Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is March 19.

Pianist and composer Lennie Tristano was born in Chicago this day in 1919. As a conceptualist and a player, he had a major influence on the development of modern jazz piano. Tristano was the first musician to overdub a second piano part on top of his first when he recorded "Turkish Mambo" and "Requiem" for Atlantic in 1955. He spent most of his final 25 years teaching piano at his Long Island home. Tristano died in 1978.

Jazz explorer Ornette Coleman was born this day in 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas. He stepped into the big league jazz scene in 1958 as a radical new talent whose "free jazz" concept shunned the use of harmonics. There are no chords, no harmonic sequences and no chord structures to many of his compositions.

Singer Bill Henderson was born this day in 1930 in Chicago.

Pianist Elaine Elias was born this day in 1960 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She joined the American fusion band Steps Ahead in 1983 and formed her own band in 1986.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Cuban bass player Israel "Cachao" Lopez has been honored in Los Angeles with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 84-year-old Cachao received the walk's 2,219th star last Friday in front of the King King nightclub. He helped develop the mambo and created some of Cuba's first "descargas" or jam sessions.

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

Organist Joey DeFrancesco's trio and special guests are at The Jazz Standard this week. Ray Vega's Boperation is at Kavehaz on Wednesdays. The Jay Rodriguez trio is at the Zinc Bar tonight.

In the Boston area... Panorama, a Calypso and Soca ensemble, is at The Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. The Shimon Ben-Shir Group is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight. Singer Melissa Walker is at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight with special guest Stefon Harris. The Vandermark 5 are at the Artists at Large Gallery in Hyde Park section of Boston tonight.

Madison Rast is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Cafe Degas tonight with Jason Shattil and Matt Pollack.

Alto saxophonist Donald Harrison's quartet is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

In the Chicago area... Henry Johnson's Organ Express with Chris Forman is at Andy's tonight. Detour is at the Backroom through Saturday. WesBound Trane is at Bistro America in Batavia tonight. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Ennui.

Rob Parton's JazzTech Big Band and the Libertyville High School Band are at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. The Bill Porter Orchestra with Rich Fudoli is at Green Dolphin Street. Kurt Elling's quartet is at the Green Mill. The Brass Tracks Big Band is at Hackney's. Vinx is at HotHouse.

The David Sanchez quartet is at The Jazz Showcase through Sunday. 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 tonight.

On the New Orleans jazz scene... the 7e Jazz Trio is at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris is at Dos Jefes. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador. The Steve Yocum trio is at Fritzel's. Lusher and Rebecca Barry's Bust are at the Funky Butt.

Mark Braud is at Harrah's. The Johnny Vidacovich trio is at the Maple Leaf. Rebecca Kilgore, Eddie Erickson and Dan Barrett are at the Palm Court. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Maria Muldaur is at Snug Harbor.

Bireli Lagrene is at Ballatyne Auditorium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, tonight.

In California... singer-pianist Freddy Cole's quartet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. Janet Carroll is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. Jazz funnyman Tony Russell is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen with Ron Kalina on piano, Harvey Newmark on bass, Jack LeCompte on drums and singer John Fio Rito.

The Banda Brothers are at Steamer's Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. Guitarist Bruce Forman, drummer Vince Lateano and bassist John Wiitala are at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight. 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 through Sunday.

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