Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is April 26.

Singer Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was born this day in 1896 in Columbus, Ga. She was a true blues pioneer, whose disciples included singer Bessie Smith. She retired in 1933 and died in 1939.

Swing drummer Dave Tough was born this day in 1908 in Oak Park, Ill. He died in 1948 after stints with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Charlie Ventura and Muggsy Spanier.

Jazz composer, reed player and bandleader Jimmy Giuffre was born this day in 1921 in Dallas. Giuffre led a classic 1960s free jazz trio with bassist Steve Swallow and pianist Paul Bley.

Tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards was born this day in Jackson, Miss., in 1924. He moved to California when he was 20, and found substantial work in the bands of Howard McGhee, Red Callender, Benny Carter and Milt Jackson.

Pianist Herman Foster was born this day in 1928 in Philadelphia. His principal association since the early 1950s was been with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson.

Count Basie, one of the great big band leaders in jazz, died this date in 1984. He was 79.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

Plans are set for the 2003 JVC Jazz Festival in New York, which opens June 15 and runs through the 28th at multiple venues in the city, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Harlem's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. More than 100 events are scheduled.

It's one of the world's most firmly established jazz events -- and it is taking a page this year from the Montreal International Jazz Festival. For years, Montreal has included an "Invitation" series that features one or two musicians performing in different contexts and with different "dream" bands over four or five nights apiece -- sometimes overlapping on the middle night of the run. JVC New York will feature drummer Paul Motian over five nights at The Village Vanguard, with a different band each night from June 24-28.

Festival headliners this year include Chick Corea -- in one night with three different bands -- Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Shirley Horn, India.Arie and Meshell Ndegeocello, Roy Hargrove's RH Factor and a concert exploring the route Latin music took in traveling from Cuba to New York. The latter event features Los Van Van, Adalberto Santiago and Ray Barretto.

On the New York jazz scene... saxophonist Dave Liebman's big band is at Birdland tonight. The Jimmy Smith quartet is at Iridium through Sunday. Reuben Wilson and the Masters of Groove are at the Jazz Standard through Sunday. Carol Sloane is at the Village Vanguard through Sunday. Diane Schuur is at the Blue Note this week. Jane Bunnett and the Havana Spirits are at Sweet Rhythm through Sunday.

The Marcus Strickland quartet is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Nick Palumbo and the Flipped Fedoras are at SWING46 tonight. The Louis Hayes All-Stars with Gary Bartz, Vincent Herring, John Hicks and Gerald Cannon are at Smoke tonight. The Eddie Allen trio is at the Lenox Lounge tonight.

Saxophonist Houston Person's quartet is at Trumpets in Montclair, N.J., tonight.

Pianist Joyce DiCamillo's trio is featured tonight in Willie Ruff's Shoreline Jazz series at the Congregational Church in North Madison, Conn.

Singer Donna Byrne is at Chan's in Woonsocket, R.I., tonight with her band.

In and around Boston... the Michel Camilo trio with Charles Flores and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez is at The Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. Trumpeter Frankie V is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight.

Soulive and Maktub are at the Pearl Street Ballroom in Northampton, Mass., tonight. Kenny Barron's Canta Brasil band is at the Berhnard Music Center at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., tonight.

In the Philadelphia area... percussionist Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey are at the Painted Bride Art Center tonight. Pianist Pete Malinverni is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus with the Mikey Roker trio. Rumba Club is at Chris's Jazz Cafe tonight. Singer Karrin Allyson is at Zanzibar Blue tonight and Sunday. Joey DeFrancesco is at North by Northwest tonight.

Juan de Marcos Gonzalez and the Afro-Cuban All Stars are at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C., tonight.

Bassist Dave Holland's quintet is at Roanoke College in Roanoke, Va., tonight.

The Billy Taylor Jazz Festival in Greenville, N. C., features a concert tonight by pianist, Greenville native son and festival namesake Billy Taylor's trio. It's at the Greenville Convention Center

The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Moon the Giant are at the Grog Shop in Cleveland tonight.

In the Chicago area... Ira Sullivan is at the Jazz Showcase tonight with the Michigan State University Faculty Combo. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. The Jim Trompeter quintet featuring Tim Hagens and Rick Margitza are at the Green Mill tonight.

The Tom Muellner trio is at Houston's Restaurant on Saturdays. Bopology is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. Rankinfyle is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight. BMR4 is at Pops for Champagne tonight.

The 34th annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival continues today at the Fair Grounds Race Course's 75-acre infield. Headliners today include Al Jarreau, Crosby Stills and Nash, Cassandra Wilson, Allen Toussaint, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Henry Butler, Donald Harrison, Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, Walter Payton and Snapbeans, and the Yellowjackets. Tonight's evening concerts feature Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams at Morris Jeff Municipal Auditorium and Michael Franks and Angela Bofill at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of Performing Arts, both in Louis Armstrong Park.

Elsewhere in New Orleans... Wanda Rouzan is at Bally's. Kidd Jordan and special guests plus the Naked Orchestra are at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. The Henry Butler quartet is at Donna's. Ingrid Lucia plus the Apple Brothers are at El Matador. Astral Project and Devin Philips are at the Funky Butt tonight.

There's a Giant Boom Boom Boogaloo with Elgin Park, Chris Stillwell, Melvin Sparks, Donald Harrison, Joe Russo, Bobby Watley and more special guests tonight at Howlin' Wolf. The Charlie Hunter trio and DJ Logic are at the Mermaid Lounge tonight. John Brunious leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall.

The Panorama Jazz Band is at the Seaport Café. Manuel Obregon is at Snug Harbor. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, the Radiators plus the Li'l Rascals Brass Band are at Tipitina's. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is at TwiRoPa. Mike Carruba and the Poorboy Express are at the French Market Complex this afternoon.

In San Antonio... Beverly Houston is at the Dolores del Rio tonight. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is at The Landing Mondays through Saturdays. Latin Connection is at Swig tonight.

On the California jazz scene... Elvin Jones Jazz Machine is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. Saxophonist Don Menza is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight with the John Heard trio. The Jennifer York quartet is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton tonight. The Pete Jolly trio is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks.

The Susie Hansen Latin band is at the Mission West Arts and Crafts Fest in South Pasadena today. Bob DeSena's Latin jazz group is at The Deck in Palm Springs tonight. Singer Abbey Lincoln is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday.

Singer-pianist Daryl Sherman has begun a two-week run at Pizza On the Park in the Knightsbridge section of London with Dave Green on bass and Jon Wheatley on guitar. She's there through Saturday, May 3.

Alto saxophonist Jon Gordon's trio is at the Sunset jazz club in Paris tonight. The Franck Avitable trio is at Duc des Lombardes in Paris tonight. Ahmad Jamal's trio and Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone are at the Auditorium in Lyon, France, tonight.