Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is May 7.

Saxophonist Herbie Steward was born this day in 1926 in Los Angeles. He was a member of Woody Herman's Second Herd. He was one of the original Four Brothers saxophone section on Herman's "Four Brothers" recording in 1947.

The other "brothers" were Stan Getz, Serge Chaloff and Zoot Sims. Al Cohn replaced Steward when he left the band in 1948 to work in other big bands, eventually settling into the busy music scene in Las Vegas.

Bass player Michael Formanek was born this day in 1958 in San Francisco. He moved to New York in 1978 and began working with Tom Harrell, Herbie Mann and Chet Baker, and later with Tim Berne and Jane Ira Bloom. He also has been a member of the Mingus Dynasty big band.

On this day in 1941, the Glenn Miller Orchestra first recorded "Chattanooga Choo Choo" in Los Angeles.

On this day in 2002, Blue Note released tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano's "Viva Caruso," a homage to another great Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso. Lovano selected favorite Caruso tunes and wrote a couple of his own for his two distinctively different bands.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... Flora Purim and Airto are at Iridium. Bucky Pizzarelli, John Bunch and Jay Leonhart are at the Jazz Standard through Thursday. Marcus Miller and his band are at the Blue Note through Sunday.

The Barry Harris trio is at the Village Vanguard. The Bill Charlap trio with special guests Phil Woods and Frank Wess is at Birdland through Saturday. The Brian Lynch quintet is at the Zinc Bar tonight. The Jim Campilongo trio is at the Knitting Factory's Tap Bar tonight.

Steve Smith and Vital Information are at The Tralfamadore in Buffalo, with special guest Bill Evans tonight.

In the Boston area... the Dave Holland quintet is at The Regattabar in Cambridge tonight through Saturday. The Cervenka, Tomassi, Odgren, Santoro quartet is at Ryles in Cambridge. Pianist Hiromi is at Scullers in Boston tonight.

Saxophonists Jason Hunter and Daniel Ian Smith bring their ensemble into the Jazz at the Sanctuary series at the Church of Our Saviour in Brookline. "Fever! A tribute to Peggy Lee," starring Lezlie Anders and Buddy Greco with the Benny Goodman Tribute Big Band, is at Boston's Copley Theater tonight through Sunday.

In Philadelphia... Victor North is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Café Degas with Tony Miceli and Lee Smith tonight. Jimmy Scott is at Zanzibar Blue tonight through Saturday.

Fred Hersch, Drew Gress and Nasheet Waits are at the Cleveland Museum of Art tonight.

In the Chicago area... trumpeter Bobby Shew is at the Jazz Showcase this week with Bob Lark and the DePaul University Big Band. Henry Johnson's Organ Express is at Andy's tonight. Carlos Cannon is at the Backroom through Saturday. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Ennui tonight.

David Boykin, Karl Seigfried, and Mike Reed are at the Empty Bottle. The Chicago Bop quartet, Chautauque trio and Oak Park Percussion Ensemble are at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn tonight. 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 Café and Jazz Emporium. The Sketches in Blue trio is at the 100 South Chop House in Elmhurst tonight. The Bobby Broom trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Jackie Allen and Judy Roberts are at Philander's in Oak Park. The Steve Evans trio is at Pops for Champagne. The Dave Flippo-Donn De Santo duo is at Pops of Highwood.

In New Orleans... Rob Block and the Ted Hefko quartet are 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. Another Monday is at the Funky Butt tonight.

Topsy Chapman is at Harrah's. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule. The Johnny Vidacovich trio is at the Maple Leaf. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The John Mahoney Big Band is at Snug Harbor tonight.

Orquesta Aragon is at Miller Concert Hall in Wichita, Kan., tonight.

On the California jazz scene... violinist Regina Carter and her band are at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. The Jon Mayer quartet featuring Kim Richmond on alto sax is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. The Frank Potenza trio is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton. The Marilyn King quartet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Dave Ellis quintet is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight.

The Legends of Chicago Blues are at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight.

Los Hombres Calientes are at the Caribbean's St. Lucia Jazz Festival tonight.

The Keith Jarrett-Gary Peacock-Jack DeJohnette trio is at Sweden's Stockholm Konserthuset to conclude a brief spring European concert tour.