Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is July 21.

Clarinetist Omer Simeon was born this day in 1902 in New Orleans. He took up the instrument after moving to Chicago with his family. Simeon recorded with Jelly Roll Morton in 1926 and fast became one of Morton's favorite players because of his fluent, imaginative style.

Singer Helen Merrill was born this day in New York in 1929. In the 1940s she immersed herself in the bebop scene, singing with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson. Merrill's first recording, made for Mercury in 1954, was arranged by Quincy Jones and featured trumpeter Clifford Brown as a soloist.

Pianist Sonny Clark was born this day in 1931 in Herminie, Pa. He recorded with Teddy Charles, Buddy DeFranco, Sonny Rollins and Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars.

Tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson was born this day in 1931 in Donaldsonville, La. He is best known for his work as a studio musician, including the soloist on the Henry Mancini Orchestra's movie soundtrack for "The Pink Panther."

On this day in 1946... trombonist Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton died in San Francisco while touring with Duke Ellington. He was a plunger mute specialist on the trombone, a player without peer when it came to Ellington's early growling jungle music style. Nanton played in Ellington's band from 1926 until his death at age 42.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... Henry Butler is at the Jazz Standard tonight. The Yosuke Yamashita trio with Cecil McBee and Pheeroan Aklaff is at Iridium. Take 6 is at the Blue Note this week. The Mulgrew Miller trio is at the Village Vanguard. Kendra Shank is at the 55 Bar tonight with her band. The Knitting Factory schedule includes the Rob Reddy Octet, Lee Feldman, Byron Isaacs and George Javori, and Dagoba. Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at Smoke tonight.

The Greater Hartford, Conn., Festival of Jazz at Bushnell Park presents Ali Ryerson and Joe Beck, Patricia Barber, Phil Woods and Joe Sample at today's finale. Early afternoon acts include the Donnie DiPalma Trio, Ken Nigro and Dianne Mower.

On the Chicago jazz scene... the George Coleman quartet winds up its weeklong run at the

Jazz Showcase. The Sonny Turner Quintet is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium tonight. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Ennui tonight. The Russell Alan Rowe Trio is at Pops for Champagne. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman are at The Chambers in Niles, Ill.

In New Orleans... the Adonis Rose Quartet is at Donna's tonight. The David Dunbar Quartet is at El Matador. Big Sam's Funky Nation and Evan Howard are at the Funky Butt. Robert Randolph and the Family Band are at the House of Blues. Dean Fransen and Larry Sieberth are at Le Salon at Windsor Court tonight. Derek Dabbs is at the Popp Bandstand in City Park this afternoon. Dejan's Olympia Brass Band is at Preservation Hall tonight. Jason Marsalis is at Snug Harbor.

Some 250 young musicians have been selected to participate in Berklee College of Music's Summer Performance Program in Los Angeles, an intense week of instrumental/vocal instruction, ensemble work, improvisation and harmony classes, performance opportunities, and faculty clinics. Berklee in LA takes place on the Claremont McKenna College campus in Claremont, Calif., today through July 27. A sampling of Berklee's acclaimed faculty is on the West Coast to share their knowledge, from rock guitarist Joe Stump, who has performed with Slash, and members of Bon Jovi and Kiss, to drummer Kenwood Dennard, who has shared the stage with both Miles Davis and Sting. Students have the opportunity to learn from the real-world experience of these and other faculty members throughout the week.

Elsewhere on the California jazz scene... there's a Cal Tjader birthday celebration this afternoon in honor of the Latin jazz vibraphone great at Dizzy's in San Diego with Patrick Burke, The Latin All Stars, vocalist Candy Silva and special guests. The Susie Hansen Latin Band is at the Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates tonight. There's a jazz jam tonight at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is at the Stanford Jazz Festival in Palo Alto. The Pharoah Sanders quartet is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood. The Terrance Blanchard Sextet is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Don Asher is at the Bix Restaurant and Supper Club in San Francisco tonight. The CARMA Big Band holds an open rehearsal tonight at The Jazzschool in Berkley.

The Hank Jones trio is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight.