Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Dec. 26.

Pianist and singer Una Mae Carlisle was born this day in 1915 in Xenia, Ohio. She sang on Fats Waller's 1939 recording of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and had her own radio and television series in the 1940s. She died in 1956.

Drummer Butch Ballard was born this day in 1917 in Camden, N.J. At the peak of his career, he played with Fats Waller and recorded with Cootie Williams, Louis Armstrong, Lockjaw Davis, Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

Entertainer Steve Allen was born this date in 1921. The TV personality, pianist and songwriter has had a lifelong interest in jazz and made a 1993 jazz tour on the heels of a Concord Jazz recording featuring his piano playing.

Bass player Monty Budwig was born this day in Pender, Neb., in 1929. He was a longtime sideman for Woody Herman and drummer Shelly Manne. He died in 1992.

Guitarist John Scofield was born this day in 1951 in Dayton, Ohio. He is at the vanguard of today's contemporary jazz guitar players.

On this day in 1939, pianist and songwriter W.C. Handy recorded his famous "St. Louis Blues" in a studio in New York.

A look back at the year in jazz (second of two parts)

The upward migration to the celestial jazz band continued during 2002. It included vibes player and bandleader Lionel Hampton, who passed at 94. His distinguished career was so long and prolific many forgot his early contributions. He was a member of Benny Goodman's quintet, the first prominent and barrier-shattering integrated band, from 1936 to 1940. And no loss was more shocking than the Dec. 5 death of saxophonist Bob Berg in a storm-related traffic accident near his Long Island, N.Y., home.

Other losses included pianists Roland Hanna, Mal Waldron, Weldon Irvine, Russ Freeman, Henri Renaud, Tommy Owen, Bandile "Fats" Mbambisa, Dean Earl, Pete Jacobsen, Dudley Moore, Dodo Marmarosa, Ellis Larkins, Peter Kowald and Frank Hewitt; trumpeters Jimmy Maxwell, Charles McGhee and Idrees Sulieman; cornetist Bill Berry; and vibist/drummer Joseph Murrail Jackson.

Also, singers Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Marion Montgomery, Roy Kral, Kenny Gardner, Mary Jefferson, singer/guitarist Joe Derise, singer (and former Milwaukee Braves outfielder) Lee Maye; saxophonists Nick Brignola, Mack Pitt, Bubba Brooks, Geneva Perry, Harry Hayes and Jerry Underwood; trombonist Eddie Iglesias, Adolphus "Snooks" Riley and Ward Kimbell, and trombonist and bandleader Ray Conniff.

Also, bassists Wendell Marshall, Ray Brown, Bobby Rodriguez, Charles 'Truck' Parham and Wilber Morris; drummers Walter Bolden, Oliver Johnson, Malcolm Pinson, Claudio Slon, Jerry Fuller and Ronnie Stephenson; guitarist Remo Palmier and Turk Van Lake; organists Big John Patton and Shirley Scott; clarinetists Billy Krechmer and Abe Most; Latin jazz singer-percussionist-composer Pedro "Rudy" Calzado; harpist Daphne Hellman; and whistler Ron McCroby.

Also, saxophonist, singer and brass band founder/leader Harold "Duke" Dejan; bandleader Arthur Lyman; blues singers Big Bo McGee and Jimmie Lee Robinson; violinist Helmut Zacharias, composers and songwriters Matt Dennis, Weldon Irvine, David Mann and Loonis McGlohon; and "Paul "Huckle-Buck" Williams, who, in 1949, had the biggest selling record in Savoy's history.

Also, Vanguard Records founder Seymour Solomon; Fantasy executive Phil Jones; Thelonious Monk's widow, Nellie Monk; Matt Betton, International Association for Jazz Education founding executive director; historian and collector Alan Lomax; Billboard magazine editor Timothy White; John S. Wilson, The New York Times' first regular jazz critic; and William F. Dufty, who co-wrote Billie Holiday's autobiography.

Late Dec 2001 deaths: guitarist Babik Reinhardt, trumpeter Conte Candoli, pianist Ralph Sutton, tenor saxophonist Joseph Arena, bassist Herbert "Hank" Hankinson and drummer-percussionist George Jinda, co-founder of the fusion group Special EFX.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Winard Harper Sextet is at the Jazz Standard through Sunday. McCoy Tyner's big band is at Iridium this week. The band includes Eddie Henderson, Billy Harper, John Stubblefield, Steve Turre, Frank Lacey, Joe Ford, Doug Harris, John Clarke, Tony Underwood, Richie Flores, Earl Gardner, Virgil Jones, Avery Sharpe and Aaron Scott. Monday Michiru is at the Blue Note tonight. Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

The Chick Corea New Trio with Avishai Cohen and Jeff Ballard is The Regattabar in Cambridge, Mass., tonight through Sunday.

In Philadelphia... drummer Mikey Roker's quartet plays the music of Jules Styne tonight at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus. The Flail is at Chris's Jazz Cafe.

The Roy Hargrove quintet is at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., tonight through New Years Eve.

Barbara Rosene is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

On the Chicago jazz scene... guitarist Henry Johnson's Organ Express with Von Freeman is at the Jazz Showcase tonight through New Years Eve. The Ron Freidman quintet is at Andy's tonight. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. The Kelly Brand-Kelly Sill duo is at The Foundry at Fox Valley Mall. The Bill Porter Orchestra with Rich Fudoli is at Green Dolphin Street. Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill. Erwin Helfer and the Chicago Boogie Ensemble are at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium tonight. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park.

In New Orleans... Dr. Bone and the Hepcats are at the Banks Street Bar and Grill. The Earl Brown trio is at Cafe Sbisa. Willie Tee is at Cobalt. The Mark Breaux quartet is at Donna's. Los Tres Amigos are at Dos Jefes. Singer John Boutte is at El Matador. Jeremy Davenport is at the Ritz Carlton's French Quarter Bar. Jack Maheu and Friends are at Fritzel's. The Evan Howard band is at the Funky Butt. Louis Ford is at Satchmo's jazz room in Harrah's casino.

There's a battle of the bands at the House of Blues tonight featuring Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers vs. the Irvin Mayfield quintet. The Soul Rebels Brass Band Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Dave Bartholomew leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Herlin Riley is at Snug Harbor. The Panorama Jazz Band and the Royal Rounders are at the Spotted Cat. The ReBirth Brass Band Brass Band is at Tipitina's.

In California... saxophonist Dale Fielder's quartet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight. The Dewey Erney-Ron Eschete quartet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. The Gary Foster-David Sills Lineup Quintet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. New Orleans drummer Earl Palmer is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. Taj Mahal is at Yoshi's in Oakland The Vince Lateano quartet is at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight.

Jon Faddis and Slide Hampton lead a Dizzy Gillespie big band tribute at the Blue Note in Tokyo tonight through Tuesday. The New York Voices are special guests.