Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Today is Feb. 23. Composer and pianist Hall Overton was born this day in 1920 in Bangor,Mich. He played with Stan Getz, Oscar Pettiford, Teddy Charles and Jimmy Rainey, and wrote arrangements for Thelonious Monk's historic orchestral concert at Town Hall in 1959. Hall Overton died in 1972. Advertisement Trumpeter Johnny Carisi was born this day in 1922 in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. He was an eclectic composer who wrote for the finest big bands back in the 1940s, including groups led by Ray McKinley, Charlie Barnet and Claude Thornhill. In the late 1940s, while studying with composer Stefan Wolpe, Carisi wrote a polyphonic piece based on a 12-bar blues progression. He called the song "Israel." Miles Davis recorded it in 1949. It became part of the classic Davis album "The Birth of the Cool." Advertisement On this day in 1997, the jazz world was shocked by the death of drummer Tony Williams of a heart attack after gall bladder surgery in Daly City, Calif. He was 51. His collaborations with John McLaughlin and Miles Davis set the standard for fusion drumming, exploring free form rhythms mixed with the amplification and rawness of rock music. Looking at today's hip happenings... On the New York jazz scene, the Jazz Gallery opens its new Composers Series tonight with pianist Jason Lindner's sextet. The year-long series will include repeated appearances by six composers-Lindner, James Hurt, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Manhanthappa and Dafnis Prieto -- all presenting new works each time they appear. Lindner's band tonight includes saxophonists Miguel Zenon and Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. Dr. John is at the Blue Note. Pianist Bruce Barth's trio is at the Village Vanguard. Pianist Jacky Terrasson's trio is at Iridium. Pianist Hank Jones's trio is at Birdland again tonight. Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc's trio is at the Knitting Factory's KnitActive Soundstage. The Earl May quartet is at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem tonight. Trio 3 with Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille is at the Up Over Jazz Café in Brooklyn. Advertisement On the Boston area jazz scene, saxophonist Branford Marsalis's quartet is at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight and Sunday. Guitarist John Scofield's uberjam band is at the Paradise tonight, where the Miracle Orchestra opens the evening. Guitarist Earl Klugh's band is at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight and Sunday. Ron Levy and Spank! are at the House of Blues in Cambridge tonight. In Philadelphia, singer Barbara Montgomery is at Zanzibar Blue. Eric Alexander is at Chris's Jazz Café with the Craig Ebner-Kyle Kohler trio. Dave's True Story is at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., tonight, opening for Ally McBeal songstress Vonda Shepard. On the Chicago jazz scene, Scott Hamilton quartet is at the Jazz Showcase for two more nights. The Bobbi Jordan quintet is at Andy's tonight. The Giovanni Hidalgo sextet and the Afro-Rican Ensemble are at HotHouse. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium tonight. In New Orleans tonight, trumpeter Leroy Jones' quintet is at Donna's. Jeremy Davenport is in the spotlight at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. Devin Phillips' quartet and Astral Project visit the Funky Butt. Pete Fountain plays at his club in the New Orleans Hilton. Lionel Ferbos leads the band at the Palm Court. Trumpeter Wendell Brunious leads the band at Preservation Hall. Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis is at Snug Harbor. The Rites of Swing are at Le Chat Noir with Yvette Voelker Cuccia. Reed player Brian Ogilvie is at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park this afternoon, presenting the music of Irving Fazola and Eddie Miller. Advertisement Guitarist Mark Towns' Flamenco Jazz Quintet is at the Red Cat Jazz Café in Houston tonight with singer Yelva and saxophonist Carlos Garnett. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho, winds down tonight with a Verizon Giants of Jazz Concert featuring Hampton's New York Big Band, Ethel Ennis, Hank Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Clayton, Lewis Nash, Ronnie Cuber, Pete Candoli Brian Bromberg and Carla Cook. On the California jazz scene, Mose Allison is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Singer Karrin Allyson is at the Catalina Bar and Grill. The Mike Stern band is at Yoshi's in Oakland. The Banda Brothers Latin jazz sextet is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. The Knitting Factory in Hollywood presents the Grammy High School jazz ensembles with special guest Kirk Whalum, while teenage pianist Taylor Eigsti is in the AlterKnit performance space. Larry Vuckovich, Jeff Chambers and Danny Spencer team up tonight at Spiedo Ristorante in San Jose. Bobbe Norris and Larry Dunlap team up tonight with Seward McCain at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station. Vicki Burns and Felice York are at Anna's Bistro in Berkeley The David Creamer quartet is at the Albatross Pub in Berkeley. Advertisement In San Francisco tonight, the Post Junk Trio is at Enrico's. Paula West is at the Plush Room. The Mike Parsons Project is at the Beach Chalet. Bruce Rhode is at the Bix Restaurant and Supper Club. The Black Market Jazz Orchestra is at the Top of the Mark. The Chris Braun quartet is at Jazz at Pearl's. Guitarist Pat Martino's trio is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle for two more nights. Pianist Joan Brackeen's trio is at the Montreal Jazz Club and Bistro in Toronto tonight. Trumpeter Ray Vega's Latin jazz quintet is at the Centro Cultural in Azuqueca de Henares in Guadalajara, Spain.
