Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Aug. 21.

The bandleader known as the "Kid from Red Bank" was born this day in 1904 in Red Bank, N.J. His name was Bill Basie, and everybody called him "Count." Count Basie's celebrated band continues to play its distinctive and high-spirited swing sound under the direction of trombonist Grover Mitchell.

Jazz twins Art Farmer and Addison Farmer were born this day in 1928 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Art Farmer was the first great flugelhorn soloist in jazz and was based in Europe for a long time. He died in 1999. His brother Addison, a bass player with impeccable time and intonation, died in 1963.

The Swing Era was born late this night in 1935 when Benny Goodman opened a historic run at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles. The band's hot sound sparked a student riot and captured the ears of America on its live radio broadcasts from then on.

On this day in 2001, drummer Leon Parker's recording, "The Simple Life," was released on Label M and poll winning bassist and bandleader Dave Holland's quintet released "Not for Nothin'," its third release on ECM.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Pat Martino quartet with Gil Goldstein and Billy Hart is at Birdland tonight. The Paul Motian-Joe Lovano-Bill Frisell trio is at the Village Vanguard. The Ron Carter sextet is at the Blue Note. The McCoy Tyner trio with George Mraz and Al Foster is at Iridium. Richard Bona is at the Jazz Standard. Medeski, Martin and Wood are at Tonic tonight. The Brian Lynch Big Band is at the Jazz Gallery. The Quizamba Brazilian jazz quintet is at the Zinc Bar tonight.

Singer Wesla Whitfield is at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight. The world music band Natraj with T. K. Ramakrishnan is at The Regattabar in Cambridge, Mass.

Tony Bennett is at the Mann Center For The Performing Arts in Philadelphia tonight.

In metropolitan Chicago... the James Moody quartet is at the Jazz Showcase this week. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Ennui. The Bill Porter Orchestra with Rich Fudoli is at Green Dolphin Street. The Kurt Elling quartet is at the Green Mill tonight. Ken Saydak is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. The Frank Catalano trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Jackie Allen and Judy Roberts are at Philander's in Oak Park.

On tonight's New Orleans jazz scene... Mafouz brings Arabic jazz to the Blue Nile. New Orleans Streetbeat is at the Crescent City Brewhouse. Marlene Decker is at Dos Jefes. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at El Matador Delfeayo Marsalis is at the Funky Butt. Louis Ford is at Satchmo's jazz room at Harrah's. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Le Bon Temps Roule.

Courtney Bryan and Victor Atkins are at Le Salon at Windsor Court. Johnny Vidacovich and George Porter Jr. are at the Old Point. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The Rob Wagner trio is at the Seaport Cafe. Trumpeter Christian Scott's quintet is at Snug Harbor. Dr. Guitar and the Franklin Avenue Overpass and Loren Pickford and New Orleans Gamuk are at the Spotted Cat tonight.

On the California jazz scene... the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra are at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles tonight. Pianist Andrew Hill is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. The Susan Sinner quartet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in North Hollywood through Sunday. The Vince Lateano trio featuring pianist Brad Buethe is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight.