Street Bar and Grill. The Improvisational Arts Council's "Acid Test" is at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown's trio is at Cafe Sbisa. Willie Tee is at Cobalt. The Mark Breaux quartet is at Donna's. Leroy Jones is at Dos Jefes. John Boutte is at El Matador. Jeremy Davenport is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. The Evan Howard band is at the Funky Butt.

Louis Ford is at Satchmo's jazz room in Harrah's. Double Time featuring drummers Johnny Vidacovich and Stanton Moore is at Howlin' Wolf. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Lloyd Washington and the Crescent City Joymakers are at the Palm Court. Dave Bartholomew leads the band tonight at Preservation Hall. Betsy Braud and the Jazz Nurse Prescription are at Snug Harbor. The Panorama Jazz Band and the Royal Rounders are at the Spotted Cat. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Vaughan's.

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On the California jazz scene... Denny Zeitlin's trio is at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. The Tamir Hendelman trio is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. The Mike Melvoin trio is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. New Orleans drummer Earl Palmer's trio is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. Jing Chi featuring Robben Ford, Jimmy Haslip and Vinny Colaiuta is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday.

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