New beginnings on U St., and Lafayette Gilchrist arrives from Charm City (WEEKEND IN JAZZ)

Lafayette Gilchrist, a Baltimore pianist who blends blues and gospel with the avant-garde, performs this weekend at Twins. Courtesy jlectric/flickr

This weekend, Bohemian Caverns and Ulah Bistro are launching new musical ventures on U Street. Also, Curtis Lundy and Lafayette Gilchrist — oft-overlooked greats who get under the hood of straight-ahead jazz and jigger with the parts that make it move — lead bands at clubs. Read more>>

Help CapitalBop put on cutting-edge shows at the DC Jazz Fest, & get rewards: lessons, vinyl, more!

To put on next month’s D.C. Jazz Loft Series at the DC Jazz Fest, we’re going to need your support for our Kickstarter campaign. Luckily, we’re offering a host of amazing rewards: signed, limited-edition vinyl, music lessons from our performers, even airtime on WPFW-FM. Read more>>

Daisy Castro, violin wunderkind, finds inspiration in the sounds of classic Gypsy jazz (INTERVIEW)

Daisy Castro performs tonight at Strathmore in her final performance as an artist in residence there. Courtesy Daisy Castro


At 16, Daisy Castro is already one of the most compelling improvising violinists around. She recently celebrated the end of a year in residency at Strathmore, and the release of a new CD, with a concert there. Read more>>

An introduction to the limitless logic of Nicole Mitchell’s Ice Crystal

Nicole Mitchell brought her risk-taking quartet, Ice Crystal, to the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Courtesy Graffiti Photographic/flickr

Far from the esoteric musician she’s sometimes made out to be, Nicole Mitchell operates Ice Crystal, her new quartet, by a simple ethos: Express honestly, and interact relentlessly. The master flutist recently performed in D.C. for the first time, at the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Read more>>

Tineke Postma, Holland’s rising star of the sax (INTERVIEW)

Tineke Postma performed on the opening night of the 18th annual Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Courtesy Tineke Postma

The Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Series opened with a concert featuring the Dutch saxophonist and composer Tineke Postma. In this interview, the Edison Award winner discusses her emerging career and the importance of staying “in the moment.” Read more>>

Sriram Gopal’s Swing District: A First-Class Jazz Venue Comes to the ‘Burbs

The Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club opened in March and has been hosting music nightly. Courtesy Rubin Studios

The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club, the District area’s newest venue showcasing jazz, presents music nightly. Its price tag will surely keep some listeners out, but if you can afford it the experience is top-notch: great sound, beautiful art deco architecture, and excellent food. Read more>>

Don’t miss CapitalBop’s biggest shows yet…

 
Announcing the D.C. Jazz Loft Series at DC Jazz Fest: Karriem Riggins, ERIMAJ, Brötzmann & more


We’ve just announced the bands for our third annual D.C. Jazz Loft Series at the DC Jazz Festival, and it’s the most exciting lineup we’ve ever put together. It will bring boundary-pushers like Karriem Riggins and ERIMAJ, who blend jazz with hip-hop and rock, and avant-garde luminaries Peter Brötzmann and Gerald Cleaver to fun, non-traditional venues. Read more>>

 
 
Bloodsucker jazz: A quiet legend, a percussion master and a vampire movie (LIVE REVIEW)

Tatsuya Nakatani, shown in a separate performance, recently accompanied a silent movie with the multi-instrumentalist Edward Wilkerson, Jr. Courtesy ticketfly.com

On April 3 at the Freer Gallery, two masters of avant-garde music performed in support of Sanguivorous, the first silent vampire movie by a Japanese filmmaker. Tatsuya Nakatani and Edward Wilkerson, Jr.’s music was so touching that the film all but morphed into a backdrop. Read more>>

Charles Lloyd discusses life & legacy (INTERVIEW)

Charles Lloyd performed recently at the Kennedy Center in celebration of his 75th birthday. Courtesy Dorothy Darr

Few jazz musicians have had the vision and integrity of Charles Lloyd, one of the world’s greatest saxophone players. Lloyd celebrated his 75th birthday at the Kennedy Center’s concert hall recently; beforehand, he discussed his life, lessons learned, and hope for the future of jazz. Read more>>

Reflections on a dream: ‘Holding It Down’ at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, reviewed

Mike Ladd, shown performing at Harlem Stage last September, presented “Holding It Down” in D.C. last week. Courtesy Marc Millman

In an era when the news media and the broader artistic conversation tend to avoid confronting American imperialism, Vijay Iyer and Mike Ladd’s “Holding It Down” offers an unflinching — and unforgettable — exploration of veterans’ experiences. Read more>>

The members of Thiefs discuss their fierce blend of acoustic, electric and otherworldly (INTERVIEW)

Thiefs — Christophe Panzani, Guillermo E. Brown and Keith Witty, from left — perform at Strathmore on Friday. Courtesy Matt Merewitz

Thiefs, a conceptually fascinating trio, mixes acoustic and electric elements with playfulness and energy. The band played at Strathmore recently. Here’s an interview, along with audio to stream. Read more>>

 

This year, the District’s jazz scene saw recordings from a number of outstanding musicians — people who range from classic crooners to experimental ambient artists, first-time leaders to studio veterans. Here you’ll find our five favorite albums from the past year. Click here to read the full Top Five post>>

Or go straight to the full review for…
#5 • #4 • #3 • #2 • #1

NEWS | LIVE REVIEWS | ALBUM REVIEWS
INTERVIEWS | PROFILES | PODCASTS | VIDEOS | CALENDAR

Jason Moran is the Kennedy Center’s jazz adviser. Courtesy mpix46/flickr

Interview | Jason Moran on the Kennedy Center’s new jazz season
Recently named jazz advisor Jason Moran is working to expand the center’s audience. Read more>>
 
 
 
 

Joe Herrera, a full-time musician, says he sometimes feels compelled to consider getting a day job.

Sriram Gopal’s Swing District | ‘Real’ musicians vs. part-time musicians
In his monthly Swing District column, CapitalBop’s Sriram Gopal confronts the perceived differences between full-time musicians and those with day jobs, and argues that both have to make certain sacrifices. Read more>>
 
 
 

Steve Coleman, left, with Jonathan Finlayson.

Interview | Steve Coleman: An innovator for the ages
In this interview, the saxophonist Steve Coleman discusses his anti-genre approach to music, and much more. Read more>>
 
 
 
 
 

Documentary film Oxygen for the Ears tells the story of D.C.’s historic jazz scene.

The Smithsonian is reinvigorating its Take 5! series with a focus on famous composers.

Sriram Gopal’s debut Swing District column: The universal benefits of giving jazz a chance.


More articles
Musician profile | Tarus Mateen’s never-ending journey News | Sound of the City embodies hip-hop/jazz synthesis Photos | HR-57 settles in at spacious new H Street digs