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Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

By KEN FRANCKLING, United Press International
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Today is Nov. 18.


Singer and songwriter Johnny Mercer was born this day in 1909 in Savannah, Ga. The man who wrote the words to standards like "Skylark," "Moon River" and "The Days of Wine and Roses" died in 1976.

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Saxophonist Boots Mussulli was born this day in 1917 in Milford, Mass. His strongest associations were with Stan Kenton, Charlie Ventura and Gene Krupa. He also performed and recorded in Boston with Serge Chaloff, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Herb Pomeroy. Mussulli died in 1967.


The artful jazz singer Sheila Jordan was born this date in 1928 in Detroit.


Trumpeter Don Cherry, known for his miniature "pocket" trumpet and his classic collaborations with Ornette Coleman, was born this day in 1936 in Oklahoma City. He died in October 1995 in Spain of liver failure brought on by hepatitis.

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Drummer Cindy Blackman was born this day in 1959 in Yellow Springs, Ohio.


On this day in 1936, singer Ella Fitzgerald made her first recording. The song, called "My First Affair," was released by Decca. Ella was 18 at the time.


Looking at today's hip happenings...


Pianist and composer Michel Camilo is back in his native Santo Domingo this weekend to receive the Dominican Republic's top award, the medal of the Order of Duarte, Sanchez y Mella. He will receive the honors tonight from President Hipolito Mejia in the capital's National Theater. The Grammy-winning artist will perform his "Concert for Piano and Orchestra," the "West Side Story" overture and the overture to the 1992 Good Will Games, held in the former Soviet Union, for which he received an Emmy Award.


On the New York jazz scene, there's a benefit at the Blue Note this afternoon for musicians Joe and Gabrielle Tranchina, who have not been able to return home since Sept. 11 because of damage in their neighborhood near Ground Zero. Schedule performers include singers Mark Murphy, Roseanna Vitro, Mary Pearson, Barbara Sfraga, Linda Ciofalo and Tessa Souter. The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band is at Birdland tonight. Ahmad Jamal is at Iridium, Tom Harrell is at The Village vanguard and Paquito D'Rivera is in his final night at the Blue Note.

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Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen performs Brazilian jazz with Duduka Da Fonseca this evening at the Squantum Club in East Providence, R.I. Saxophonist Greg Abate is featured with the Mac Chrupcala trio at the Atlantic Beach Club in Middletown, R.I., this afternoon.


Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.


On the Chicago jazz scene, the Clayton Brothers Band winds down a weeklong run at the Jazz Showcase tonight. The Chicago Jazz Ensemble presents composer-conductor William Russo's "Chicago Suite No. 2" this afternoon at the DuSable Museum. Carmen Stokes opens a weeklong run tonight at the Backroom. The Sonny Turner quintet is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. The Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz presents The Original Salty Dogs this afternoon at the Glendora House ballroom in Chicago Ridge. The Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn tonight.


In New Orleans tonight, David Dunbar is at El Matador. Harold 'Duke' Dejean's Olympia Brass Band is at Preservation Hall. The Dukes of Dixieland play for the dinner crowd aboard the Steamboat Natchez on its Mississippi River tour. Brian "Breeze" Cayolle is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. The No Cover Charge Jazz Band is at Sweet Kathleen's.

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On the California jazz scene, the Pat Martino trio winds down its run at Yoshi's in Oakland with matinee and evening performances. The Alcatraz Angels Jazz Band is at Dick's Restaurant in San Leandro this afternoon. Claudia Villela and Ricardo Peixoto are at The Jazzschool in Berkeley. Guitarist Kenny Burrell is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood tonight. Jackie McLean and the Cedar Walton trio close out their run at The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight.


Violinist Jean Luc Ponty's quartet is at The Gouvernement in Toronto, Canada, tonight.


Misha Mengelberg and Hans Bennink bring their Instant Composers Pool Orchestra from Holland to Canada for a performance tonight at the Western Front in Vancouver.

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