Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is March 29.

Singer and actress Pearl Bailey was born this day in 1918 in Newport News, Va. In addition to singing and film work, Bailey won a special Tony Award in 1968 for her performance in an all-black version of "Hello, Dolly!"

In 1976, Bailey added another job description to her resume, as a member of the American delegation to the United Nations. She died of a heart attack in 1990.

Guitarist Remo Palmieri was born in New York in 1923. While his early influences were Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian, Palmieri brought to his guitar playing the melodic and harmonic concepts of saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker.

He was a featured soloist on Dizzy Gillespie's classic "Groovin' High" recording (on the Guild label) in 1945. That same year, Palmieri began a 27-year stint as guitarist on television's "Arthur Godfrey Show."

Tenor saxophonist and bandleader Michael Brecker was born this day in 1949 in Philadelphia.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... saxophonist Eric Alexander's quartet is at the Village Vanguard. Trumpeter Nicholas Payton is at Birdland tonight with Sonic Trance. Saxophonist Gato Barbieri is at the Blue Note. Guitarist Bireli Lagrene's Gypsy Project is at Iridium this week. Dave Douglas is at the Jazz Standard tonight with his new quintet. The Jazz Gallery's Duo Piano Series features Bruce Barth and Laurent Coq tonight.

Pianist Michele Rosewoman and New Yor-Uba featuring percussionist Orlando "Puntillo" Rios are at Sweet Rhythm. Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Grady Tate and Lizz Wright for the final evening of this season's Singers Over Manhattan concert series in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. The Jeremy Pelt sextet is at Smoke tonight. The Danny Mixon trio is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem tonight.

In the Boston area... guitarist Chuck Loeb is at Scullers jazz club tonight with special guest David Mann. The Sergio Brandao octet Manga Rosa is featured tonight at The Regattabar in Cambridge. The Paulo Danay quartet is at Bob the Chef's in Boston tonight. The Fringe is at the Center for the Arts in Natick tonight.

Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes's band is at The Flynn Theater in Burlington, Vt. His sister, singer Mayra Caridad Valdes, joins the group to perform songs from her current CD.

In Philadelphia tonight... singer-pianist Peter Cincotti is at the Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Jimmy Oliver is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus with the Mickey Roker Quartet. Carla Cook is at Zanzibar Blue tonight.

In Cleveland tonight... there's a "Women In Jazz -- By Request" concert tonight with Jackie Warren, Evelyn Wright, Laura Varcho, Carol Veto and Susan Hesse at Mount Zion Congregational Church Of Christ. There's a Stan Kenton-style "Artistry in Cleveland" concert by the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, conducted by trombonist Vaughn Wiester at the Fairmount Temple.

In and around Chicago... Marlene Rosenberg is at Andy's. Natalie Yoakley is at the Backroom. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse through Saturday. Astral Project is at the Green Mill tonight. The Tom Muellner trio is at Houston's Restaurant.

The Houston Person quartet is at The Jazz Showcase this week. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The Don Stiernberg quartet is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston tonight. Rankinfyle is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight.

The National Jazz Museum, in collaboration with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra Association, will present "Something To Live For: A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn" tonight at The Museum of Science and Industry. Guest soloists include trumpeter Orbert Davis, saxophonist Eddie Johnson and singer Frieda Lee.

On the New Orleans jazz scene... the Blue Universe Quartet featuring Sheik Rasheed is at the Blue Nile tonight. The Earl Brown trio is at Cafe Sbisa. Devin Phillips' Hot Shots and Rebecca Barry and the Funky Butt Allstars are at the Funky Butt.

Topsy Chapman and Mark Braud are at Harrah's. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Lionel Ferbos is at the Palm Court. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Tim Green is at Rene Bistrot. Mose Allison is at Snug Harbor. The Rebecca Barry quartet is at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park this afternoon.

In California... the Steve Turre quintet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. Jim Snidero is at the Rocco-Lillian Theater in Hollywood tonight. Richie Cole and Alto Madness are at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. Saxophonist Med Flory is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight with the John Heard trio. Barbara Morrison is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight.

Toots Thielemans and Kenny Werner are at Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland through Sunday. Trumpeter A.J. Johnson's West Coast Jazz Ensemble is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight. The SFJazz Spring Season continues tonight with the Ibrahim Ferrer Orchestra at Masonic Auditorium.

Omar Sosa's quintet is at Les Swing de Mars in Dreux, France, tonight.