Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is Feb. 18.

Tenor saxophonist Harold Land was born this day in 1928 in Houston. He came to national prominence as a member of the Max Roach-Clifford Brown quintet in 1954 and 1955.

Drummer Al Foster was born this day in 1944 in Richmond, Va. His first professional work was with Hugh Masekela in 1960. His most visible, and most fruitful, association was with Miles Davis during the trumpeter's fusion phase.

On this day in 1924, cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and the Wolverines cut their first recordings in Richmond, Ind. Their earliest numbers included "Jazz Me Blues," "Riverboat Shuffle" and "Tiger Rag."

Looking at today's hip happenings...

In New York... the Mark Turner trio is at the Village Vanguard tonight through Sunday. Nicholas Payton, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, Terrell Stafford and David Weiss celebrate the music of Lee Morgan, Booker Little and Freddie Hubbard through Sunday at Iridium, where the rhythm section features Anthony Wonsey, Dwayne Burno And Pete Laroca Sims.

Regina Belle is at The Blue Note this week. This is "Winter Blues Week" at The Jazz Standard where The Fins are on deck for Wednesday and Lucky Peterson performs Friday through Sunday. The Gino Stinson quintet is at the Zinc Bar tonight and Wednesday. Pianist Bruce Barth is at Sweet Rhythms tonight.

The Manhattan School of Music presents an evening of Brazilian jazz tonight at Greenfield Hall. Pianist Mark Soskin and percussionists Christopher Lamb and Erik Charlaston perform as part of the school's faculty recital series.

In greater Boston... Guaranteed Swahili is at the Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. Peter Cicco and the Mark Snyder group are at Ryles in Cambridge.

In Philadelphia... the Rich Rudin trio featuring Zan Gardner is at North by Northwest tonight. The Mike Kennedy trio is at Chris's Jazz Cafe.

Guitarist Alex Skolnick is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

In 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. The Bobby Broom trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Marshall Vente is at Philander's in Oak Park. Erin McDougald's trio is at Pops for Champagne. 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. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. The Steve Yocum trio is at Fritzel's. Devin Phillips is at the Funky Butt. The Voodoo Organist is at Lounge Lizards. The ReBirth Brass Band is at the Maple Leaf.

Local clarinet king Pete Fountain holds musical court at his club in the New Orleans Hilton. Greg Stafford leads the band at Preservation Hall tonight. The Rob Wagner trio is at the Seaport Cafe. The Maurice Brown Band featuring Quamon Fowler is at Snug Harbor.

In California... Mose Allison is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight through Sunday. The Gilbert Castellanos quartet leads the Tuesday night weekly jam at The Onyx Room in San Diego. The Chris Williams quintet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. This is John Pisano's Guitar Night with Anthony Wilson at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. Saxophonist Don Menza is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen.

On the recording front...

MAXJAZZ is out today with the latest recording by pianist Bruce Barth, who has also produced many of the label's highly regarded vocal recordings. "Live at the Village Vanguard" features Barth in a trio setting with bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Al Foster. It was recorded last November.

South African-born singer Orna makes her A440 Music Group debut today with "The Very Thought Of You," a session produced by bassist Brian Bromberg. She is accompanied by Bromberg, with pianist Tom Zink and drummer Chris Wabich from her regular working trio.

The Fantasy label is out with six new releases today in its Original Jazz Classics reissue series. They include Shelly Manne and His Friends (Andre Previn and Leroy Vinnegar) performing songs from the Mercer-de Paul musical "Li'l Abner" from 1957, and a long-out-of-print 1965 Riverside album by late guitarist Charlie Byrd called "Byrd Song."

Also included are Nat Adderley's 1961 session "Naturally!" recorded for Jazzland by with two separate quartets (with Joe Zawinul, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes; and Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones,); McCoy Tyner's "13th House," the pianist's first big-band album, recorded in 1980 for Milestone; and a pair from Prestige: "Bacalao," a 1959 Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis session featuring Shirley Scott, and "Chicago Concert," a 1971 performance by Gene Ammons and James Moody.

Also due in stores today is the first CD release of "I've Known Rivers and Other Bodies" by the Gary Bartz Ntu Troop. It was recorded in July 1973 at the Montreux Jazz Festival. This Prestige album features the alto and soprano saxophonist with pianist Hubert Eaves, bassist Stafford James, and then-17-year-old drummer Howard King.

Thirsty Ear Records' Blue Series, curated by pianist Matthew Shipp, is out today with its latest release. "Antipop Vs. Matthew Shipp," teams the pianist with the muted funk swing of the New York City avant hip-hop group Antipop Consortium.