Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is March 1st.

Bandleader Glenn Miller was born this day in 1904 in Clarinda, Iowa. He flunked his music courses while attending the University of Colorado, but he went on to lead one of the 20th century's most commercially successful big bands.

Miller died in December 1944 when his plane disappeared over the English Channel while headed to France. At the time he vanished, he was leading an Army Air Force band consisting of some of the finest jazz players of the Swing Era.

Once publicized as the world's fastest drummer, Barrett Deems was born this day in 1914 in Springfield, Ill. He was a member of Louis Armstrong's All Stars. He appeared with Armstrong and Bing Crosby in the 1956 movie "High Society" in the sequence that accompanies the song "Now You Has Jazz." The Chicago-based drummer died in 1998.

Trombonist Benny Powell was born this day in 1930 in New Orleans. A member of the Count Basie Orchestra from 1951 to 1963, he remains active on the jazz performance scene, and also teaches jazz at The New School in New York.

Bass player Eddie Jones was born this day in 1929 in New York. He spent a decade in the Count Basie orchestra before opting for more financial security in the corporate world. He became an active player again in the mid-1980s... including a longtime stint as a member of the Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars. Jones died in 1997.

Bass player Gene Perla was born this day in 1940 in Hackensack, N.J.

On this night in 2001, Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrated the career of saxophonist, composer, arranger and bandleader Benny Golson with multi-faceted concerts at Alice Tully Hall in New York.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... Maynard Ferguson and His Big Bop Nouveau Band are at The Blue Note for two more nights. The Joe Lovano quartet is at the Village Vanguard through Sunday. Drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts' quintet is at Iridium. Steve Turre is at Smoke tonight.

Drummer Matt Wilson's quartet is at The Jazz Standard through Sunday. Sam Newsome's Groove Project is at the Jazz Gallery tonight. Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra led by Arturo O'Farrill is at the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture in the Bronx on Saturday. T.K. Blue is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem tonight.

The North Star Jazz Ensemble is at CAV in Providence, R.I., tonight with Cape Cod guitarist Fred Fried as special guest.

In greater Boston... the Marian McPartland trio is at Scullers jazz club tonight. The Bruce Gertz Quintet with Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo and Adam Nussbaum is at The Regattabar in Cambridge. Mike Turk's group is at the Center for the Arts in Natick tonight.

The Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra is at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Mass., tonight.

In Philadelphia... Richie Cole is at Chris's Jazz Cafe with the Tony Miceli trio. The Paul Flaherty-Chris Corsano duo and Hirple are at the Fleisher Art Memorial tonight. Joanne Pascal is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus with the Farid Barron quartet. The Tony Grandberry quintet is at Zanzibar Blue.

Saxophonist Jim Snidero's quartet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati tonight through Sunday.

"No Room For Squares" with Malachi Thompson and his Freebop Band featuring saxophonists Gary Bartz and Billy Harper is at Chicago's Spoken Word Café tonight. The concert is a prelude to the Freebop Band's 25th annual season. The Freebop Band got its start in NYC circa 1978 as part of the loft jazz scene in Lower Manhattan and the East Village.

Elsewhere in the Windy City... David "Fathead" Newman's quartet is at the Jazz Showcase through Sunday. Carlos Cannon is at the Backroom. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. Alex Martinez' Latin Experience is at The Foundry at Fox Valley Mall. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. The Dave Specter trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston tonight. Rankinfyle is at Philander's in Oak Park. Henry Johnson's Organ Express is at Pops for Champagne.

In New Orleans... the Blue Universe Quartet featuring Sheik Rasheed is at the Blue Nile tonight. The Earl Brown trio is at Cafe Sbisa. The Mama Digdown Brass Band is at Donna's. Dr. Bone and the Hepcats are at Dos Jefes. Devin Phillips' Hot Shots, Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles, and the Li'l Stooges Brass Band are at the Funky Butt.

Mark Braud and Topsy Chapman are at Harrah's. Bonerama is at Howlin' Wolf. Lionel Ferbos is at the Palm Court. Hugo Sanchez is at Rene Bistrot. Brasilliance is at Snug Harbor. There's a Basin Street Carnival with Jon Cleary, Kermit Ruffins and Henry Butler tonight at Tipitina's. The Pinettes Brass Band is at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park this afternoon.

Carmen's de la Calle Cafe in San Antonio presents Jazzeria, a two-day festival, today and Sunday. It features Small World with Sebastian Campesi, Sarabande, the Ron Wilkins Quartet, 3rd Trio from the Sun with Andy Langham, the Bett Butler trio, Olivia Revueltas, Joan Carroll and Footprints, Jim Butler, the Joel Dilley Group, Henri Brun and the Latin Players, the Regency Jazz Band, the Frustrated Orchestra, and a late-night jam session with the Carmen's de la Calle All-Star Big Band.

On the California jazz scene... pianist Benny Green and guitarist Russell Malone are the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. The Pete Jolly Trio is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight. Trumpeter Noland Shaheed and the John Heard trio are at Charlie O's in Valley Glen.

The Susie Hansen Latin jazz band is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. The Warren Gale quintet plays the music of Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw tonight at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco.

Spyro Gyra is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle through Sunday.

The Hard Rubber Orchestra with Michael Blake is at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, tonight.

Flutist Jamie Baum's quartet is at the Katmandu Jazz Festival in Katmandu and Pokhara, Nepal through March 8.