Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is May 1.

Singer and pianist Shirley Horn was born this day in 1934 in Washington, D.C., which she still calls home. Her career gained recognition with endorsements in the early 1960s from Miles Davis, who insisted she open for his band at New York's Village Vanguard or he wouldn't take the gig. The trumpet great recorded with Horn in 1990 on her Verve session "You Won't Forget Me" when she began touring again.

Jazz player Ira Sullivan was born this day in Washington, D.C., in 1931. His father taught him trumpet and his mother taught him saxophone. He wound up playing both instruments well, becoming a gifted improviser. Florida has been his home base for more than 30 years.

Arranger and trombonist Billy Byers was born in Los Angeles this day in 1927. A veteran of the Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman and Charlie Ventura bands, he did extensive work as an arranger for Quincy Jones starting in the late 1950s.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

There will be a fundraising concert at the Regattabar in Cambridge, Mass., for David Azarian's family on June 18. The Armenian-born pianist was killed last month when he was struck by a vehicle while changing a flat tire on his car in an interstate highway breakdown lane. His wife and two young daughters were in his family's minivan at the time.

Vibes player Gary Burton says tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano will perform, as will several Berklee College of Music faculty members. Burton will perform with a student group. The goal is to raise $10,000 over two shows that night.

On the New York jazz scene... the Makoto Ozone trio is at the Jazz Standard tonight through Sunday. The Manhattan Transfer is at the Blue Note through Sunday. Hank Jones is at Iridium through Sunday. The Tom Harrell quintet is at the Village Vanguard this week.

The Three Altos -- Sonny Fortune, Gary Bartz and Vincent Herring -- are at Sweet Rhythm tonight through Sunday with George Cables, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart. The Aaron Parks trio is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Lee Konitz is at Birdland through Saturday. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Café on Thursdays.

Singer Shawnn Monteiro is at Toast in North Providence, R.I., tonight with the Bob Saraceno Jazz Ensemble.

In the Boston area... the Teresa Inês quintet is at The Regattabar in Cambridge. Tower of Power is at Scullers jazz club in Boston through Saturday. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is featured with the Ryles Jazz Orchestra at Ryles in Cambridge tonight and Friday.

In Philadelphia tonight... the Milagro Brothers are at InFusion. Jim Hamilton's New World trio is at Rotunda. Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound are at Tritone tonight. Doc Gibbs is at Zanzibar Blue tonight and Friday.

MCG Jazz wraps its 16th season at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh with the Marcus Miller band tonight through Sunday.

Rosario Cambria's Wordjazz presents the "Ballad Side of Stan Kenton" tonight at Borders' Strongsville, Ohio, store.

In the Chicago area... Eric Alexander's One For All quintet is at the Jazz Showcase this week. The Ron Friedman quintet is at Andy's tonight. John Bany, Don Stille and Charles Braugham are at The Chambers in Niles on Thursdays. Judy Roberts is at The Chicago Firehouse. Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill tonight.

Tim Tobias is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The John Brumbach quartet is at Katerina's. Jim Clark's Jazz People are at the Landmark Inn in Northbrook. The Petropolous organ trio is at Pete Miller's Steakhouse in Evanston tonight. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight. The Dan Cray trio is at Pops for Champagne tonight.

Drummer Steve Smith and his fusion band Vital Information, with special guest Bill Evans on saxophone, are at The Dakota jazz club in St. Paul, Minn., tonight.

The 34th New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, better known locally as JazzFest, opens its final weekend today at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Today's headliners on the festival's dozen stages include John Mayer, the North Mississippi Allstars, Papa Grows Funk, the Dave Holland quintet, Banu Gibson with special guest Bucky Pizzarelli, Irvin Mayfield, The Waifs, and Bryan Lee.

Elsewhere in New Orleans... the Improvisational Arts Council is at the Blue Nile tonight. The Evan Parker trio, with Alex Schlippenbach and Paul Lytton, is at the Contemporary Arts Center. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Evan Christopher and Tom McDermott are at Donna's. Los Tres Amigos are at Dos Jefes. Julia LaShae is at El Matador.

Evan Howard and Fuzz are at the Funky Butt tonight. Mark Braud is at Harrah's. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe is at the House of Blues. There's a Headhunters reunion with Mike Clark, Paul Jackson, Bill Summers, Victor Atkins, Donald Harrison and special guests tonight at Howlin' Wolf. Robert Walter's 20th Congress is at the Maple Leaf.

DJ Logic and Friends and Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen are at the Mermaid Lounge. Jim Payne's Hop, David Fiuczynski and Melvin Sparks are at the Old Point tonight. Lloyd Washington and the Crescent City Joymakers are at the Palm Court. Dave Bartholomew leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Allen Toussaint's Jazz Project is at Snug Harbor.

The Panorama Jazz Band and the Royal Rounders are at the Spotted Cat. The Maurice Brown quartet is at Sweet Lorraine's. Moore and More plus Circus Mind featuring special guest Leo Nocentelli, the George Porter Jr.-Johnny Vidacovich-June Yamagishi trio and the ReBirth Brass Band are at Tipitina's French Quarter club. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Robert Randolph and the Family Band are at TwiRoPa. Kermit Ruffins is at Vaughan's.

In San Antonio... the Jim Cullum Jazz Band is at The Landing through Saturday. Bett Butler, David Lucke and Joel Dilley are at Swig tonight.

On the California jazz scene... pianist Cyrus Chestnut's trio is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight through Sunday. The Ron Eschete trio is at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. The Bill Cunliffe sextet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Kenny Garrett quartet is at Yoshi's in Oakland tonight through Sunday. Philippe LeJeune is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.

Chuck Mangione is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle through Sunday.