Wiggins Has 50 Years at Fingertips : Jazz: Veteran pianist knows ‘a million of ‘em,’ making him a living encyclopedia of song.

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 tonight, 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 that he 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 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 my best work yet, but time’s running out.”

He’ll try for live nirvana at the Horton Grand Hotel. The show starts at 8:30, and there’s no cover charge.