Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is May 24th.

Electric violinist Michael White was born this day in 1933 in Houston. He came into the jazz spotlight in 1965 at the Monterey Jazz Festival as a member of saxophonist John Handy's quintet.

Pianist and composer Frank Signorelli was born this day in New York in 1901. He performed with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1921 and again in the late 1930s after its revival. His best known compositions are "A Blues Serenade" and "Stairway to the Stars." He died in 1975.

Saxophonist, playwright and jazz educator Archie Shepp was born this day in 1937 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The John Coltrane-influenced player has been a highly vocal spokesman for free jazz. In addition to touring and recording... he has been on the University of Massachusetts faculty for more than 25 years.

On this day in 1936, Artie Shaw recorded the first official swing jazz concert. Shaw's strong reception with a small string ensemble at the Imperial Theater in New York City prompted him to form his own big band.

On this day in 1974, the world lost a member of its musical royalty. Duke Ellington was 75 when he died from cancer. He wrote music and led his great orchestra until a couple of months before his passing.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Joe Lovano Street Band is at Iridium. Dave Douglas brings his new quintet into the Village Vanguard. David Murray is James Carter's special guest in a tenor sax explosion at the Blue Note. Split Second with longtime James Brown trombonist Fred Wesley, Javon Jackson, Mark Whitfield, Sam Yahel and Lenny White is at the Jazz Standard this week. Vibraphonist Matthias Lupri is at the Cornelia Street Jazz Club with saxophonist Rick Margitza featured with the band.

Israel "Cachao" Lopez is at B. B. King's tonight and Saturday. The Jazz Gallery's Composers Series features Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto's quintet tonight and Saturday. The Knitting Factory schedule features I Am the World Trade Center, The Busy Signals, Triangle, the Jamie Begian Big Band, Lovewhip, the Moutin Quartet, Tyondai Braxton, Parts and Labor and The Fall in Love.

Najee is at Scullers in Boston tonight and Saturday. The Ron Carter quartet is at the Regattabar in Cambridge. Janusz Kowalski and the band Super Fusion are at Ryles in Cambridge.

Liquid Soul is at Peabody's Downunder in Cleveland tonight.

On the Chicago area jazz scene... Erik & Me opens its live jazz outdoors begins series tonight with Airborne. The Mike Jones trio is at the Green Mill tonight. The Tom Harrell quartet is at the Jazz Showcase. Skinny Williams is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. The King Fleming trio is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Nicole Kestler quartet is at Pops for Champagne.

In New Orleans tonight... Bob Sunda and Joe Krown are at Charley G's. Carl LeBlanc is at Cobalt. The Treme Brass Band is at Donna's. Rickie Castrillo and Dreamland are at Dos Jefes. Jeremy Davenport is the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. Devin Phillips' quartet is at the Funky Butt. Louis Ford and Topsy Chapman are at Satchmo's jazz room at Harrah's. Jason Marsalis and Ronald Markham are at Le Salon at Windsor Court.

The Ernie Elly Slickshots with Thais Clark are at Palm Court. Leroy Jones leads the band tonight at Preservation Hall. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at the Red Room. Ellis Marsalis is at Snug Harbor. Brian 'Breeze' Cayolle, Magnolia and Wanda Rouzan and a Taste of New Orleans are at the Storyville District Jazz Parlor. Roland Guerin is at Sweet Lorraine. Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe plus Van 6 are at Tipitina's.

On the California jazz scene... Steps Ahead is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. The Ray Brown trio is at the Catalina in North Hollywood. The Jon Mayer trio holds a "CD release party" with special guest Rickey Woodard tonight at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton. The Poncho Sanchez Band is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Sam Harris is at The Plush Room in San Francisco.

The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee opens its 29th annual Memorial Day Weekend run at various locations throughout the capital city with dozens of Dixieland and traditional bands from across the U.S. and around the world. Headliners include The Buck Ram Platters, Jack Imel, Dick Dale and Big Tiny Little, the Jim Cullum jazz band, and guitarist Howard Alden's East Coast All-Stars. See www.sacjazz.com for more details.

EST, Swedish pianist Esbjorn Svennson's trio EST is in Dublin, Ireland tonight.

The Pat Metheny Group is in Kaiserslautern, Germany tonight.

Trumpeter Ray Vega's quintet brings its Spanish tour to Santa Pola (Alicante) tonight.

-24-