Lateef, Rudolph Deliver a ‘World at Peace’

Yusef Lateef, that grand master of the tenor saxophone, flute, oboe and other interesting woodwind instruments, makes his first Los Angeles appearance in three years on June 16 and 17 at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City when he joins drummer-composer Adam Rudolph for a premiere of “The World at Peace.” The work, co-written by Lateef and Rudolph, will be performed by a band of 12 musicians, among them saxophonist Ralph Jones, bassist Eric Von Essen and violinist Jeff Gauthier.

Rudolph, who lives in Venice, and Lateef, a resident of Amherst, Mass., where he teaches at two colleges, each wrote their portions of “Peace” separately, and will combine their parts for the first time when they rehearse with their ensemble. The work, says Rudolph, is wide-ranging.

“We’ll include influences from around the world, from Eastern music through Western art music, using whatever musical elements that we can understand and discover,” he says.

Lateef, acclaimed for his performances with Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley and as a leader, says the work will also reflect its title. “Music can touch the emotions and so we hope that it has that effect, giving listeners a peaceful kind of experience,” he says.

Information: (310) 271-9039.

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Tribute: Louie Bellson, the gifted and imaginative swing-styled drummer and composer renowned for his playing with Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and as a leader of his own group, has been chosen the 1995 Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Tribute honoree. Bellson, 70, will be honored at an awards ceremony Oct. 8 at the Biltmore Hotel.

Other 1995 society awardees include Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham (lifetime achievement), Billy May (composer-arranger), Bobby Bryant (educator), Ruth Price (vocalist), Myrna Daniels and Bob Comden (jazz communicator), Darlene Chan (Teri Merrill-Aarons Founders Award) and the Washington Preparatory High School Jazz Ensemble (Shelly Manne New Talent Award).

The society is a nonprofit organization formed in 1986 to increase awareness of jazz, primarily through its Jazz Caravan program of presenting free live music to Los Angeles City Schools, and the surrounding community.

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Jazz for Free: The Meeting--a group comprised of Ndugu Chancler, Patrice Rushen and Ernie Watts--Eric Marienthal, Barbara Morrison and Marcos Loya are on the lineup of a free concert being held Sunday, 1 to 5:30 p.m., at Corsair Field, Santa Monica College (16th Street, south of Pico Boulevard). The concert is part of the Playboy Jazz Festival’s monthlong series of free shows that precede the festival on June 17 and 18 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Tickets for the festival are still available. Information: (310) 449-4070.

Adam Rudolph, Billy Childs, Eric Johnson and Gregg Field are on the schedule of Jazzopolis, the Century City Shopping Center’s eighth annual summer jazz series. The free concerts are held Wednesdays through Aug. 30 on the center’s Marketplace stage, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City. Guitarist Johnson is on tap next Wednesday.

Information: (310) 277-3898.

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Riffs: The Hennessy Jazz Search, now in its 10th year, is dedicated to discovering new jazz talent. Musicians must send in a 20-minute audiotape of a performance to become eligible. The grand prize is $10,000 and the deadline for tapes is July 15. Those interested may write to Hennessy Jazz Search, 3000 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite JAZZ, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

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Surfing the Jazzwaves: Shirley Horn, Ron Carter and Jon Hendricks join Herbie Hancock on a salute to Antonio Carlos Jobim, airing tonight at 7 on the Bravo cable channel. . . .

The late gospel singing great Marion Williams guests with Wynton Marsalis’ septet on “Jazz From Lincoln Center,” airing Monday, 11 p.m. to midnight on KPCC-FM (89.3). . . .

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Around Town: Rebecca Parris, a solid singer, works Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood through Sunday. Appearing Tuesday through June 18: Elvin Jones, that most musical of drummers.