Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Nov. 14.

Pianist Art Hodes was born this day in 1904 in the Ukraine. His family moved to Chicago when Hodes was six months old, and it was in Chicago that he spent much of his jazz career. He made his first recording in 1928 with trumpeter Wingy Manone, and also worked with Chicago traditionalists Frank Teschemacher and Bud Freeman.

Hodes was a prime exponent of stride and blues piano styles, which were richly displayed on a Muse album with Milt Hinton called "Just the Two of Us." At various stages, he also produced jazz television shows and published a fine jazz magazine. He died in March 1993 at age 88.

Pianist Don Ewell, a musical disciple of Jelly Roll Morton, was born this day in Baltimore, Md., in 1916. He came to the traditional jazz piano forefront in 1956 in Jack Teagarden's orchestra. Ewell died in 1983.

Pianist Ellis Marsalis, the patriarch of the musical Marsalis family, was born this day in New Orleans in 1934. He continues to perform but retired this year as director of the jazz studies program at the University of New Orleans.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Plans are under way for an all-star jazz benefit concert to be held Dec. 5 at Town Hall in New York to honor the heroes and victims of Sept. 11. Jazz Alliance International is producing the "Made in America" concert, which is scheduled to feature Kenny Barron, Ruben Blades, Terence Blanchard, Michael Brecker, Regina Carter, Bela Fleck, k.d. lang, Joe Lovano, Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit, Nicholas Payton, Danilo Perez, Joshua Redman, Dianne Reeves, John Scofield and Cassandra Wilson. All proceeds will be donated to the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

A memorial service for composer-arranger Manny Albam, who died last month, will be held tonight at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in midtown Manhattan.

On the New York club and concert scene tonight, bassist-pianist Avishai Cohen's International Vamp Band is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Bassist Ron Carter's nonet is at Birdland tonight through Saturday. Pianist Ahmad Jamal's trio is at Iridium, the Tom Harrell quintet is at the Village Vanguard and Paquito D'Rivera is at the Blue Note through Sunday. Singer Mary Pearson and bassist Harvey Swartz team up tonight at the Cornelia Street Café tonight. Ben Perowsky and Friends are at Tonic. Wayfaring Strangers, featuring Matt Glaser, Jennifer Kimball, Andy Statman and Tony Trischka are at Joe's Pub tonight, followed by Antibalas at midnight. Annette Aguilar and her StringBeans Latin jazz septet are at the Arka Lounge tonight.

In and around Boston, Bamboleo is at Scullers tonight and Thursday. Pianist Dave Bryant will perform tonight at Studio 234 in Cambridge with guitarist Eric Hofbauer, bassist Scott Barnum and alto saxophonist David Bond. Argentinean jazz singer Katie Viqueira's group performs tango jazz tonight is at the Regattabar in Cambridge.

Clarinetist Don Byron's Music for Six Musicians project is at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., tonight.

Pianist Monty Alexander is in concert tonight with his trio at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

On the New Orleans jazz scene, pianist David Torkanowsky is at Cobalt. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador. Have Soul Will Travel is at the Funky Butt. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule. Drummer Johnny Vidacovich's trio is at the Old Point. Trumpeter Wendell Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall tonight. Singer John Boutte is in the spotlight at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Singer Renee Marie performs tonight in the University of New Orleans' Jazz at the Sandbar series, a warmup for her two nights at Snug Harbor on Thursday and Friday. Trumpeter Michael Ray performs solo and with his Insomniac Quartet tonight at the Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center.

The Chicago Jazz Ensemble presents composer-conductor William Russo's "Chicago Suite No. 2" tonight at Columbia College in the first of four area performances this month.

Elsewhere in and around Chicago, the Clayton Brothers band is at the Jazz Showcase. Violinist Jean Luc Ponty's quartet is at the House of Blues tonight. Detour is at the Backroom. Healing Force, featuring Billy Brimfield, Tatsu Aoki, Vincent Davis and William Perry, is at the Empty Bottle. Actual Music and the Flying Luttenbachers are at HotHouse. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Bolera. WesBound Trane is at Bistro America in Batavia, Ill. The Eddie Johnson quintet is at Andy's tonight. Ken Saydak is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium on the Navy Pier. The Ryan Cohan trio is at Pops for Champagne. Andrew Blendermann is at Philander's in Oak Park. North Central College presents its sixth annual fall jazz concert by the student jazz combos, vocal jazz ensemble and big band.

On the California jazz scene, guitarist Kenny Burrell's quartet is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. The Robert Conti quartet is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton. Brazilian bandleader Hermeto Pascoal is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight. The Bob Schoen Jazz Quartet is at Anna's Place in Berkeley. In San Francisco, the Mark Stock trio is at Cypress Club, Karen Akers is at the Plush Room and the Vince Lateano Trio is at Pearl's.

Singer Mayra Caridad Valdes, making her first North American tour as a solo act after years as the lead vocalist with the Cuban band Irakere, is at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Canada, tonight.