Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is March 18.

Pianist and bandleader Jean Goldkette was born this day in Valenciennes, France, in 1899. He trained as a concert pianist in Greece and Russia before moving to the United States in 1911. He is best remembered as a leader of dance orchestras -- and for the jazz players he hired through the years.

Goldkette alumni included Bix Beiderbecke, Joe Venuti, Frankie Trumbauer and the Dorsey Brothers. He also helped organize and manage McKinney's Cotton Pickers, one of the leading black dance bands of the 1920s and '30s. He died on March 24, 1962.

British jazz trumpeter Pat Halcox was born this day in London in 1930.

Guitarist Bill Frisell was born this day in 1951 in Baltimore. His work crosses many stylistic boundaries. This first-tier jazz player now is based in Seattle.

Vibes player Joe Locke was born this day in 1959. He was raised in Rochester, N.Y., where his father was a university professor. He has been playing the vibes since age 13.

Saxophonist Courtney Pine was born this day in 1964 in London. He was the first British-born black musician to make an impact on the English jazz scene.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Bill Charlap trio is at the Village Vanguard tonight through Sunday. The Michel Camilo trio is at the Blue Note this week. The Bobby Hutcherson sextet featuring James Spaulding and Wallace Roney is at Iridium.

The Joey DeFrancesco trio and special guests are at The Jazz Standard this week. The Jay Rodriguez trio is at the Zinc Bar tonight and Wednesday. Tonight's Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Talk at the Kaplan Penthouse presents Columbia University's Robert O'Meally on the subject of "Jazz and Social Protest."

The New School University Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Bobby Sanabria will be joined by two special guest artists -- flutist Dave Valentin and conguero Candido Camero -- tonight at Tishman Auditorium. This concert celebrates the 10th anniversary of the orchestra.

Guitarist Pierre Bensusan is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

In the Chicago area... Men of Note are at Andy's. The David Sanchez quartet is at The Jazz Showcase through Sunday. Ken Cheney is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan are at Katerina's.

Von Freeman and Friends are at the New Apartment Lounge. The Bobby Broom trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Marshall Vente is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Kimberly Gordon quartet is at the Underground Wonder Bar.

Guitarist Bireli Lagrene is at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis tonight.

On the New Orleans jazz scene... the Ted Hefko quartet and Tondre are at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. The Steve Yocum trio is at Fritzel's. The Steve Masakowski quartet is at the Funky Butt. The ReBirth Brass Band is at the Maple Leaf. Greg Stafford leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The Maurice Brown Band featuring Quamon Fowler is at Snug Harbor. Linnzi Zaorski and Delta Royale, and Son del Pantano are at the Spotted Cat.

In California... trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos' band opens the Tuesday night jam at the Onyx Room in San Diego. Freddy Cole's quartet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight through Sunday. This is John Pisano's Guitar Night with Thom Rotella is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. Saxophonist Bill Perkins and the Danny Pucillo quartet are at Charlie O's in Valley Glen.

The Chris Williams quintet is at Steamer's Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. The Sao Cracchiolo-Melanie Jackson sextet is at Spaghettini's in Seal Beach tonight. The Vince Lateano trio is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco. The Charles Lloyd quartet featuring Geri Allen is at Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland through Sunday.

Dr. John and the Lower 911 are at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight through Sunday.

Omar Sosa and the New VJ Ensemble are at L'Ermitage in Paris, France, tonight and Wednesday.

On the recording front...

In its first recording in three years, the String Trio of New York makes its debut today on the OmniTone label with "Gut Reaction." It was recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard. The trio is led by guitarist James Emery and bassist John Lindberg and for the past quarter century has featured a fusion of jazz and classical with guitar, violin and bass.

"Gut Reaction" debuts three original musical suites. "Resonance Suite" by Emery and "Nature, Time, Patience" by Lindberg were commissioned by Sound Directions Inc. as part of a national series of works from Meet the Composer. "In So Many Worlds," a suite by trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas, is dedicated to late pianist Jaki Byard. The String Trio commissioned it through a Chamber Music America special project.

Brooklyn-based OmniTone is also out today with German saxophonist Christof Knoche's "Line Zero." His band, Line Zero, is based in New York and includes trumpeter Russ Johnson, bassist Bob Bowen and drummer Dan Weiss.

The Chicago-based BluJazz label is out with two new recordings. One is the latest from pianist Steve Million. The trio session is called "Poetic Necessities." The other is the debut as a leader by saxophonist Mark O'Connor. "Miage" teams him with fellow Chicago musicians Ben Lewis and Ben Maegdlin on piano; Larry Kohut, Dan DeLorenzo, Noel Kupersmith and Jonathan Paul on bass; Tom Hipskind, Mike Schlick and Joe Adamik on drums; and Tito Carillo on trumpet.