Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is March 8.

Pianist Dick Hyman was born this day in New York City in 1927. Since he hit the music scene in the early 1950s, Hyman has been one of the most versatile pianists and musical directors around. He has been a busy studio musician and musical director on network television. He also has served as principal music writer for several of Woody Allen's films. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave Hyman its Most Valuable Player award seven times.

Tenor saxophonist George Coleman was born this day in 1935 in Memphis, Tenn. He started out on alto and switched to the tenor in 1955 while touring with blues guitarist B.B. King. He played in Miles Davis's band from 1963-64 and now leads his own quartet.

Another Memphis native, pianist James Williams, was born this day in 1951. In addition to his own writing and performing, Williams has established strong credentials as a producer of jazz events and recordings for other players. Williams's own musical efforts are focused these days on his gospel-jazz-blues group Intensive Care Unit.

On this day in 1940, Cab Calloway and his orchestra recorded Dizzy Gillespie's composition "Pickin' the Cabbage" for the Vocalian label.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

In New York... the Ahmad Jamal trio is at Iridium this week. The Blue Note features the Latin side of Miles Davis with trombonist Conrad Herwig's band featuring Paquito D' Rivera and Eddie Palmieri with Brian Lynch, Edsel Gomez, Mario Rivera, John Benitez, Robbie Ameen and Richie Flores. The Kurt Rosenwinkel quartet is at the Village Vanguard. The George Gruntz Concert Band featuring John Scofield is at Birdland tonight. One World featuring Dave Stryker, Gene Jackson, Badal Roy, Milton Cardona and Andy McKee is at Sweet Rhythm tonight and Sunday.

The all-star laden Larry Willis quintet is at Smoke tonight, with Slide Hampton, Steve Davis, Buster Williams and Ben Riley. Singer Jeffrey Smith's group is at The Jazz Standard. The Yosvany Terry group featuring Dafnis Prieto is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Marlene VerPlanck is at Chez Suzette tonight. French Cooking is at Garage tonight in Greenwich Village.

To celebrate Women's History Month, singer Kendra Shank will bring an all-woman band to the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion in Hempstead, Long Island, tonight. It includes saxophonist Virginia Mayhew, pianist Roberta Piket, bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Allison Miller.

Rachel Z's trio is at Trumpets in Montclair, N.J., tonight.

In and around Boston... Joshua Redman is at Scullers jazz club tonight. The Charles Mingus Big Band is at The Regattabar in Cambridge. Louie Bellson is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight. Paul Broadnax is at the Bay Tower Room. Waldron Ricks is at The Good Life in downtown Boston. Groove Authority is at Bob The Chef's.

Highland Jazz concludes its 20th annual season tonight with an all-woman concert with Diane Wernick, Cercie Miller, Consuelo Candelaria, Genevive Rose, Carolyn Castellano and Dominique at Christ Episcopal Church in Needham. The Bill Fanning quartet is at Zara in Worcester tonight.

In Philadelphia... William Cepeda is at the Painted Bride Arts Center. The Barbara Walker Story is at Zanzibar Blue tonight. The Joey DeFrancesco trio is at Chris's Jazz Cafe. The Bootsie Barnes-John Swana sextet is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus.

In Chicago... the Pat Martino quartet is at the Jazz Showcase this week. Bobby Lewis is at the Backroom. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse tonight. The Tom Muellner trio is at Houston's Restaurant. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls are at the Green Mill where there's also a Sabertooth After Hours Jazz Party starting at midnight. Guitarist Bobby Broom's organ trio Deep Blue is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston tonight.

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 Leroy Jones quintet is at Donna's. Wendell Brunious is at Dos Defes. Jacques Gauthe and Jamie Wight are at Fritzel's. Devin Phillips' Hot Shots and Ingrid Lucia are at the Funky Butt. Mark Braud and Topsy Chapman are at Harrah's. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule.

Sista Teedy's Bootleg Operation is at the New Orleans Grand Hotel. Lionel Ferbos is at the Palm Court. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Brian Coogan is at Rene Bistrot. Astral Project is at Snug Harbor. The All-Women's Traditional Jazz Band featuring Cass Ankrum, Rebecca Barry, Mari Watanabe and Tricia Boutte is at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park this afternoon.

Saxophonist Jim Butler is at Carmen's de la Calle Cafe in San Antonio tonight to celebrate his new CD, "Journeys." The Mexican Cultural Institute presents an interactive concert in which Mexican painter Jazzamoart will paint live to the music of pianist Olivia Revueltas quartet.

Singer Allan Harris is in Aspen, Colo., tonight at the Regency Hotel for a fundraiser concert for "Grass Roots," an organization helping inner city children. He also performs March 13-15 at Aspen's Colony restaurant.

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. Trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight with the John Heard trio. The Dena DeRose trio is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks.

The Estrada Brothers Latin jazz band is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. Singer Jamie Davis is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight. Bireli Lagrene is at Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland through Sunday.

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