Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Oct. 24.

Bass player Wendell Marshall was born this day in 1920 in St. Louis, Mo. He worked in Duke Ellington's Orchestra from 1948 to 1955.

Saxophonist Odean Pope, a member of drummer Max Roach's quartet on and off since 1967, was born this day in 1938 in Ninety Six, S.C.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

The 19th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival opens its 12-day run today. Opening night's biggest event is a 75th birthday celebration of the life and music of John Coltrane. Former Coltrane collaborators McCoy Tyner, Tommy Flanagan and Pharoah Sanders are featured in the all-star lineup at Masonic Auditorium. The festival's official opening is at noon with an afternoon free concert in Justin Herman Plaza featuring the SFJazz All-Star High School Ensemble.

This year's festival lineup also includes Keith Jarrett's trio, Dave Brubeck's quartet, Rosemary Clooney, Charlie Haden's Nocturne Latin jazz project, clarinetist Don Byron's Latin sextet and singer Bobby Short. Saxophonist Charles Lloyd and tabla master Zahir Hussain teaming up at Grace Cathedral to perform a commissioned work in memory of late drummer Billy Higgins. There's also a tribute to saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk and a special concert honoring a longtime Bay Area jazz treasure, bassist Vernon Alley.

Elsewhere on the California jazz scene, drummer Dave Weckl's band is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Drummer T.S. Monk's sextet is at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Singer Barbara Morrison is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. The Bob Schoen jazz quartet is at Anna's Place in Berkeley. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica tonight. The Robert Conti trio is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton.

On the San Francisco club scene, the Mark Stock trio with Gary Rowe is at the Cypress Club, Kim Nalley is at the Black Cat and Blue Bar, Jack West and Curvature are at the Last Day Saloon. The Vince Lateano Trio with Al Plank is at Pearl's tonight.

On the New York jazz scene, trumpeter Ray Vega is at Kavehaz. Guitarist Mark Whitfield's band is at Birdland tonight and Thursday. Saxophonist Yosvany Terry is at the Zinc Bar tonight and Thursday with his quartet. Spyro Gyra is at B.B. King's Blues Club tonight and Thursday. The Knitting Factory's eclectic lineup features the George Garzone-Rasmus Ehleis Quartet. Stephane Mercier, Sabir Mateen's Juxtapositions, Aaron Siegel and the Avram Fefer trio.

Jazz at Lincoln Center opens its "Jazz on Film Series" tonight at the Walter Reade Theater with a program featuring Miles Davis on film. Poet and scholar Quincy Troupe, who co-authored Davis's autobiography, will host the program. It includes many of the trumpeter's appearances on film, including live performance footage, artist interviews, and documentary excerpts.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture will honor pianist Billy Taylor tonight for his contributions to music -- and his contributions to the Harlem-based center. He has donated extensive research material from his work on his doctorate in musical education back in the 1970s. Taylor, now 80, has been a touring musician for the past 57 years.

Singer-pianist Dena DeRose teams up tonight with tenor saxophonist Jed Levy and drummer Matt Wilson tonight at Papa-Razzi in Westbury, N.Y.

In and around Boston, singer Kurt Elling is at Scullers jazz club tonight. Pianist Mark Kross's Five-Piece Trio is at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. Guitarist Rodney Jones's Soul Manifesto band is at the House of Blues in Cambridge tonight. The Psychic Horns are at the Berklee College of Music's David Friend Recital Hall tonight.

Pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Michael Brecker and trumpeter Roy Hargrove bring their Miles Davis-John Coltrane tribute tour to Orchestra Hall in Detroit tonight.

In Chicago tonight, saxophonist David Sanchez's Melaza sextet is at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase through Sunday.

Singer Stacey Kent is at The Dakota in St. Paul, Minn., tonight and Thursday.

On the New Orleans jazz scene, pianist David Torkanowsky is at Cobalt tonight. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador. Leah Chase and Bill Solley team up at the Hotel Intercontinental. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule. Wendell Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall. Drummer Ricky Sebastian's organ trio with Willie Tee and Steve Masakowski debuts at Snug Harbor.

Clarinetist Tim Laughlin runs the jazz jam tonight at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Guitarist Barry Green is at the University of New Orleans' Sandbar room. The Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center's Creative Music Festival continues with Greg Wildes, Muvovum and the Albert/Ankrum Project.