Category Archives: Weekend in Jazz

Hugh Masekela, an icon of South African jazz, performs on Friday at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. Courtesy Brett Rubin

by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

This weekend, it’s hard to know where to start. There’s just so much going on. If you’re interested in the way that jazz has been reaching past its bulwarks recently and embracing the influence of R&B, funk and music from around the world, you might want to head to U Street on Friday or Saturday: the famed vibraphonist Warren Wolf’s shows at Bohemian Caverns will be a clinic in all that, and the D.C.-based trumpeter JS Williams — leading a band at Twins — has his own take on it, too. But maybe you’d rather go to the source: Hugh Masekela, a South African flugelhorn master, has been funking up his jazz playing by dipping into his own country’s traditions since the 1960s; he’s at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium on Friday night. And the Blackbyrds started out in the 1970s as students of the original funk-jazz bodhisattva, Donald Byrd; they perform on Friday as well, at THEARC. Also that night, the piano phenom Brad Mehldau plays an intriguing duo show with the mandolinist Chris Thile at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Come Sunday, you have to choose between a special springtime edition of CapitalBop’s D.C. Jazz Loft (outside, on the Chez Billy patio, and featuring three outstanding acts) and the Matthew Shipp Trio, which will be playing its uncompromisingly experimental — and brilliant — music at Bohemian Caverns. There’s info on all those shows and many more in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz.” As always, you can find our full listings at CapitalBop’s D.C. jazz calendar. Our favorites have a label. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

cb picks:

• The Blackbyrds, THEARC, 7  & 9:30 p.m.
• JS Williams Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
• Hugh Masekela, GWU Lisner Auditorium, 8 p.m.
• Brad Mehldau & Chris Thile, Clarice Smith PAC, 8 p.m.
• Warren Wolf, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Howard U. Jazz Ensemble, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | What began as an experiment over a decade ago continues today as one of Washington’s greatest weekly traditions: Westminster Presbyterian Church’s “Jazz Night.” This week, the Howard University Jazz Ensemble – which each year produces a few more of D.C.’s promising young musicians – will perform under the guidance of its long-time director, Fred Irby. The group tends to play forward-thinking big band arrangements of jazz classics. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website Continue reading →