Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is April 16.

Trombonist Bennie Green was born this day in 1923 in Chicago. He was only 19 when he joined the Earl Hines band in 1942, playing alongside Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Green was one of the first trombonists to mix it up with bebop players, adapting aspects of their harmonic approach to jazz to his Swing Era phrasing. He died in 1977.

Flute player Herbie Mann was born in Brooklyn this day in 1930. In 1961, he performed in Brazil for the first time, and brought back a love for the bossa nova style that still energizes his music. In the late 1960s, Mann brought rock elements into his musical mix for his top selling "Memphis Underground" recording with Larry Coryell, Miroslav Vitous and Sonny Sharrock.

Composer Henry Mancini was born this day in Cleveland in 1924. He never was a jazz player per-se, but some of his tunes found their way to jazz interpretations over the years. Mancini died in 1995.

On this day in 1938, drummer Gene Krupa's big band made its performing debut at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. He put his own band together after an on-stage falling out with former boss Benny Goodman.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... Peter Bernstein Plus 3 featuring Brad Mehldau, Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart is at The Jazz Standard this week. The Don Byron sextet is at the Village Vanguard. The James Cotton blues band with special guest Lucky Peterson is at the Blue Note tonight.

The Mike Stern Band, with special guests Richard Bona and Terri Lyne Carrington, is at Iridium through Thursday. The Hector Martignon quartet is at The Zinc Bar through Thursday. The Tiger Town Five and the Carl and Joanne Barry quartet are at SWING46 tonight. Pianist Michael Weiss is at Sweet Rhythm tonight celebrating the release of his new CD, "Soul Journey."

In the Boston area tonight... bassist Stanley Clarke's band is at Scullers jazz club. The Pierre Hurel trio is at The Regattabar in Cambridge. Tenor saxophonist Dino Govoni's quartet is at Ryles in Cambridge.

The Berklee College of Music's Guitar Department continues its Guitar Week series of concerts and clinics today with a blues concepts clinic by faculty guitarist Mike Williams. Tonight, The Abby and Norm Group, featuring faculty guitarists Abigail Aronson and Norm Zocher, performs at the Berklee Performance Center.

In Philadelphia... singer Lou Lanza's trio is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Café Degas. Guitarist Jimmy Bruno's trio is at Chris's Jazz Cafe.

The Smithsonian Institution has an opening reception today for Baltimore-based jazz photographer Jeffrey Kliman's exhibit, "On Stage and Back Stage: Women in Jazz." The pictures were taken at the Kennedy's Center's annual Women In Jazz series over the past 10 years. The exhibit is on the third floor west of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express organ band is at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight.

In greater Chicago... Henry Johnson's Organ Express is at Andy's. Mike Finnerty and the Jazz Hippies are at Cafe Ennui. Rob Parton's JazzTech Big Band is at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. The Bill Porter Orchestra with Rich Fudoli is at Green Dolphin Street. The Kurt Elling quartet is at the Green Mill tonight. The Brass Tracks Big Band is at Hackney's tonight.

The Ryan Mackstaller trio is at HotHouse. Ken Saydak is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The Sketches in Blue Trio is at the 100 South Chop House in Elmhurst. The Bobby Broom trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston tonight. Jackie Allen and Judy Roberts are at Philander's in Oak Park. The Steve Evans trio is at Pops for Champagne.

In New Orleans... the Frank Zappatistas are at the Blue Nile tonight. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris is at Dos Jefes. 3 Now 4 and Lusher are at the Funky Butt. Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are at Lafayette Square this evening and play later tonight at Le Bon Temps Roule. The Johnny Vidacovich trio is at the Maple Leaf. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. The John Mahoney Big Band is at Snug Harbor.

On the California jazz scene... saxophonist Lee Konitz is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles this week. Chucho Valdes and his quartet are at the University Of California Santa Barbara's Campbell Hall tonight.

Jazz Funnyman Tony Russell is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. The Banda Brothers are at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. Brian Swartz is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks with the Bob Florence trio.

The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday. Vince Lateano, Matt Clark and Michael Zisman are at Jazz at Pearl's in San Francisco tonight.

The Dave Holland quintet is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle tonight and Thursday.