Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Sept. 26.

Strike up the band. Composer George Gershwin was born this day in 1898 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He established the standard for popular song in America -- songs that have long been favorite covers for jazz players. Gershwin's chord progression on the tune "I've Got Rhythm" became the model for and indeed, the standard format for, jazz improvisation based on chord changes.

Trumpeter Nelson Williams was born this day in 1917 in Birmingham, Ala. He played in the Duke Ellington orchestra in the late 1940s and early '50s before moving to Europe, where he became a busy mainstream jazz figure. He died in 1973.

Singer-actress Julie London, a favorite cover model on 1950s albums, was born this day in London in 1926. Mitch Miller gave her the song "Cry Me a River" to record, launching both her one-hit career and the Liberty recording label.

Alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, once an Art Blakey, Max Roach and Miles Davis sideman, was born this day in 1940 in Baltimore. He remains a busy free-lance musician and bandleader and has become an essential member of the quartet Sphere.

Singer Bessie Smith, the woman known as the Empress of the Blues, died this day in 1937, one day after a severe car crash hospitalized her in Clarksdale, Miss.

Singer Betty Carter died this day in 1998 after a battle against cancer.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Tonight brings the second annual concert at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem to benefit the Jazz Foundation of America. Last year's sold-out event raised $250,000 and brought more than 1,500 people to the theater to listen to jazz legends Cecil Payne, Cassandra Wilson, Etta Jones, Roy Haynes and many others.

The annual concert has become a major fundraiser for the Jazz Musician's Emergency Fund, which provides assistance to aging jazz musicians in paying rent, utilities and medical services. The concert's jam sessions format consists of group, solo and duet performances, and will be hosted by several celebrities, including Bill Cosby.

This year's concert will honor trumpeters Jimmy Owens and Clark Terry. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., also will be honored for having Congress declare jazz a national treasure. Dr. Jack McConnell will be honored for creating the New Orleans Musician's Clinic.

Scheduled performers include George Benson, Clark Terry, Eddie Bert, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Hank Jones, James Moody, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Heath, Buster Williams, Jim Hall, Joe Lovano, Winard Harper, Bennie Powell, Junior Mance, Joe Lee Wilson, David Sanchez, Eric Alexander, Candido, James Williams, Gary Bartz, John Stubblefield, Mark Whitfield, Ray Barretto, Billy Bang and Hammiet Bluiett.

The BET Jazz network tonight begins broadcasting "Journey With Jazz At Lincoln Center," a 13-show compilation of performances by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Each one-hour episode includes discussions with Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis and members of the LCJO about the music, performers and history unique to the world of jazz. The series launch is part of a new 10-year alliance among BET Jazz, BET and Jazz at Lincoln Center to leverage marketing, promotion, financial and production resources in support of the jazz music genre. The series airs most episodes on the third Sunday of each month.

On the New York jazz club scene... the Joe Lovano nonet is at the Village Vanguard this week. The second annual Hank Mobley Festival continues at the Jazz Standard. The Jimmy Smith quartet with Mark Whitfield, Bill Easley and Jimmy Jackson is at Iridium through Sunday. Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe tonight. The Ritmo Caliente Del Caribe Orchestra, led by flutist/saxophonist/composer Bobby Ramirez, is at the Triad Theater tonight.

The 4th annual New York Guitar Festival at Merkin Concert Hall pays tribute to the late George Harrison. Performers include Vernon Reid of Living Colour fame, Steven Bernstein and his band Sex Mob with guitarist Dave Tronzo, guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, guitarist Joel Harrison with saxophonist Dave Liebman, accordionist Tony Cedras, bassist Stephan Crump, percussionist Jamey Haddad and singer Raz Kennedy. Michael Blake's MB3 and Matt Wilson's Field Trip open the Jazz Composers Collective's 11th season tonight at the New School's Jazz Performance Space.

In and around Boston... Will Downing is at Scullers jazz club in Boston tonight and Thursday. New York Voices are at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight and Friday. Holland's Willem Breuker Kollektief is at Johnny D's in Somerville.

The 22nd annual Savannah, Ga., Jazz Festival's lineup tonight includes a Blues Night program with the Erok trio featuring Cristina Beaty, Denise LaSalle and "Queen Clarinet" Doreen Ketchens.

Violinist Regina Carter's quartet kicks off the 2002-2003 Fontana Chamber and Jazz Music Season at the Chenery Auditorium in Kalamazoo, Mich., tonight.

In metropolitan Chicago... Marian McPartland's trio continues its weeklong run at the Jazz Showcase. The Mike Smith and Ron Freidman quintet is at Andy's tonight. This is a Thursday, which means it is jam session night with John Bany, Don Stille and Charles Braugham at The Chambers in Niles. Pianist Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight. Los Hombres Perdido are at Pops for Champagne.

In New Orleans tonight... the Improvisational Arts Council's "Acid Test" is at the Blue Nile. Chucho Valdes is at the Contemporary Arts Center. The Charles Brewer trio is at Dos Jefes. The David Dunbar trio is at El Matador. The Evan Howard band and the Joe Krown Organ Combo are at the Funky Butt. Topsy Chapman is at Satchmo's jazz room in Harrah's tonight.

The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Brice Winston and Wendell Brunious are at Le Salon at Windsor Court. The Crescent City Joymakers with singer Lloyd Washington are at Palm Court. The David Torkanowsky quartet is at Snug Harbor. The Hot Club of New Orleans swing band and the Panorama Jazz Band are at the Spotted Cat. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Vaughn's.

On the California jazz scene... the Herbie Hancock quartet is at Humphrey's by the Bay in San Diego tonight. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos' group opens the Jazz After Dark weekly series tonight at San Diego's Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. George Duke is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood tonight. Saxophonist Chris Potter's quartet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight. Saxophonist Teddy Edwards' quartet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight. The Ron Eschete-Dewey Erney quartet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. Drummer Vince Lateano's trio featuring pianist Mark Levine is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight. The Dave Holland Big Band is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday.

Singer Kenny Rankin is at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Ore., tonight.

On the recording front...

Five new Original Jazz Classics titles have been released this month by Fantasy Records. From the Prestige catalog, there's "Bull's Eye!," a 1968 date by the Barry Harris Sextet, "Flute Flight" by flutists Herbie Mann and Bobby Jaspar, and "Battle Stations," a 1960 recording by tenormen Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. From Contemporary, there's the much-requested "Shelly Manne and His Men Play Checkmate" (1961), adaptations of themes from the television program composed by John (then Johnny) Williams.

And from Riverside, there is Charlie Byrd Trio and Woodwinds/"Byrd in the Wind," 1959 sessions, on which the guitarist's working group is variously augmented by his vocalist wife Ginny, by DC saxophonist Buck Hill, and a woodwind trio. The OJC series includes "Chain Reaction," more from the 1977 J.J. Johnson/Nat Adderley Japanese tour that previously produced "The Yokohama Concert," both on the Pablo label. Newly out on Prestige is "XXL: Live at the Left Bank," a disc's worth of additional material from Dexter Gordon's May 4, 1969, performance with Bobby Timmons, Victor Gaskin and Percy Bryce at Baltimore's Famous Ballroom. (Last year's "Long Tall Dexter" was taken from the same concert.)

Mambo Maniacs Records has released the long-awaited double CD recorded live at New York City's Town Hall Theater celebrating 50 years of Mambo in the USA. Artists who participated in the 25 piece all-star band include Carlos Averhoff, Candido Camero, Bobby Sanabria, Manuel Valera, Mitch Frohman, Paquito Hechavarría, Ray Mantilla, Rances Colon and Reynaldo Jorge under the musical directorship of German Pifferrer.