Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Today is May 4. Big band drummer Sonny Payne was born this day in New York in 1926. On and off he worked with the Count Basie band between 1954 and 1974, adding a strong degree of showmanship to its presentation. Advertisement Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, still master of the "Double C" screams high notes, was born this day in 1928 in Montreal. He continues to tour with his jazz band, Big Bop Nouveau. Pianist Don Friedman was born in San Francisco this day in 1935. Bass player and composer Ron Carter was born this day in 1937 in Ferndale, Mich. He gained prominence in Miles Davis's band in 1963 and has been a prolific recording and touring artist ever since that five-year stint. This was the day, in 1940, when Duke Ellington first recorded two of his standards, "Cottontail" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," for the Victor label. Advertisement On this day in 1959, saxophonist John Coltrane took his band into the studio to record what many consider his finest recording. The classic "Giant Steps" session marked the emergence of the beautiful standard "Naima" as well as the title track and other works showcasing his harmonic virtuosity. Looking at today's hip happenings... On the New York jazz scene... the Hank Jones trio is at Iridium. The Makoto Ozone trio is at the Jazz Standard. The Manhattan Transfer is at the Blue Note. The Tom Harrell quintet is at the Village Vanguard. Guitarist Peter Leitch is at Walker's tonight with bassist Sean Smith. The Three Altos -- Sonny Fortune, Gary Bartz and Vincent Herring -- are at Sweet Rhythm tonight with George Cables, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart. The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band is at Birdland. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at Smoke tonight. The 11th annual Loft Party is scheduled this evening to benefit the Jazz Foundation of America's Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund. The six-hour event will feature Cedar Walton, Junior Mance, Danny Moore, Sweet Georgia Brown, Cliff Anderson, John Ore, Bob Cranshaw, Harold Ousley, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Owens, Cidinho Teixeira, Irene Reid, Benny Powell, Cecil Payne, Bill Wurtzel and others. For further information and to RSVP telephone (212) 245-3999. Advertisement In the Boston area... trumpeter Maynard Ferguson's at Ryles in Cambridge tonight with Big Bop Nouveau. The Boston Creative Music Alliance presents the ROVA Saxophone Quartet tonight at the Institute of Contemporary Art Theater. Cuban pianist Tony Perez will perform solo this afternoon while performance artist Nancy Ostrovsky creates a painting of him in sync with the music at the Green Street Grill in Cambridge. The Marcus Miller band is at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh tonight. Roberta Piket and Alternating Current are at Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland tonight. Flora Purim and Airto Moreira are at Nighttown in Cleveland tonight and Monday. In the Chicago area... Eric Alexander's One For All quintet is at the Jazz Showcase tonight. Steve Smith and Vital Information with special guest Bill Evans on sax are at Martyr's. Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman are at The Chambers in Niles this evening. The John Burnett Orchestra is at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn tonight. The Kimberly Gordan trio is at the Green Mill late tonight. David Boykin, Karl Seigfried and Mike Reed are at the Hungry Brain with Keefe Jackson, Frank Rosaly and Jim Baker. The Sonny Turner quintet is at Joe's BeBop Cafe and Jazz Emporium tonight. The Tim Green and Tim McNamara trio is at Katerina's this noon. Kara Kesselring is at Philander's in Oak Park tonight. The Russell Alan Rowe trio is at Pops for Champagne. Jim Clark's Jazz People are at Seul's Tavern in Northfield. Pianist Bob Long and saxophonist Barry Winograd are at CAB's Wine Bar Bistro in Glen Ellyn this afternoon for an event to benefit public radio station WDCB. Advertisement The 34th New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival winds down today at the Fair Grounds Race Course. The dozens of closing day acts include Pete Fountain. Gladys Knight, the Neville Brothers, Buddy Guy, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Terence Blanchard, the Crusaders' reunion band, Ingrid Lucia, the Dukes of Dixieland, Roland Guerin, and numerous brass bands, Mardi Gras Indian groups and social and pleasure club marching bands. Elsewhere in New Orleans... Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. The Shannon Powell quartet is at Donna's. Leroy Jones is at Dos Jefes. Warren Battiste and Friends are at El Matador. Evan Howard and Ingrid Lucia are at the Funky Butt tonight. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Stanton Moore plus John Mooney and Theresa Andersson are at the Maple Leaf. The ReBirth Brass Band is at the Mermaid Lounge. Lucien Barbarin and the Sunday Night Swingsters are at the Palm Court. The Olympia Brass Band is at Preservation Hall tonight. The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is at the Shim Sham Club. Astral Project is at Snug Harbor tonight. Rob Block is at the Spotted Cat. Michael Ward and Willie Tee are at Sweet Lorraine's tonight. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe is at Tipitina's tonight. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Soulive are at TwiRoPa tonight. Advertisement On the California jazz scene... pianist Cyrus Chestnut's trio is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles tonight. Poncho Sanchez and his Latin jazz band are at Steamers Jazz Cafe in Fullerton. The Tamir Hendelman trio is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks. The Sunday Jazz Band tonight at Charlie O's in Valley Glen features saxophonist Doug Webb. Susie Hansen's Latin jazz band and jazz accordionist Frank Marocco and his band are at the Beverly Hills Civic Center this afternoon. The Bob DeSena Latin jazz group is at Fisherman's Village in Marina Del Rey for a free outdoor concert this afternoon. The Kenny Garrett quartet is at Yoshi's in Oakland. Orquesta Aragon is at the Mission Valley Center in San Francisco tonight. Chuck Mangione is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle.
