It’s 50 Years of Melodies for Wiggins : Piano: Musician knows ‘a million of ‘em,’ making him a living encyclopedia of jazz.

You want great jazz songs?

Pianist Gerald Wiggins has so many on mental file that there’s no telling what will come out on any given night.

“Oh God, I know a million of ‘em, so whatever pops into the top of my head, that’s what I’ll do,” said Wiggins, who plays the Horton Grand Hotel in downtown San Diego on Friday and Saturday, backed by bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Jim Plank.

Relaxing at home in Woodland Hills, Wiggins downplayed what he has been up to lately.

“Oh, not a whole lot,” he said, mentioning casually over the phone that he backed legendary jazz singer Joe Williams at a show in Irvine in October, and has released several recordings on the Concord label--including last year’s “Live at Maybeck Recital Hall,” a solo effort, and this year’s “Race Point” with saxman Scott Hamilton.

In fact, the modest Wiggins has recorded a library of music that spans some 50 years, including dozens of original songs, making him a living encyclopedia of jazz.

Wiggins was born in 1922 in New York City and launched his career during the early 1940s playing with Les Hite, Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter.

Though he always kept his own recording career going, there were periods, sometimes lasting several years, when he was drawn away from solo projects--including about a dozen albums--by his much-in-demand role accompanying singers (including Lena Horne, Helen Humes and Kay Starr). Wiggins stepped up his solo efforts again during the 1980s. He is an eclectic pianist who says he can’t begin to name all his influences.

“If I gave you a list of the piano players I love, you wouldn’t have enough paper to put all their names down,” he said.

But Wiggins recalls hearing Teddy Wilson in high school in New York City.

“I thought Teddy was the living end until I heard Art Tatum, then I went crazy!”

Wiggins also cites veteran players Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan and relative newcomers Benny Green and Eric Reid among his favorites.

As for his own musicianship, Wiggins is never quite satisfied.

“I’ve never been too happy with anything I’ve recorded,” he admitted. “I don’t think I’ve done done my best work yet, but time’s running out.”

He’ll try for live nirvana at the Horton Grand Hotel. Shows start at 8:30 and there’s no cover charge.

When San Diego flutist Holly Hofmann booked a day at Studio West in Rancho Bernardo last April to record a series of duos and trios with top local players Mike Wofford, Mundell Lowe, Ron Satterfield and Bob Magnusson, she had no idea whether the music would ever make it into stores.

As it turns out, it was strong enough to catch the attention of Jazz Alliance, a label founded by Carl Jefferson, president of Concord Jazz.

“It’s some great playing, she’s a wonderful player, just some good jazz,” said Phil Sheridan, vice president of Jazz Alliance, explaining why his company selected Hofmann’s project as one of its 20 releases for 1992.

Hofmann wrings a variety of personalities out of her flute, from straight-ahead be-bopper to lilting balladeer.

She doubles up with Wofford’s piano on her own composition, “Duality,” a swinging jazz tune with room for Wofford’s imaginative free ramblings, and teams with Satterfield’s acoustic guitar for a light, tropical version of the George and Ira Gershwin classic “Summertime.”

Hofmann wittily turns the tables on usual roles with her version of the Gershwins’ “Embraceable You,” giving Magnusson’s bass the lead melodic role at first while she plays backup counterpoint, then switching into an improv mode while Magnusson thrums along underneath her flute.

Trio numbers include Wofford’s “J.P.’s Afternoon,” with Magnusson’s bass driving Wofford and Hofmann, and Lowe’s “Nigh Roby Getaway.”

An unexpected pleasure on “Duo Personality” is Lowe’s acoustic guitar playing. For most of his long career, Lowe has concentrated on fat-bodied electric jazz guitar, but during the past two years he has been studying classical guitar with San Diego guitarist Fred Benedetti. Fans of Lowe’s straight-ahead jazz will be surprised and impressed by the moody, acoustic turn he takes on Thad Jones’ “A Child Is Born.”

The Horton Grand Hotel will host a release party for Hofmann at 8 p.m. Dec. 3, and all of the players from the recording will be present.

RIFFS:

Canceled: Tonight’s scheduled performance by Tribal Tech, the group fronted by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis, at the Rhythm Cafe. Reason? Poor sales of the $11 tickets. . . .

San Diego saxman Charles McPherson plays Saturdays through December at Croce’s, in the Gaslamp Quarter downtown. . . .

Trombonist George Roberts is building a following for his Sunday afternoon (11 to 1) solo performances at Espresso Literati in La Jolla (7660 Fay Ave.), playing big band music and popular songs by top composers such as Nelson Riddle and Sammy Nestico--all to prerecorded accompaniment. . . .

Drummer Duffy Jackson will be interviewed on KSDS-FM (88.3) this Friday afternoon at 1. . . .

The music of Hoagy Carmichael as interpreted by several artists will be the focus of the Saturday afternoon “Portrait in Jazz” program on KSDS starting at 1. . . .

Top San Diego saxman Gary LeFebvre hasn’t had many dates of his own lately, but you can catch him Wednesday nights from 8 to midnight at Croce’s with pianist Shepp Meyers’ group.

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Bass Recital at SDSU

“Last year, I was starved for bass players,” says Bill Yeager, director of jazz studies at San Diego State University.

This year, the famine is over. Yeager has nine bassists, which amounts to about one-fourth of all jazz majors. In any other year, according to Yeager, bassist Royce Ferguson, a junior, would have been at the top of the heap, but this year he’s running neck-in-neck with fellow SDSU student Kevin Delgado, the bassist for San Diego Latin jazz groups Sol E Mar and Afro Rumba. Which means Ferguson is good, and Wednesday night’s junior recital featuring Ferguson should produce some first-rate music.

Joining Ferguson’s group for the show will be drummer Cliff Almond, a whirlwind stickman who has toured with jazz pianist Michel Camilo. Music starts at 7 p.m. in Smith Recital Hall on campus, and the concert is free.