Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is April 6.

Pianist Dorothy Donegan was born this day in 1924 in Chicago. Her blend of classically trained virtuosity and Victor Borge-like humor made her a very popular entertainer.

Saxophonist Charlie Rouse was born this day in Washington, D.C., in 1924. This veteran of many jazz big bands was a permanent member of the Thelonious Monk Quartet from 1959 to 1970. He also co-led the co-operative Monk tribute band Sphere from 1979 until his death in 1988.

Pianist Randy Weston was born this day in Brooklyn in 1926. Throughout his career, Weston has been heavily influenced by African culture.

Baritone saxophone player Gerry Mulligan, a pioneer member of the cool jazz movement, was born this day in New York City in 1927. Mulligan's 1950s' quartets were the first regularly organized jazz groups that lacked chord instruments -- piano and/or guitar. Mulligan died in 1996 at age 68.

Composer and pianist Andre Previn was born this day in 1929 in Berlin. While best known for his symphonic and film work, Previn was most active as a jazz pianist in the mid-1940s and 50s.

Drummer Arthur Taylor was born this day in 1929 in New York. The onetime Miles Davis sideman and leader of Taylor's Wailers also was a highly regarded interviewer and chronicler of his fellow musicians. He died in February 1995 of pancreatic cancer.

Guitarist Gene Bertoncini was born this day in 1937 in New York. He jumped headfirst into the New York music scene after studying architecture at Notre Dame. His longest association has been in a bop duo with bass player Michael Moore.

On this day in 1953, the Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded "Satin Doll" for the first time. The Los Angeles session was for Capitol records.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... there's a tribute to Lionel Hampton at Iridium featuring the Terry Gibbs quintet with David "Fathead" Newman, Joey DeFrancesco, Gerry Gibbs and Howard Alden. Pianist Eugene Maslov's trio opens the set.

The Claudia Acuna quintet Vanguard is at the Jazz Standard. The Heath Brothers are at the Village Vanguard. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at Smoke. Latin singer Albita is at the Blue Note. The Pete Malinverni duo is at the Knickerbocker.

The Wayne Shorter Quartet with Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade is at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston tonight. Singer Semenya McCord's "Ram Jam" featuring her quartet with special guest Stan Strickland, the Frank Wilkins trio, Soulfege and George Russell Jr. trio takes place this evening at Scullers in Boston.

In the Chicago area... Dee Dee Bridgewater is at the College of DuPage's McAnich Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman are at The Chambers in Niles. Lenny King's Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. The Kimberly Gordan trio is at the Green Mill. Bobby Hutcherson is at the Jazz Showcase with Willie Pickens, Kelly Sill and Dana Hall.

The Sonny Turner quintet is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium. The Tim Green and Tim McNamara trio is at Katerina's this noon. The Typhani Monique duo is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston. Kara Kesselring is at Philander's in Oak Park. Russell Alan Rowe's trio is at Pops for Champagne.

On the New Orleans jazz scene... John Boutte and Uptown Okra and Milonga Tango are at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. The Shannon Powell quartet is at Donna's. Rob Wagner's New Thing is at the Dragon's Den. Ryan Burrage and the Rhythmakers are at Fritzel's.

Big Sam's Funky Nation and Evan Howard are at the Funky Butt. Lucien Barbarin and the Sunday Night Swingsters are at the Palm Court. The Olympia Brass Band is at Preservation Hall. The Andrew Baham sextet is at Snug Harbor.

In San Antonio... the Aaron Prado trio is at the Dolores del Rio tonight. Small World is at The Landing. Europa is at Mark's on the Riverwalk.

In California... vibes player Stefon Harris's 12-piece Grand Unification Theory group is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. The Tom Warrington trio with Larry Koonse and Joe LaBarbera is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight. The Mort Weiss-Ron Eschete quartet with Joe Bagg and Ramon Banda is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton this afternoon. The Sunday Jazz Band features saxophonist Roger Neumann at Charley O's in Valley Glen.

Spyro Gyra is at Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland. The SFJAZZ Spring Season presents a "Great Guitars" concert tonight at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco with the Kenny Burrell quartet and the Benny Green-Russell Malone duo.

Trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight.