Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Today is Sept. 30. Trumpeter Henry "Kid" Rena was born this day in New Orleans in 1898. He played alongside a young Louis Armstrong in the Color Waifs' Home Brass Band. The flashy and spectacular high-note player replaced Armstrong in Kid Ory's band in 1919 when Armstrong moved to Chicago to join King Oliver. Advertisement Drummer Buddy Rich was born this day in 1917 Brooklyn, N.Y. He was a performer starting at age 18 months, billed as "Baby Traps" the wonder drummer in his parents' vaudeville act. He was leading his own band at age 11 and was a big band talent by his early 20s. Buddy Rich died in 1987. Bass player Oscar Pettiford was born this day in 1922 in Okmulgee, Okla. He traveled to New York with Charlie Barnet, joined trumpeter Roy Eldridge's quintet and found a place in the emerging bebop scene. Pettiford was the first jazz bass player to elaborate upon the melodic ideas and tone of Jimmy Blanton and to bring them into the bebop context. He also was key in establishing the upright bass as a jazz solo instrument. Advertisement Saxophonist Carmen Leggio was born this day in 1927 in Tarrytown, N.Y. In 1950 and 1951 he was a regular performer in jam sessions at Birdland, and with vibes player Terry Gibbs. He recorded three albums with Maynard Ferguson in the late 1950s, including the highly regarded "A Message from Newport." On this day in 1966, singer Joe Williams recorded with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Looking at today's hip happenings... Jazz at Lincoln Center next month inaugurates the first full season for its new ensemble, the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, led by pianist Arturo O'Farrill, son of the pioneering composer and bandleader Chico O'Farrill. The ALJO will perform several concerts throughout the season at venues in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan, beginning Oct. 25 at Hostos Center in the Bronx. The orchestra is comprised of 18 prominent soloists from the Latin jazz scene. It will play classics of the Afro-Latin jazz tradition, commission new works and lead educational events. The ALJO debuted in a performance at Battery Park with the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in a special Fourth of July concert earlier this year. On Oct. 26, they will appear at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts. Committed to playing dances, the ALJO also will perform at the Exit Nightclub on April 5, 2003, in a special concert for dancing. On May 9 and 10, 2003, they will make their Lincoln Center debut at Alice Tully Hall. Advertisement The members of the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra are Arturo O'Farrill, music director and piano; trumpeters Michael Philip Mossman, John Walsh, Jim Seeley and Ray Vega; trombonists Conrad Herwig, Papo Vazquez, Reynaldo Jorge and Douglas Purviance; saxophonists Bobby Porcelli, Pablo Calegero, Mario Rivera, Bob Franceschini and Chris Karlic; bassist Andy Gonzalez, drummer Phoenix Rivera, and percussionists Joe Gonzalez and Milton Cardona. On the New York jazz scene... pianist Kenny Barron is at the Hammerstein Ballroom tonight. Les Paul and his trio are at Iridium on Mondays. The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra is at Birdland. The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is at the Village Vanguard. Kitty Margolis is at the Blue Note. The John Allmark Jazz Orchestra is at Bovi's Town Tavern in East Providence, R.I., tonight. Tad Weed's Freedom Ensemble is at The Bird of Paradise Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, Mich., tonight. In Chicago... Terry Callier and Beyond are at the Green Mill on Mondays. Bob Centano and Tom Muellner are at the Big House. Yoko Noge's Jazz Me Blues are at HotHouse. Kelly Brand is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. Two for Brazil are at Pops for Champagne. Sami Scott is at Philander's in Oak Park. Advertisement In New Orleans... Ian McPhail and the Latin band are at the Blue Nile tonight. Two Pan Sam hosts the jazz jam at Checkpoint Charlie. Bob French and Friends are at Donna's. Derek Douget and the Fresh Off the Boat Refugee Jazz Band are at the Funky Butt. Larry Sieberth and Victor Atkins are at Le Salon at Windsor Court. Charmaine Neville sings tonight at Snug Harbor. The New Orleans Jazz Vipers and Ryan Burrage and the Rhythm Masters are at the Spotted Cat. The Rob Wagner trio is at d.b.a. tonight. Chris Potter is at the Outpost in Albuquerque, N.M., tonight. In California... the Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles opens its weeklong run tonight with a concert by Teddy Pendergrass and the Billy Mitchell trio at Royce Hall at the University of California-Los Angeles. The lineup in the week ahead includes Ray Charles, Eddie Palmieri, Soulive, Al Jarreau, Bela Fleck, Ozomatli, Toshi Reagon and others. See festivalproducitons.net for details. The Mike Barone Big Band is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight. The Joyce Marie Partise Brazilian jazz quintet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight. John Campanella's Slide FX Trombone Tentet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra directed by Alex Budman is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco. The Branford Marsalis Quartet is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight. Advertisement Pianist Michel Camilo's trio with Claudia Acuna and Adam Rogers as special guests is at the Blue Note in Tokyo tonight through Saturday.
