Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Feb. 4.

German pianist Jutta Hipp was born this date in 1925 in Leipzig, Germany. She formed her own small jazz group in Munich after World War II, then toured Europe with a bop quintet. She moved to the United States in the mid-1950s and formed a trio with Peter Ind and Ed Thigpen.

Trumpeter Tony Fruscella was born this date in 1927 in New York. He was most active in the 1950s, playing in the bands of Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland and Al Foster bring their all-star band ScoLoHoFo into Iridium through Sunday. Charles McPherson's quartet is at The Jazz Standard this week. The Bob James trio with Billy Kilson and James Genus is at the Blue Note.

Jazz at Lincoln Center presents violinist Mark O'Connor tonight at Alice Tully Hall. His Hot Swing Trio will be joined by special guests Jane Monheit and Wynton Marsalis. Pianists Ted Rosenthal and Rorianne Schrade are at Merkin Concert Hall tonight for an evening of classical and jazz piano music to benefit the Lucy Moses School.

Saxophonist Charlie Kohlhase's CK5 is at The Regattabar in Cambridge, Mass., tonight. The Bruce Bartlett trio is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight.

Violinist Christian Howes is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

In and around Chicago... Men of Note are at Andy's tonight. Jimmy Sutton's Four Charms are at the Green Mill. Ken Cheney is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan are at Katerina's. Von Freeman and Friends are at the New Apartment Lounge. The Mike Kocur trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Marshall Vente is at Philander's in Oak Park. Typhanie Monique, Neal Alger and Judy Roberts are at Pops for Champagne tonight. The Kimberly Gordon quartet is at the Underground Wonder Bar.

In New Orleans tonight... Chevere and the Ted Hefko quartet are at the Blue Nile tonight. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. John Boutte is at El Matador. Devin Phillips is at the Funky Butt. The ReBirth Brass Band is at the Maple Leaf. Greg Stafford leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The Rob Wagner trio is at the Seaport Cafe. The Maurice Brown band featuring Quamon Fowler is at Snug Harbor tonight.

In California... trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos leads the jam on Tuesday nights at the Onyx Room in San Diego. The Steve Wilson quartet is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight through Sunday. Don Menza is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen. This is John Pisano's Guitar Night at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Ron Kobayashi trio with Debbi Ebert is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. Steve Tyrell is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight and Wednesday.

Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight and Wednesday.

On the recording front...

First came the Heaths and the Joneses... More recently the Marsalis clan joined the ranks of families in jazz. Now, for the first time, papa Ellis Marsalis has joined with sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason in one swinging ensemble that will begin touring later this month. They are out today with a recording made live in concert in August 2001 in their native New Orleans.

Special guest Harry Connick Jr. appears on two selections. "The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration" is out on saxophonist Branford Marsalis's new "Marsalis Music" label. The concert marked pianist Ellis Marsalis's retirement from teaching duties at the University of New Orleans and the school's establishment of a chair in his name. The Marsalis family tour opens Feb. 23 in Ottawa.

Saxophonist Bill Evans is out today with "Big Fun," featuring Robben Ford, Les McCann and Willie Nelson. It's on ESC Records. Evans' band includes The Voodoo Horns, a brass section comprised of Conrad Herwig on trombone, Lew Soloff on trumpet and Evans himself overdubbing alto, tenor and baritone horn parts. Evans says, "This record was so much fun to make. It was just a big party in the studio with these cats. We laughed and joked our way through the whole session so I thought "Big Fun" would be an appropriate name for the CD."

True Life Entertainment has released two new recordings. "Hiroshima -- Rising From the Abyss" from the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra features saxophonist Lew Tabackin, and "Pas de Trois" is a new recording by The Drummonds, featuring Renee Rosnes, Bill Drummond and Ray Drummond. The Akiyoshi project recalls the cataclysmic use of the atomic bomb to destroy one of Japan's largest cities at the end of World War II. "Pas De Trois," is the second release from The Drummonds.

Bassist Mary Ann McSweeney's CD "Swept Away" is out today from Sparky 1 Productions.