Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Oct. 19.

Clarinetist Alphonse Picou was born this day in 1878 in New Orleans. He played with the major bands and orchestras in New Orleans as well as the smaller, improvising jazz bands. His day job was as a tinsmith. He recorded in 1940 with Kid Rena and worked right up until his death in 1961.

Clarinet player Eddie Daniels was born this day in 1941 in New York City.

Pianist Red Richards was born this day in 1912 in New York. He led a big band in the early 1940s, then became a full-time big band arranger before going on the road again with Stan Kenton. His best-known composition, "Young at Heart," was a big hit for Frank Sinatra in 1954.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Jazz at Lincoln Center opens its "Jump In" 2001-02 concert season at Alice Tully Hall tonight with a 75th birthday concert in celebration of the career of saxophonist and composer Jimmy Heath. In a program tonight and repeating on Saturday, Heath will perform new big band arrangements of several classic compositions and premiere a new concerto he wrote for saxophonist Antonio Hart that is called "Like a Son."

The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra will also premiere a new work by Wynton Marsalis that is dedicated to Heath and based on harmonies he provided. In the first half of the program, Heath will perform in a variety of small ensembles that include his brothers Percy and Tootie Heath.

Elsewhere on the New York jazz scene, the Josh Roseman Unit is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Singer Kendra Shank is at Java 'n' Jazz with her trio. Pianist Hilton Ruiz's trio is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem tonight and Saturday. The Winard Harper sextet is at the Up Over Jazz Café in Brooklyn tonight and Saturday. Alto saxophonist Ted Nash is featured today in the Jazz at Noon series at Café St. Bart's. Singer Sarah Zephynz is at the Cornelia Street Café tonight as part of Judi Silvano's new vocal jazz series, in which she is giving emerging singers a moment in the spotlight and a chance to work with her rhythm section, as well as perform duets.

Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove bring their Directions in Music tour to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark tonight.

In and around Boston, Bruce Bartlett and Steve Hunt bring their Chick Corea tribute band into Ryles in Cambridge tonight. Rita Moreno is at Scullers. Saxophonist Cercie Miller's quartet is at the Acton Jazz Café.

Singer Kurt Elling is at Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia tonight and Saturday.

Guitarist Randy Bernsen is at Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., tonight celebrating the release of his new CD, "Life in San Miguel."

Brazilian guitarist and vocalist Filo Machado performs tonight and Saturday at the Bird of Paradise in Ann Arbor, Mich.

In New Orleans tonight, Charmaine Neville and Amasa Miller share the spotlight at Cobalt. The Steve Walker All-Stars are at Donna's. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at the Dragon's Den. James Rivers is at the Fine Arts Center. The Devin Phillips group is at the Funky Butt. The Joe Krown Organ Combo is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Pete Fountain plays his clarinet at his longstanding club in the New Orleans Hilton down by the river. Pianist Ellis Marsalis is at Snug Harbor. Trumpeter Leroy Jones leads the band at Preservation Hall tonight. Singer Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutte is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. The ReBirth Brass Band is at Tipitina's Uptown. The Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center's Creative Music Festival continues tonight with Djalma and the Blodd and Grits All-Key-Stra.

On the Chicago jazz scene, singer Frank D'Rone and the Arts Center Jazz Ensemble performs tonight at the College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. There's a big band dance featuring Marshall Vente's Project Nine tonight at McKinley Park. Trombonist Steve Turre's quartet is at the Jazz Showcase. The Barclay 3 is at California Clipper. Malachi Thompson's Freebop Band is at the Green Mill tonight and Saturday. Skinny Williams is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium tonight.

On the California jazz scene, pianist Monty Alexander's trio is at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Flora Purim and Airto Moreira are at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. The Jennifer York quartet is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. Pianist Ahmad Jamal's band is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Wayne Krantz is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. Pianist Mark Levine and The Latin Tinge are at the De Anza Hotel in San Jose tonight. The Larry Vuckovich trio features singer Valerie Quevedo at Spiedo Ristorante in San Jose tonight. The Tin Hat Trio is at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley.

In San Francisco tonight, the Jazz Mandolin Project is at the Great American Music Hall and the Frank Jackson duo is at the Cypress Club. The Phelton Sutton Quintet is at the Black Cat and Blue Bar. Soul Sauce is at Pearl's.