Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Jan. 18.

Singer Irene Kral was born this day in 1932 in Chicago. She was a terrific ballad singer with impeccable taste, working with Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Shelly Manne.

Versatile musician Don Thompson was born this day in 1940 in Powell River, Canada. Best known for his bass playing, he also is a fine pianist. He toured with Paul Desmond and Jim Hall and spent five years in pianist George Shearing's duo.

Drummer Al Foster was born this day in 1944 in Richmond, Va. He was an essential player in Miles Davis's bands from 1972 through 1985. His collaborators have included McCoy Tyner, David Sanborn and Joe Henderson.

Saxophonist Steve Grossman was born this day in 1951 in New York City. He succeeded Wayne Shorter in Miles Davis's fusion band in 1969.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center has announced a $10 million leadership grant from The Coca-Cola Co. toward the creation of the world's first performing arts center designed specifically for jazz. Frederick P. Rose Hall is scheduled to open in fall 2004. Jazz at Lincoln Center will name the 140-seat jazz club performance venue in the new facility Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in honor of late trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

The 2,500 square-foot jazz club will offer educational programming in the daytime while converting to a performance venue every evening. The room also will enable Jazz at Lincoln Center to offer smaller concerts and special events for young people, such as Student Musician's Nights, which will provide young jazz musicians an opportunity to perform live. Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola will be one of three main performance venues within Frederick P. Rose Hall.

On the New York jazz club scene... trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet is at the Village Vanguard for two more nights. There's a Three Tenor Saxophone Summit with Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, and Joe Lovano at Birdland tonight. Trumpeter Jim Rotondi's quintet is at Smoke tonight. Singer-guitarist Diane Hubka is at Chez Suzette. Kenny Williams' quartet is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem tonight.

The Classical Jazz Quartet with Kenny Barron, Stefon Harris, Lewis Nash and Rufus Reid is at Iridium. Arturo Sandoval is at the Blue Note. Pianist Randy Weston's African Rhythms Sextet featuring Regina Carter is at the Jazz Standard. The Robert Glasper trio is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. The Chamber Music America holds its 25th anniversary marathon beginning this afternoon at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharp Theater. The Stefon Harris quartet, Kamikaze Ground Crew and the Pete Malinverni trio are in the diverse, eight-hour lineup.

In the Boston area... Ahmad Jamal is at The Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. Mark Murphy and Rebecca Parris are at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight. Toni Lynn Washington is at Ryles in Cambridge.

Student musicians from the northeastern United States, and from as far away as Ecuador will compete today at Berklee College of Music's 35th annual High School Jazz Festival. More than 3,500 students will compete for trophies and tuition scholarships totaling $100,000 at the largest festival of its kind in the United States. Today's events at the Hynes Convention Center are free and open to the public.

In Philadelphia tonight... Brad Mehldau is at the Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. John Simons is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus with the Mickey Roker quartet. The Jimmy Bruno trio is at Chris's Jazz Café. Alfie Moss and Dexter Koonce are at Zanzibar Blue. Alo Brasil is at North by Northwest.

In Chicago tonight... the 10th annual Marshall Vente Jazz Fest continues its weeklong run at the Jazz Showcase with the Marshall Vente Project 9, Billy Harper, Joannie Pallatto, Sparrow and the Machine Band. The Redd Holt quartet is at Andy's. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse tonight. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium.

The Dave Onderdonk quartet is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Rankinfyle is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Al Green-Othello Anderson quartet is at Pops for Champagne. Rick Shandling's trio is at Pops of Highwood. Malachi Thompson and Freebop are at the Velvet Lounge tonight.

On the New Orleans jazz scene... the Blue Universe Quartet featuring Sheik Rasheed and Bust featuring Rebecca Barry are at the Blue Nile tonight. Earl Brown's trio is at Cafe Sbisa. David Torkanowsky is at Cobalt. The Devin Phillips quartet is at the Funky Butt. Jim Hlavac is at Giovanni's. The Joe Krown Organ Combo is at Le Bon Temps Roule.

Lionel Ferbos is at the Palm Court. Trumpeter John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Tony Dagradi is at the Rene Bistrot. The Panorama Jazz Band is at the Seaport Cafe tonight. The Maurice Brown quintet is at Snug Harbor tonight. Andrew Hall's Society Brass Band is at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park this afternoon.

The North Iowa Area Community College Jazz Festival finale tonight in Mason City features Orquesta De Jazz and Salsa Alto Maiz.

In California... singer Andy Bey is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Trumpeter Noland Shaheed is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight with the John Heard trio. The Alan Broadbent trio is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Joey DeFrancesco trio is at Steamer's Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. Bob DeSena's Latin jazz group is at The Deck in Palm Springs. The 12th annual Mark Hummel Blues Harmonica Blowout takes place at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight. Vibraphonist Yancie Taylor's Jazztet is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight.

Cellist Peggy Lee's band is at the Western Front in Vancouver, British Columbia, tonight.