E-Mail This Article to a Friend Warm thoughts A busy 2005 for jazz and world music BY JON GARELICK

The Boston jazz scene continues topsy-turvy. This past fall, the Equinox Music Festival crashed and burned on the eve of its November schedule. In fall of 2003, the festival had announced a series of last-minute cancellations (including a vaunted appearance by the Cecil Taylor big band); now it’s declared bankruptcy. Meanwhile, in an event at Scullers back in November organized by the local chapter of the Jazz Journalists Association, an esteemed panel discussed the future of live jazz in Boston. Scullers booker Fred Taylor, Real Deal Jazz Club presenter Fenton Hollander, and Steve Bensusan of the New York company Blue Note (which now books Hollander’s old haunt, the Regattabar) all expressed cautious optimism, while veteran local jazz singer Maggie Scott recalled her years working six nights a week at various hotels and clubs. Scott now makes most of her paycheck teaching young vocalists at Berklee.

That said, Scullers, the Regattabar, the Real Deal, and venerable Inman Square haunt Ryles all soldier on. Hollander promises more Real Deal bookings, to be announced later in January, but in the meantime his Water Music "Mainstage" events continue off-site. The Herbie Hancock supergroup project Directions in Music — with saxophonist Michael Brecker, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington — come to Symphony Hall on February 20. The stupendous Branford Marsalis Quartet — following up their ballad album, Eternal (Marsalis Music) — come to Sanders Theatre on April 17 to make up a postponed date from the fall. And the Dave Brubeck Quartet play two nights, May 21 and 22, at Berklee Performance Center and Sanders Theatre, respectively. Call (617) 876-7777 for information on all Water Music/Mainstage and Real Deal events.

The nonprofit Boston Creative Music Alliance, directed by Phoenix contributor Ed Hazell, returns this spring after a thankfully brief hiatus. Its schedule includes the daring alto saxophonist/composer/bandleader Tim Berne in a trio called Acoustic Hard Cell, with pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Tom Rainey (March 6); the Dutch sextet All Ears with tenor saxophonist Frans Vermeerssen, alto Frank Gratkowski, trumpeter Herb Robertson, pianists Michiel Braam, bassist Wilbert de Joode, and drummer Michael Vatcher (April 2); and, the coup of the BCMA season, the visionary trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith in a duo with laptop-electronics manipulator Ikue Mori (April 30). Smith, an influential teacher as well as player, hasn’t performed in Boston since 1988, when he appeared with drummer Ed Blackwell. All BCMA shows take place at the Institute of Contemporary Art, 955 Boylston Street in Boston; for tickets or information, call (617) 628-4342.

The Regattabar (617-395-7757) brings in controversial superstars-the-making the Bad Plus (January 4–6, and 7); fusionist guitar god Allan Holdsworth with a trio (January 12); peerless mainstream pianist Kenny Barron with young vibes terror Stefon Harris and a quintet (January 13 and 14); pianist and Great American Songbook specialist Bill Charlap with a trio (January 20 and 21); bluesman John Hammond (January 23); guitarist and former Meter Leo Nocentelli and fellow New Orleanian Stanton Moore of Galactic (January 25); ridiculously charming trumpeter, singer, and songwriter Olu Dara (January 28 and 29); genre prime mover Buckwheat Zydeco (February 3); pop hit-maker Sergio Mendes and Brasil 2005, originally Brasil ’66 (February 4 and 5); hometown Hammond-B3 hero Bruce Katz (February 17); the superb New Orleans Latin-jazz band Los Hombres Calientes (February 18 and 19); local jazz-piano mainstay Laszlo Gardony with trumpeter Randy Brecker (February 9); a swell Valentine’s Day program with the inventive Brazilian-born vocalist Luciana Souza with pianist Edward Simon (February 14); latter-day blues shouter Shemekia Copeland (February 24 and 25); adventurous young bandleader David Bond (March 2); brilliant Polish trumpeter and long-time ECM recording artist Tomasz Stanko with a quartet (March 13); explosive young tenor saxophonist Chris Potter (April 29 and 30); and superstar vocalist Diane Schuur (May 26–28).

The R-bar has also begun a "Latin Beat Tuesdays" program, featuring standouts from Boston’s thriving Afro-Latin jazz scene: the Francisco Mela Quartet (January 18); the Sofia Koutsovitis Quintet (January 25); the Boston Latin Ensemble (February 1); and the Osmany Paredes Quintet (February 15).

Scullers (617-562-4111) brings in hotshot thirtysomething trumpeter Roy Hargrove (January 7 and 8); Boston soul singer Wannetta Jackson (January 13); the great Memphis team of saxophonist George Coleman and pianist Harold Mabern with bassist John Webber and drummer Joe Farnsworth (January 14 and 15); young Boston pianist Sai Ghose and his trio (January 18); wonderful pure-toned bebop alto saxophonist Frank Morgan (January 20); the all-female DIVA jazz orchestra with vocalist Marlena Shaw (January 21 and 22); Boston vocal star Dominique Eade and her quartet (January 27); Brooklyn salsa-jazz legend Larry Harlow (January 28 and 29); New Orleans great Dr. John (February 2 and 3); vocalists Carol Sloane and Donna Byrne (February 4); terrific former Boston-based drummer Matt Wilson (February 9); pianist Michael Wolff (February 8); young vocal superstar Jane Monheit (February 10–12); guitar wizard Stanley Jordan (February 17); Kendrick Oliver and the New Life Jazz Orchestra with special guests Cyrus Chestnut and Kevin Mahogany (February 18 and 19); pianist Jason Moran (February 23); young blues star Joe Bonamassa (February 24); former Supreme Mary Wilson (February 25 and 26); ’60s folk hero Richie Havens (February 27); drum giant Roy Haynes (March 4 and 5); latter-day soul-pop saxophonist David Sanborn (March 8 and 9); local Puerto Rican hotshots La Timba Loca (March 11); slick jazz-vocal group Manhattan Transfer (March 12); venerable soul-horn outfit Tower of Power (March 15–18); wonderful Boston-based Mexican-American jazz vocalist Mili Bermejo (March 24); blues giant James Cotton (March 25); and Brazilian jazz trailblazers Flora Purim and Airto (March 26).

In Inman Square, Ryles (617-876-9330) continues to present compelling local jazz and world-music acts. The coming months include the 15-piece Black Sea Salsa Band (January 7), venerable Boston world-music band Wildest Dreams (January 8); the Osmany Peredes Quintet (January 12); flutist Hiro Honshuku’s A-NO-NE Band (January 14); excellent Brazilian-born vocalist and songwriter Teresa Inês and her band (January 22); long-time Boston-based Brazilian guitarist and songwriter Sergio Brandão (January 26); John Payne’s 14-piece Saxophone Choir (February 3); Brazilian vocalist Marcele with a band including George Garzone and John Lockwood of the Fringe (February 17); traditional-minded Argentine-transplant dance-and-music cabaret act Mass Tango (February 18); and excellent pianist Nando Michelin with his group, featuring Jerry Bergonzi (February 23).

World Music continues to lead the Boston market in importing provocative international touring acts. The many Irish and Celtic musical events on the winter/spring schedule include a tribute to late Irish fiddler Johnny Cunningham with Phil Cunningham, Seamus Egan, Kevin Burke, Susan McKeown, and Aidan Brennan (February 4, Somerville Theatre); Danú (February 11, Somerville Theatre); Mary Black (March 5, Berklee Performance Center); Lúnasa (March 12, Somerville Theatre); fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist Dennis Cahill (March 19, Somerville Theatre); the Scottish Battlefield Band (March 26, Berklee); Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain (April 16, Somerville Theatre); and Altan (April 22, Somerville Theatre).

World Music’s acts from Africa, South America, and the rest of the known galaxy include the great Malian vocalist Habib Koité (January 29, Somerville Theatre); Masters of Persian Music (March 12, Berklee); fantastic Senegalese pan-stylistic pop band Orchestra Baobab (March 18, Somerville Theatre); Mauritanian African, Arab, and Berber fusionist Malouma and her nine-piece Sahel Hawl Blues Band (April 15, Somerville Theatre); South African choral superstars Ladysmith Black Mambazo (April 23, Sanders Theatre); 76-year-old Venezuelan singer/songwriter Simón Díaz (April 24; Berklee); cross-cultural explorers Libana, celebrating their 25th anniversary (April 30, Somerville Theatre); crazed 10-piece Romanian band Taraf de Haïdouks (May 13); and the terrific Balinese Afro-pop vocalist Angélique Kidjo (May 14, Somerville Theatre). For World Music and CRASHarts’ dance and theater events, see Liza Weisstuch’s "Stages" preview in Arts & Entertainment. You can also call World Music at (617) 876-4275 or go to www.worldmusic.org.