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Jazz Notes: Goings on in the jazz world

By KEN FRANCKLING, United Press International
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Today is May 29.


Bass player Eugene Wright was born this day in 1923. He signed on with the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1958, where his solid timekeeping became the base for Brubeck's experiments with polyrhythms and unusual time signatures.

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Pianist Hilton Ruiz was born this day in 1952 in New York. He is classically trained and worked in Latin bands as a teenager. Ruiz got his first taste of jazz through associations with Frank Foster, Mary Lou Williams and Joe Newman.


Drummer Kenny Washington was born this day in 1958 in New York. In addition to being an in-demand drummer working with the likes of Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter and Cedar Walton, he's also a jazz historian and broadcaster on public radio station WBGO-FM in Newark, N.J.


Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon was born this day in 1967. The Augusta, Ga., native made his first mark as a member of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis's band. Gordon is a stalwart member of the Marsalis-led Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

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On this day in 1925, Fletcher Henderson first recorded "Sugar Foot Stomp" for the Columbia label.


This was also the day, in 1946, when Charlie Ventura introduced his "boptet" band. That sextet at various times included Bill Harris, Kai Winding, Jackie Cain and Roy Kral.


Looking at today's hip happenings...


On the New York jazz scene... the Lou Donaldson quartet is the Village Vanguard through Sunday. The Cyrus Chestnut trio is at the Jazz Standard this week. Singer Michael Bublé makes his New York City debut this week at the Blue Note. Drummer Billy Cobham's New Spectrum Band is at Iridium through Sunday. The Ron Carter nonet is at Birdland tonight through Saturday. Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrates the music of late New Orleans drummer James Black tonight, with a concert that will be carried live on many PBS stations on "Live From Lincoln Center."

The Leron Thomas quintet is at The Jazz Gallery tonight. Trombonist Chris Washburne's SYOTOS Latin jazz band is at the Nuyorican Poets Café on Thursdays. Dennis Chambers and Victor Wooten join Mike Stern at The Bottom Line through Saturday. Saxophonist Jessica Lurie's ensemble is at the Knitting Factory's Old Office performance space tonight.

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In and around Boston... the Phil Woods quintet is at Scullers in Boston tonight and Friday. World music meets free jazz tonight and Friday at Boston's Tremont Theater with Robert Labaree on Turkish harp, Jerry Leake on tabla and North Indian percussion, Juanito Pascual on flamenco guitar and Bill Lowe on bass trombone and tuba.

Pianist Donal Fox's "Inventions in Blue" project with special guest Stefon Harris is at The Regattabar in Cambridge tonight and Friday. Dave Osoff and Mosaic plus the Vykki Vox Band are at Ryles in Cambridge tonight. The Ken Clark organ trio is at The Grog in Newburyport tonight.


In Philadelphia... pianist Sid Simmons' quartet is at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus tonight. The Victor North-Farrid Barron quartet is at Chris's Jazz Café tonight.


In Chicago... the Buster Williams quartet is at the Jazz Showcase through Sunday. The Ron Friedman quintet is at Andy's tonight. Bobby Lewis is at the Backroom. There's a jam session with John Bany, Don Stille and Charles Braugham at The Chambers in Niles tonight.

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.

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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. The Ryan Cohan trio is at Pops for Champagne tonight.


In New Orleans... the Improvisational Arts Council is at the Blue Nile tonight. Earl Brown is at Cafe Sbisa. Evan Christopher and Tom McDermott are at Donna's. Loren Pickford is at Dos Jefes. Julia LaShae is at El Matador. Ryan Burrage and His Rhythmakers are at Fritzel's.

Evan Howard and Maurice Brown are at the Funky Butt tonight. Mark Braud 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. The Rob Block quintet with Steve Matson is at Snug Harbor tonight. The Panorama Jazz Band and the Royal Rounders are at the Spotted Cat. Otra is at d.b.a.


On the California jazz scene... Eddie Palmieri is at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood through Sunday. The Martial Solal trio is at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles through Sunday. The Cal State Fullerton big bands are at Steamers Jazz Café in Fullerton tonight. The Lanny Morgan quartet is at Spazio in Sherman Oaks tonight.

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The Ernie McDaniel trio is at Charlie O's in Valley Glen tonight. The Diana Krall quartet is at Yoshi's in Oakland through Saturday. The Jazz Society of Santa Cruz County holds a CD release party tonight at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.


Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle through Sunday.


The 13th annual Puerto Rico Heineken Jazzfest opens its three-day run tonight in San Juan's Tito Puente Amphitheater. Chick Corea is honored artist this weekend and will perform with his new trio and the 15-piece Jazzfest Big Band. The lineup also includes William Cepeda's Afrorican Jazz, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, the Berklee College of Music Faculty Band, Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone, the Paquito D' Rivera ensemble, Ramon Vazquez quartet and Claudia Acuña.


On the recording front...


Saxophonist Ted Nash is out this week with "Still Evolved," his third CD as a leader and his debut on Palmetto Records. He's joined throughout the session by pianist Frank Kimbrough, bassist Ben Allison and drummer Matt Wilson. Trumpeters Wynton Marsalis and Marcus Printup each play on four tunes.


Cryptogramophone Records is out with two new CDs this week. They are "Quake," cellist Erik Friedlander's third CD with his quartet, Topaz, and trombonist Scot Roy's quintet project, "Active Vapor Recovery."

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