Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Today is March 28. Jazz birthdays include Cripple Clarence Lofton, who was born in 1887; Paul Whiteman in 1890; Thad Jones in 1923; Tete Montoliu in 1933; Bill Gaither in 1936; and Donald Brown in 1954. Advertisement Looking at today's hip happenings... On the heels of its recent sold-out Boston debut at the Regattabar, the Tony Perez Trio has been invited to perform April 19 at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center's spring concert series in Cambridge, Mass. Cuban pianist Perez will be presenting music from his latest album, "From Enchantment and Timba to Full Force Jazz" (on the Pimienta label), according to JazzReview.com. The show will feature the other members of his trio -- John Lockwood on bass and Bertram Lehmann on drums -- as well as guest percussionist Ernesto Diaz. (Web site: cmacusa.org) On the recording front... The Los Angeles-based record label Music Medicine Inc. is set to release two new albums through a new seven-disc project. AllAboutJazz.com reports the new series will mark the first of several focusing on alternative styles of music -- with an emphasis on eclectic jazz and tributes to great songwriters. Advertisement The new venture will make its bow April 2 with the release of Stuart Aptekar's "Chili Dog at Midnight," followed by the release a week later of Jack Surrell's "When Lora Smiles." Founder and producer Bernard Besman recently received the RIAA nomination for the Best Song of the 21st Century for his contributions on the John Lee Hooker classic "Boogie Chillen'." He plans to use this nomination as well as his past successes to introduce people to the physical and mental benefits of recorded music. (Web site: musicmedicineinc.com) (By UPI's Penny Nelson Bartholomew, sitting in for Ken Franckling, who's in sickbay.)
