Composer and pianist Hall Overton was born this day in 1920 in Bangor, Mich. He played with Stan Getz, Oscar Pettiford, Teddy Charles and Jimmy Rainey, and wrote arrangements for Thelonious Monk's historic orchestral concert at Town Hall in 1959. Hall Overton died in 1972.

Trumpeter Johnny Carisi was born this day in 1922 in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. He was an eclectic composer who wrote for the finest big bands back in the 1940s, including groups led by Ray McKinley, Charlie Barnet and Claude Thornhill.

In the late 1940s, while studying with composer Stefan Wolpe, Carisi wrote a polyphonic piece based on a 12-bar blues progression. He called the song "Israel." Miles Davis recorded it in 1949. It became part of the classic Davis album "The Birth of the Cool."

On this day in 1997, the jazz world was shocked by the death of drummer Tony Williams of a heart attack after gall bladder surgery in Daly City, Calif. He was 51. His collaborations with John McLaughlin and Miles Davis set the standard for fusion drumming, exploring free form rhythms mixed with the amplification and rawness of rock music.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

The 45th annual Grammy Awards take place tonight in New York. The show will air on CBS. Simon and Garfunkel, Etta James, the late Tito Puente, Johnny Mathis and the late Glenn Miller will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Recording Academy.

Here's a review of this year's jazz nominees:

- Contemporary Jazz Album: "Deep Into It" by Larry Carlton, "Speaking of Now" by the Pat Metheny Group, "Uberjam" by the John Scofield Band, "Mint Jam" by the Yellowjackets, and "Faces & Places" by Joe Zawinul.

- Jazz Vocal Album: "For Ella" by Patti Austin, "Ask a Woman Who Knows" by Natalie Cole, "Etta Jones Sings Lady Day" by Etta Jones, "Live in Paris" by Diana Krall, and "Brazilian Duos" by Luciana Souza.

- Jazz Instrumental Solo: "Naima" by Michael Brecker, "Chelsea Bridge" by Pete Christlieb, "Sunset & The Mockingbird" by Tommy Flanagan, "My Ship" by Herbie Hancock, and "Proof" by Pat Metheny.

- Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: "Triangulo" by Michel Camilo, "The Infinite" by Dave Douglas, "Directions in Music" by Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove, "Footprints Live!" by Wayne Shorter, and " McCoy Tyner Plays John Coltrane -- Live at the Village Vanguard" by McCoy Tyner.

- Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Jazz Matinee" by Slide Hampton and the SWR Big Band, "What Goes Around" by the Dave Holland Big Band, "Tonight at Noon ... Three or Four Shades of Love" by the Mingus Big Band, "This Is the Moment" by Sammy Nestico, and "Can I Persuade You?" by The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

- Latin Jazz Album: "Alma De Santiago" by Jane Bunnett, "The Gathering" by the Caribbean Jazz Project, "Samba Jazz Fantasia" by Duduka Da Fonseca," "S.F. Bay" by John Santos and The Machete Ensemble, and "Sentir" by Omar Sosa.

In New York... Nicholas Payton, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, Terrell Stafford and David Weiss celebrate the music of Lee Morgan, Booker Little and Freddie Hubbard for one more night at Iridium. The Mark Turner trio is at the Village Vanguard.

Regina Belle is at The Blue Note. The Jazz Standard's "Winter Blues Week" series features Lucky Peterson tonight. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at Smoke tonight.

The Oliver Lake Steel Quintet is at the Jazz Room at William Paterson University's Shea Center in Paterson, N.J., this afternoon. Richie Cole's Alto Madness Orchestra is at Trumpets in Montclair tonight.

In the greater Boston area... David Zoffer and Adam Larrabee are at the Regattabar in m at New England Conservatory¹s Brown Hall tonight. The centerpiece of the concert is the premiere of "Gamut Etude," based on John Cage's gamut composition technique. Dijkstra will perform the piece himself, electronically processing the sounds of an eleven-piece chamber ensemble.

The Historic Strasburg Inn winds down its Strasburg Jazz Festival today in Lancaster County, Pa. There's a special jazz brunch in Neesly Hall with Fred Hughes trio and the Shepherd College jazz band with special guest vocalist, Grammy nominated Juanita Williams. Other events feature Brock Woerner and "Jazz Speak."

On the Cleveland jazz scene... the Larry Coryell trio is at Nighttown tonight. Dianne Reeves and the Joe Lovano Street Band perform his "Viva Caruso" project at Severance Hall. Galactic and Lyrics Born are at the Odeon tonight.

In the Chicago area... Kelly Brand's Nextet is featured today in the Gorton Community Center's Cabin Fever Jazz Series in Lake Forest. Sonny Fortune is at the Jazz Showcase tonight. Detour is at the Backroom. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman are at The Chambers in Niles. The Brienn Perry Orchestra is at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn.

The Kimberly Gordan trio is at the Green Mill tonight, while the club features the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective this afternoon. The Sonny Turner quintet is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. The Tim Green and Tim McNamara trio is at Katerina's this noon. Kara Kesselring is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Russell Alan Rowe trio is at Pops for Champagne.

In New Orleans... Ryan Burrage and the Rhythm Makers are at Fritzel's. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. The Hot Club of New Orleans swing band is at the Circle Bar. Heather and the Monkey King are at Cobalt. The Tony Dillon trio is at Donna's. Rob Wagner's New Thing is at the Dragon's Den. Warren Battiste and friends are at El Matador. The JMO Jazz Band is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar.

Big Sam's Funky Nation and Evan Howard are at the Funky Butt. Trombone Shorty is at the Maple Leaf. Lucien Barbarin and the Sunday Night Swingsters are at the Palm Court. The Olympia Brass Band is at Preservation Hall tonight. The Dixie Trio is at the Seaport Cafe. The New Orleans Nightcrawlers are at Snug Harbor tonight.

The Greg Osby quartet performs in the "Sundays at Murry's" series today in Columbia, Mo.

In California... Patricia Barber is Catalina's Bar & Grill in Hollywood tonight. Mose Allison is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. John Giannelli and Friends with Frank Marocco are at Spazio in Sherman Oaks.

The Sunday Jazz Band features saxophonist Larry Covelli at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. The James Carter trio is at Yoshi's in Oakland with special guest David Murray.

The Marsalis family band, featuring pianist Ellis Marsalis and sons Branford (sax), Wynton (trumpet), Delfeayo (trombone) and Jason (drums) opens its North American tour tonight at the National Arts Centre Theatre in Ottawa.