Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

Today is May 22.

Singer Jackie Cain was born this day in 1928 in Milwaukee. She's half of Jackie and Roy, the jazz and cabaret duo noted for witty lyrics and fine vocalese. They've been together since 1949 as man and wife, and longer than that as a performing team.

Composer and bandleader Sun Ra was born this day around or about 1914 in Birmingham, Ala. Back then, he was known as Herman "Sonny" Blount. Only after working as a formidable arranger for the Fletcher Henderson band did Blount in the early 1950s change his name to Sun Ra and form his avant-garde big band he called The Arkestra. Sun Ra died in 1993.

Looking at today's hip happenings...

On the New York jazz scene... the Marian McPartland trio is at Birdland tonight through Saturday. The John Patitucci group is at the Jazz Standard tonight through Sunday. Taj Mahal is at the Blue Note this week. The Uri Caine trio is at the Village Vanguard tonight through Sunday.

The McCoy Tyner trio with special guest Bobby Hutcherson is at Iridium through Sunday. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Café on Thursdays. The Xavier Davis trio is at The Jazz Gallery tonight.

The eighth annual Vision Festival continues tonight at the Center at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral with the Bill Cole Project, the David S. Ware quartet, Fred Anderson and Harrison Bankhead, the Jemeel Moondoc-Connie Crothers quintet, and Nathan Breedlove, Adam Lane and John McCutcheon.

In and around Boston... The Rippingtons are at Scullers jazz club in Boston through Friday. Eddie Palmieri is at The Regattabar in Cambridge tonight. The Evan Goodrow band is at Ryles in Cambridge tonight.

Cleveland's Great American Rib Cookoff, scheduled through Saturday at the Tower City Amphitheater, today features jazz by Laura Varcho, One Wish and Walkin' Cane.

In Chicago... Jack DeJohnette is at The Jazz Showcase this week with Danilo Perez and Jerome Harris. The Ron Friedman quintet is at Andy's tonight. Natalie Yoakley is at the Backroom. There's a jam session with John Bany, Don Stille and Charles Braugham tonight at The Chambers in Niles.

Alan Gresik's Swing Shift Orchestra is at the Green Mill tonight. Airborne is at the Jamada restaurant in Bloomingdale. Tim Tobias is at Joe's BeBop Café and Jazz Emporium. 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. John Wright is at Philander's in Oak Park. The Ryan Cohan trio is at Pops for Champagne tonight.

In New Orleans... the Improvisational Arts Council is at the Blue Nile. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Evan Christopher and Tom McDermott are at Donna's. Rick Trolsen and the Usual Suspects are at Dos Jefes. Julia LaShae is at El Matador. Evan Howard and Freesome -- featuring Peter Kienle, James Singleton and Larry Sieberth -- are at the Funky Butt tonight.

Topsy Chapman is at Harrah's. The Soul Rebels Brass Band is at Le Bon Temps Roule. Lloyd Washington and the Crescent City Joymakers are at the Palm Court. Dave Bartholomew leads tonight's band at Preservation Hall. Jason Stewart is at Snug Harbor tonight. The Panorama Jazz Band and the Royal Rounders are at the Spotted Cat. Kermit Ruffins is at Vaughan's.

On the California jazz scene... the Heath Brothers are at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. Drummer Steve Smith and Vital Information with special guest Bill Evans on sax are at Catalina's Bar and Grill in Hollywood this week. The Dewey Erney-Ron Eschete quartet is at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight.

The Gerald Clayton Group with Gilbert Castellanos is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight. The Ernie McDaniel trio is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. Nicholas Payton and Sonic Trance are at Yoshi's in Oakland through Sunday. Deep Five is at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz tonight.

Keiko Matsui is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle this week.

The first Distillery Jazz Festival begins its 11-day run today in Toronto. FringeJazz Toronto and The Distillery Historic District are teaming up to present the festival, with 80 acts on six stages, plus special events. It runs through June 1. The schedule is at fringejazz.com.