Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Feb. 7.

Pianist and composer Eubie Blake was born this day in 1883 in Baltimore, the son of slaves. The ragtime and jazz player had a profound influence on the development of stride piano. He died in New York in 1983, five days after his 100th birthday.

Pianist Mike Abene was born this day in 1942 in New York. He first performed at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958, at age 16, as a member of Marshall Brown's International Youth Band. He has been busiest as an arranger and musical director for jazz singers including Peggy King, Anita Gravine, Karen Akers, Carol Sloane and Liza Minelli.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy has selected jazz educator George Allen and guitarist Pat Martino as two of four recipients of its 2002 Heroes Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at an April 22 gala. Proceeds will benefit the MusiCares Foundation, the musicians' health and human services charity, as well as the academy's professional education events for the metropolitan Philadelphia music community. The other honorees are broadcaster David Dye, rapper Eve and musician/producer Jeff Townes, better known as "D.J. Jazzy Jeff."

After an extended closure for renovations, the Jazz Standard club in lower Manhattan will reopen next month in a pairing with a new barbecue restaurant called Blue Smoke at its Gramercy Park location. The Jazz Standard is scheduled to reopen March 19. Its first week will be a festival celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Jazz Composers Collective. It will feature bands led by Ben Allison, Michael Blake, Frank Kimbrough, Ted Nash and Ron Horton.

On the New York jazz scene, drummer Joe Chambers' quartet with Javon Jackson, Jacky Terrasson and Dwayne Burno opens a three-night run at Birdland tonight. Guitarist Mike Stern's trio with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dennis Chambers is at Iridium tonight. Singer Marlena Shaw is featured guest with the James Moody band at the Blue Note. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Café.

Jazz at Lincoln Center's Duets on the Hudson series pairs saxophonist Donald Harrison and cellist Akua Dixon along with saxophonist Greg Osby and pianist Jason Moran in performances tonight through Saturday. Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights in Jazz series celebrates its 29th anniversary with a gala concert tonight at the Pace Downtown Theater featuring singer Jane Monheit's band and pianist Cyrus Chestnut's trio.

Tonight's Knitting Factory lineup includes DJ Logic's Project Logic and trios with Billy Martin, Christian McBride, Mike Gordon, John Medeski, Rob Wasserman and Charlie Hunter. Ken Butler¹s Voices of Anxious Objects is also on tap.

Singer-pianist Bobby Short and his band are at the Mohegan Sun Casino's new cabaret theater in Uncasville, Conn., tonight through Sunday.

In and around Boston, pianist Brad Mehldau's trio is at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight through Saturday. David Maxwell's Maximum Blues Band featuring guitarist Monster Mike Welch is at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. Singer-pianist Carolyn Wilkins presents a free "SpiritJazz" concert tonight at the Charlestown Branch Library.

The Black History Month celebration at the Berklee College of music features a free screening tonight of the 1979 Academy Award-winning short documentary film "Paul Robeson, Tribute to an Artist." It will be followed by a performance by soul singer-pianist Frank McComb.

The Miami Saxophone Quartet performs tonight at the Coral Gables Congregational Church. The band features Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Ed Calle and Mike Brignola.

Wynton Marsalis brings the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra into Bennett Auditorium in Hattiesburg, Miss., tonight.

On the Chicago jazz scene, pianist Lynne Arriale's trio is at the Jazz Showcase tonight through Sunday. The Mike Smith-Ron Freidman Quintet is at Andy's tonight, while Steve Sandner is featured in Andy's Jazz at Noon series. The Mark Colby duo is at the Foundry in Fox Valley Mall. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. Los Hombres Perdido are at Pops for Champagne tonight. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight.

In New Orleans, Harry Connick Sr.'s band is at Cobalt. The George French band is at Donna's. Los Tres Amigos are at Dos Jefes. Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos are at El Matador. The ReBirth Brass Band and the 007 Brass band are at Howlin' Wolf. There's a Charles Mingus tribute at the Jazz Underground at Loyola University.

Mama's Blues presents Cyril Neville's annual tribute to Big Chief Jolly and the Original Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians with Big Chief Smiley Ricks and Ivan Neville. John Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall tonight. Singer Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutte is at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Vaughn's.

On the California jazz scene, saxophonist Ronnie Laws' acoustic quartet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Bassist Marcus Miller's band is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. Trumpeter Nicholas Payton's quintet is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Paula West is at the Plush Room in San Francisco. Guitarist Ron Eschete's trio is at Steamer's Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight.

Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield's quintet performs tonight at the Jazzclub in Eisenach, Germany, as part of a Rising Stars tour of Europe.