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Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

By KEN FRANCKLING, United Press International
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Today is Jan. 23.


Saxophonist Benny Waters was born this day in 1902 in Brighton, Md. He recorded with King Oliver in the 1920s and played with a succession of fine American bands into the 1950s. He remained active until shortly before his death in 1998.

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Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt was born this day in 1910 in Liverchies, Belgium. He was the musician who laid the foundation for modern jazz guitar, pioneering a single-note guitar line that soon was stretched even farther by Charlie Christian.


Arranger, pianist and bandleader Marty Paich was born this day in 1925 in Oakland, Calif.


Gary Burton, the jazzman who popularized the use of four mallets on vibraphone, was born this day in 1943 in Anderson, Ind. Burton made a name for himself in jazz in the 1960s as a sideman with George Shearing and Stan Getz. Today, he's a busy performer and recording artist, and a top faculty member and senior administrator at Boston's Berklee College of Music.

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On this date in 1943, Duke Ellington first performed his epic tribute work "Black, Brown and Beige" at Carnegie Hall in New York. It was Ellington's first thematic work. He called it a "tone parallel" exploring black ambitions and aspirations in America. The Carnegie Hall concert and a follow-up in Boston several weeks later were the only times Ellington performed the complete work. Several of its sections, "Come Sunday" and "The Blues" remain essential parts of the Ellington songbook.


Looking at today's hip happenings...


On the New York jazz scene... the Joe Zawinul Syndicate is at the Blue Note through Sunday. There's a guitar spectacular double billing at Iridium this week featuring the Pat Martino band with special guest Joey DeFrancesco plus the Great Guitar Trio of Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden and Frank Vignola.

Trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet is at the Village Vanguard through Sunday. The Cindy Blackman quartet is at the Jazz Standard tonight. Violinist Regina Carter is at Birdland through Saturday. Trombonist Chris Washburne and his SYOTOS Latin jazz band perform tonight at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Marc Mommaas and Miles Okazaki are at La Vuelta in Queens on Thursdays.

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Jazz at Lincoln Center features drummer Lewis Nash tonight through Saturday in a "Grooves Up Front" concert series in the Kaplan Penthouse. His all-star group includes pianist Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene and bagpiper Paddy Keenan.


The Julie Kelly quartet is at Trumpets in Montclair, N.J, tonight.


In and around Boston... Sphere with Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams and Ben Riley is at the Regattabar in Cambridge through Saturday. The Legends Of The Bandstand, featuring Cedar Walton on piano, Louis Hayes on drums, Earl May on bass, Bobby Watson on alto sax and Curtis Fuller on trombone, are at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight. Brian Kelley's Social Lubrication is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight.


The Matthias Lupri Group with Mark Turner is at the Center for Cultural Exchange in Portland, Maine, tonight. The band also will visit New York, Connecticut and the District of Columbia in support of the vibraphonist's new Summit Records release, "Same Time Twice."


The David Chevan-Warren Byrd duo, Avadim Hayinu, is at Jubilee Hall at Fisk University in Nashville tonight.


In Chicago... the Jazz Institute of Chicago opens its three-day 25th annual Jazz Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Mike Smith quintet is at Andy's tonight. There's a jam session with John Bany, Don Stille and Charles Braugham tonight at The Chambers in Niles. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. The Kelly Brand-Kelly Sill duo is at The Foundry in Fox Valley Mall.

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Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill. The Miyumi Project and PTSH! are at HotHouse. Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues are at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago through Sunday. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. John Brumbach, Randy Tressler, Matt Ferguson and Mike Raynor are at Katerina's.

Alphonse Ponticelli and Swing Gitane are at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Dan Cay trio is at Pops for Champagne. The Dave Flippo duo is at Pops of Highwood. The Ernest Dawkins Ensemble is at the Velvet Lounge.


In New Orleans tonight... the Improvisational Arts Council's Acid Test is at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Lenny McDaniel is at Cobalt. New Orleans Street Beat is at the Crescent City Brewhouse. Evan Howard and Tom McDermott are at Donna's. Tom Fitzpatrick is at Dos Jefes. John Boutte is at El Matador. The Evan Howard Band is at the Funky Butt.

Jim Hlavac is at Giovanni's. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Lloyd Washington and the Crescent City Joymakers are at Palm Court. Dave Bartholomew leads the band tonight at Preservation Hall. The Rob Wagner trio is at Snug Harbor with special guest Victor Atkins. Galactic is at Tipitina's with Corey Harris and Henry Butler.

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There's a festival by the New York-based Jazz Composer's Collective tonight through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis.


In California... pianist Jacky Terrasson's trio is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. Roger Burn and Shapes are at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Dewey Erney/Ron Eschete quartet is at Steamer's Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. Singer Madeline Eastman is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight with the Vince Lateano trio. Yoshi's in Oakland features pianist McCoy Tyner tonight as part of his ninth annual two-week residency. Dreambeach is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight.


Poncho Sanchez is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle through Sunday.

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