Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is March 5.

Pianist Lou Levy was born this day in Chicago in 1928. In a widely varied career, the fleet-fingered bop pianist's longest association was 18 years of accompanying singer Peggy Lee.

Bass player Bill Pemberton was born this day in 1918 in New York. He performed and recorded with Art Tatum and toured Russia with Earl "Fatha" Hines. He spent his later years in Panama Francis's Savoy Sultans band. Pemberton died in 1984.

On this day in 1955, alto saxophonist Charlie Parker played his last gig at the New York jazz room that was named for him, the club called Birdland. He died seven days later.

The Glenn Miller band began it first important booking this night in 1939, playing at the Meadowbrook nightspot in Cedar Grove, N.J. At this location, prior to his summer booking at the famous Glen Island Casino, Miller was able to whip the band into shape and build a following through 10 live radio broadcasts each week.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

In New York... Dianne Reeves and the Ramsey Lewis trio are featured tonight at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in the HIP Health Plan of New York's HIP Jazz Concert Series. It's a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America's Jazz Musicians' Emergency Fund and the Jazz Program at the New School University.

The Ahmad Jamal trio is at Iridium this week. The Kurt Rosenwinkel quartet is at the Village Vanguard. The Blue Note features the Latin side of Paquito d'Rivera. Singer Jeri Brown is at The Jazz Standard tonight. The Jerry Gordon quartet is at the Zinc Bar tonight. The Susie Hansen Latin Band is at La Maganette. Saxophonist Paul Shapiro is at Tonic tonight to celebrate last week's release of his debut CD, "Midnight Minyan," on John Zorn's Tzadik label.

Wynton Marsalis's septet is at the University of Hartford's Lincoln Theater in West Hartford, Conn.

In and around Boston... the Igor Butman quartet is at The Regattabar in Cambridge. Dead Cat Bounce is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight. The Sai Ghose quartet is at Scullers jazz club in Boston.

Tony Miceli is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Cafe Degas with Jeremy Berbarian and Ranad Meyer tonight.

In Chicago... the Pat Martino quartet is at the Jazz Showcase this week. Henry Johnson's Organ Express with Chris Forman is at Andy's tonight. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Ennui. The Bill Porter Orchestra with Rich Fudoli is at Green Dolphin Street. The Kurt Elling quartet is at the Green Mill.

The Brass Tracks Big Band is at Hackney's. Ken Saydak is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. The Ron Perrillo trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Jackie Allen and Judy Roberts are at Philander's in Oak Park. The Dave Flippo duo is at Pops of Highwood.

In New Orleans... Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris is at Dos Jefes. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador. Steve Yocum's trio is at Fritzel's. Thaddeus Ford and Lusher are at the Funky Butt. Mark Braud is at Harrah's. The Johnny Vidacovich trio is at the Maple Leaf. Leroy Jones is at the Palm Court. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The John Mahoney Big Band is at Snug Harbor.

In California... The Masters of Groove, featuring Grant Green Jr., Ruben Wilson and Clyde Stubblefield, are at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. Calamari with Emil Richards, Mike Lang, Joe Porcaro and Mike Valerio is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen.

The Gordon Brisker quartet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. Susan Sinner is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. Pianist Dick Hindman's trio is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight. The Dena DeRose trio featuring Bill Henderson is at Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland tonight.

Bireli Lagrene opens his latest North American tour tonight at Laxson Auditorium at Cal State University in Chico. After 11 days in California, his Gypsy jazz band heads east to Minneapolis; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Chicago; and Montreal before finishing with a week at Iridium in New York.

Billy Cobham's Art of 5 is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle through Sunday.