Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Feb. 17.

Clarinetist Buddy DeFranco was born this day in 1923 in Camden, N.J.

Pianist and songwriter Alec Wilder was born this day in 1907 in Rochester, N.Y. His compositions included "The Lady Sings The Blues" and "I'll Be Around." He also wrote the definitive book called "American Popular Song." Alec Wilder died in 1980.

On this day in 1938, Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart recorded their hit nonsense jive-talk song "Flatfoot Floogie."

This was also the day, in 1955, when cornetist Ruby Braff and pianist Ellis Larkins recorded their historic Village Vanguard duets. They followed it with a "Grand Reunion" recording on the Chiaroscuro label in 1972.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... saxophonist Greg Abate is at the Blue Note tonight with The Evolution Band with James Williams, Harvie S and Billy Hart. The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is at the Village Vanguard this week. Les Paul is at Iridium on Monday nights. The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra is at Birdland tonight.

Saxophonist Joshua Redman is at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Mass., tonight.

In Philadelphia... The Elliott Levin-Marshall Allen-Tyrone Hill quintet and the Odean Pope trio are at the University of Pennsylvania's Houston Hall tonight. The Brian Woesterhoff quartet is at Chris's Jazz Cafe.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples, Fla. Allan Harris, Spyro Gyra and Carmen Lundy perform this afternoon and evening at the 40th annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami's Peacock Park.

Birth with saxophonist Joshua Smith, bassist Jeremy Bleich and drummer Joe Tomino is at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland tonight. The Dave Holland quintet is at Powers Auditorium tonight at Ohio's Youngstown State University.

The Boston-based four-saxophone sextet Dead Cat Bounce brings its first major tour outside of the Northeast to the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, Mich., tonight to premiere a 10-segment, hour-long suite "Home Speaks to the Wandering," a reflection on family and friends.

On the Chicago area jazz scene... the William Garcia quartet is at Cafe Bolera tonight. Terry Callier and Beyond are at the Green Mill tonight. There's an avant-garde jazz jam session with David Boykin, Karl E. H. Seigfried, and Mike Reed tonight at the Hotti Biscotti Cafe.

Kelly Brand is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The Long Count Quartet is at Joy Blue. The Mike Kocur trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Sami Scott is at Philander's in Oak Park. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman are at Pops for Champagne

In New Orleans... Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Heather and the Monkey King are at Cobalt. Bob French and Friends are at Donna's. Warren Battiste and friends are at El Matador. Jeesok Kim and Soul U Out featuring Maurice Brown are at the Funky Butt. Reginald Koeller leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The Dixie Trio is at the Seaport Cafe. The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are at the Spotted Cat. The Rob Wagner trio is at d.b.a.

In California... the Sal Cracciolo-Melanie Jackson Latin jazz sextet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight. Arlene and the Guys Big Band is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. The Sam Most quartet is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen. Patricia Barber is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight.

On the recording front...

Pianist Jimmy Amadie is out with his strong-willed third release, and it's called "In a Trio Setting." Amadie has tendonitis so severe he plays through severe pain in his hands... and can play no more than 10 minutes at a time. Recording one tune every six months, it took him five years to make this recording. The result is the respected Pennsylvania music educator's take on standards associated with Frank Sinatra.

Amadie recorded his piano parts alone, and left space for longtime Phil Woods sidemen Steve Gilmore and Bill Goodwin to add their respective bass and drum tracks and solos -- after the fact. Late on the day they were in the studio under Amadie's supervision, as he kept his hands literally on ice, he decided to play with the trio in real time. Together, they played "Here's That Rainy Day," and kept going with "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You."

Etoile Records is just out with "Exit 13," a new organ trio CD featuring drummer Sylvia Cuenca, organist Kyle Koehler and guitarist Dave Stryker. Cuenca has been the drummer in Clark Terry's band for the past 11 years.

Pianist Francesca Tanksley, a member of saxophonist Billy Harper's band for the past 15 years, is out with her debut recording as a leader. "Journey" on the DreamCaller label teams Tanksley with two of her Harper bandmates, bassist Clarence Seay and drummer Newman Taylor Baker. The session includes nine originals by the leader, who was born in Italy as a U.S. citizen and was raised in Germany.

Acoustic Disc is out with another release in its Archive Series. It is a 1977 recording by guitarist George Barnes and his quartet called "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." It was recorded at the Willows Theater in Concord, Calif. This was Barnes' final quartet... and it featured drummer Benny Barth, bassist Dean Reilly and guitarist Duncan James.