Amiri Baraka performs at Bohemian Caverns this weekend, employing his poetry's caustic power in celebration of Black History Month. Courtesy Poetry Foundation
by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board
Two upstarts making waves on the jazz scene – singer Milton Suggs and pianist Aaron Parks – are at the Kennedy Center’s KC Jazz Club this weekend. Bohemian Caverns is celebrating the close of Black History Month with performances by radical poet and Black Arts Movement founder Amiri Baraka and by D.C.’s own Black Notes ensemble. Legend Buster Williams is performing with Mulgrew Miller and Cindy Blackman at Blues Alley. All told, this weekend is a blend of the old and the new, radicalism and roots – and what better way than that to define this music called jazz? Find details on these performances and many more in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz,” a listing of every D.C. jazz show on our radar. Our favorites have a 
label, and as always, you can read CapitalBop’s full listings directly at our D.C. jazz calendar, if you’d rather. Happy hunting!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
cb picks:
- Keter Betts Tribute, Westminster Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
- Milton Suggs, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
- Buster Williams, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
- Amiri Baraka, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Cheyney Thomas, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
Keter Betts Tribute, 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.” Every Friday night, the house of God becomes a hub for fish frying, communing and jamming on straight-ahead jazz. This week, a tribute to the late D.C. bassist Keter Betts, who helped record the famed album “Jazz Samba” 50 years ago this month in D.C., with Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. The musicians onstage tonight include Denise Pearson on vocals, Robert Redd on piano, Steve Abshire on guitar, Bruce Swaim on saxophone, Michael Bowie on bass and Nasar Abadey on drums. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website
Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 7 p.m. | The Jolley Brothers, Noble on keyboard and Nate on drums, play thrice a weekend at B. Smith’s, the upscale soul-food restaurant in Union Station’s massive East Hall. The Jolleys, who perform with a bassist, comprise one of D.C.’s most exciting and auspicious acts. With roots in gospel, soul and the modal bop of the 1960s, the brothers (who also compose prolifically) bring some of the most creative elements in the African-American music canon forward into the 21st century, all while stamping it with their own distinctive flavoring. But B. Smith’s is a restaurant first, and the music remains in the background – no matter how expertly played. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | B. Smith’s website
Karen Gray Trio, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m.| Commanding vocalist Karen Gray sings laid-back renditions of jazz standards in a drumless trio. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Triple Double, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | Consisting of Joey Whitney on tenor sax, Ed Gallagher on guitar, Alan Pachter on bass and Tom Reed on drums, the Triple Double Jazz Band plays straightforward
Night & Day Trio, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | The Night & Day Trio plays traditional, swing-oriented jazz, featuring Renée Tannenbaum on vocals, Mike Suser on piano and vocals and Dennis Johnson on saxophone. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Milton Suggs, Kennedy Center, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | Young vocalist Milton Suggs spends a lot of time tramping around in jazz’s old thematic backyards – storybook love affairs, apocalyptic jealousy, redemptive struggle. But his deep-throated, debonair delivery conveys at least a modicum of credence upon their almost absurd sense of immortality. And that’s just enough. Two separate sets at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $16 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | KC Jazz Club profile
Buster Williams, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Bassist Buster Williams is hard-bop royalty. Known for his precise technique and commanding swing, Williams performed with Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea and so many others, and since the mid-1970s has led a formidable recording career as a leader. Williams performs here with an all-star, straight-ahead combo featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Cindy Blackman. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Marianne Solivan Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Celebrating the release of her accomplished debut CD, Marianne Solivan performs here with a combo featuring some of D.C.’s finest musicians: Chris Grasso on piano, Tommy Cecil on bass and Lenny Robinson on drums. She’s a singer who’s got a brawny but nimble approach, and sensitivity in spades. Whether singing a standard or an original, Solivan stamps every syllable with a deep-digging sincerity. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Amiri Baraka, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | In the mainstream discourse of the United States, you’ll often hear the poet Amiri Baraka described as “controversial.
Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 9 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every Friday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Sin Miedo, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Sin Miedo is an energetic, nine-piece Salsa band that plays highly danceable Afro-Cuban jazz, Mambo and Samba. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile
Cheyney Thomas, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Bassist Cheyney Thomas, a longtime D.C. resident and HR-57 stalwart, leads his own straight-ahead quartet, featuring Ron Sutton, Jr. on saxophone, Sam Prather on piano and Eric Allen on drums. $15 cover, no minimum. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Antonio Parker Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is swingin’ and soulful, with a bright, aggressive tone. He casually sprinkles neo-soul and R&B influences into his otherwise straight-ahead bop. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Maureen Mullaney, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Maureen Mullaney sings jazz and blues songs with a light ensemble. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m. | Arguably the city’s best jazz trumpeter, Donvonte McCoy plays every Friday and Saturday at the hip 18th St. Lounge. He likes to mix in some funk as well during the lounge gig, and he’s liable to inflect a touch of Chuck Brown-esque groove into his combo’s treatment of classic bop tunes by the likes of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. After all, the setting is that of a dance club, not a jazz joint – no tables and chairs or hushed applause after every solo. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. View event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile
DeAndrey Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m. | Trumpeter DeAndre Howard’s regular engagements at Utopia bring hordes to the restaurant and bar. He and his small group, Collector’s Edition, play standards with a friendly, inviting touch, and they add to the positive vibes already flowing throughout the room — especially when Howard tosses aside the trumpet to sing a spontaneous blues. no cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
cb picks:
- Aaron Parks, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
- Amiri Baraka, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Cheyney Thomas, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
Jam Session with Peter Edelman, Columbia Station, 4 p.m. | Pianist Peter Edelman, a constant presence on the D.C. jazz scene for years now, leads an afternoon jam session every Saturday and Sunday. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Charles Woods, Johnny’s Half Shell, 6 p.m. | Saxophonist Charles Woods plays and has recorded in both free and straight-ahead jazz styles, but for his regular gig at Johnny’s Half Shell he keeps things within the traditional bop realm. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Johnny’s Half Shell website
Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 7 p.m. | The Jolley Brothers, Noble on keyboard and Nate on drums, play thrice a weekend at B. Smith’s, the upscale soul-food restaurant in Union Station’s massive East Hall. The Jolleys, who perform with a bassist, comprise one of D.C.’s most exciting and auspicious acts. With roots in gospel, soul and the modal bop of the 1960s, the brothers (who also compose prolifically) bring some of the most creative elements in the African-American music canon forward into the 21st century, all while stamping it with their own distinctive flavoring. But B. Smith’s is a restaurant first, and the music remains in the background – no matter how expertly played. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | B. Smith’s website
Mark Mosley Trio, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | Baltimore guitarist Mark Mosley plays a slick hand as a smooth jazz guitarist, but he can also hunker down on serious bop. He performs laid-back straight-ahead here with his trio. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Jacqui Simmons & Friends, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | Jacqui Simmons sings jazz standards with a heartfelt and elegant presentation. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Triple Double, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m. | Consisting of Joey Whitney on tenor sax, Ed Gallagher on guitar, Alan Pachter on bass and Tom Reed on drums, the Triple Double Jazz Band plays straightforward
Nancy Scimone, Henley Park Hotel, 7:30 p.m. | Nancy Scimone reaches into the jazz and popular American songbooks during this weekly gig at the Henley Park Hotel in downtown D.C., where she’s accompanied by a pianist. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Henley Park’s website
Lena Seikaly Trio, Extra Virgin Restaurant, 7:30 p.m. | Vocalist Lena Seikaly sings jazz standards with a confident and playful demeanor, displaying a haziness reminiscent of Esperanza Spalding and a fulsome power that approaches Sarah Vaughan’s. Here she leads her own drumless trio, joined by guitar and bass. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Extra Virgin’s website
Aaron Parks, Kennedy Center, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.| At just 28, Aaron Parks is one of the most in-demand pianists on the New York City scene. He has a distinctly fluid, classical-influ
Marianne Solivan Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Celebrating the release of her accomplished debut CD, Marianne Solivan performs here with a combo featuring some of D.C’s finest musicians: Chris Grasso on piano, Tommy Cecil on bass and Lenny Robinson on drums. She’s a singer who’s got a brawny but nimble approach, and sensitivity in spades. Whether singing a standard or an original, Solivan stamps every syllable with a deep-digging sincerity. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Lydia Lewis Trio, Tasting Room, 8 p.m. | Tasteful drummer and composer Lydia Lewis leads her trio in background fare at the Tasting Room, a wine bar in Friendship Heights. She’s consistently joined by expert side musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Tasting Room website
Buster Williams, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Bassist Buster Williams is hard-bop royalty. Known for his precise technique and commanding swing, Williams performed with Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea and so many others, and since the mid-1970s has led a formidable recording career as a leader. Williams performs here with an all-star, straight-ahead combo featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Cindy Blackman. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, GMU Center for the Arts, 8:30 p.m. | The Northern Virginia-based Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra will perform a special concert featuring the music of three famous big band leaders: drum master Buddy Rich, clarinetist and saxophonist Woody Herman, and pianist Stan Kenton. Ticket prices vary ($20 to $40). View event on calendar | GMU Arts Center website
Amiri Baraka, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | In the mainstream discourse of the United States, you’ll often hear the poet Amiri Baraka described as “controversial.
Kent Miller Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Strong and swinging bassist Kent Miller will lead his own straight-ahead quartet. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Palanke Music Company, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Led by vocalist and guitarist Jaime Andrés Salazar, a.k.a. Gato, Palanke Music Company is tropicalia meets electro meets Samba meets Afro-Cuban jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile
Cheyney Thomas, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Bassist Cheyney Thomas, a longtime D.C. resident and HR-57 stalwart, leads his own straight-ahead quartet, featuring Ron Sutton, Jr. on saxophone, Sam Prather on piano and Eric Allen on drums. $15 cover, no minimum. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Dee Stone, Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m. | Dee Stone sings soul, blues, jazz and rock. The first set of every performance is usually comprised of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m. | Arguably the city’s best jazz trumpeter, Donvonte McCoy plays every Friday and Saturday at the hip 18th St. Lounge. He likes to mix in some funk as well during the lounge gig, and he’s liable to inflect a touch of Chuck Brown-esque groove into his combo’s treatment of classic bop tunes by the likes of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. After all, the setting is that of a dance club, not a jazz joint – no tables and chairs or hushed applause after every solo. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. View event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile
DeAndrey Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m. | Trumpeter DeAndre Howard’s regular engagements at Utopia bring hordes to the restaurant and bar. He and his small group, Collector’s Edition, play standards with a friendly, inviting touch, and they add to the positive vibes already flowing throughout the room — especially when Howard tosses aside the trumpet to sing a spontaneous blues. no cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile
The Hang, Bohemian Caverns, midnight | Bohemian Caverns’ late-night jam, The Hang, is hosted by a different band every week of the month. The kitchen remains open until 1 a.m., so there’s a chance to get a late bite without having to traipse to Ben’s Chili Bowl. $7 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
cb pick:
- Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.
- Black Notes, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m.
- Buster Williams, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
- Wynton Marsalis w/the JALC Orchestra, Kennedy Center, 8 p.m.
Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Marshall Keys’ saxophone can sing the blues or swing to the rhythms of bebop with a laid-back sense of cool; the native Washingtonian is a fluid, graceful player. He plays every Sunday brunch at Acadiana, usually with a group consisting of the city’s top jazz scene veterans: Federico Peña on piano, Tarus Mateen on bass and either Lenny Robinson or Mark Prince on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website
Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 12 p.m. | The Jolley Brothers, Noble on keyboard and Nate on drums, play thrice a weekend at B. Smith’s, the upscale soul-food restaurant in Union Station’s massive East Hall. The Jolleys, who perform with a bassist, comprise one of D.C.’s most exciting and auspicious acts. With roots in gospel, soul and the modal bop of the 1960s, the brothers (who also compose prolifically) bring some of the most creative elements in the African-American music canon forward into the 21st century, all while stamping it with their own distinctive flavoring. B. Smith’s is a restaurant first, and the music remains in the background – no matter how expertly played. But as far as jazz brunch goes, it’s hard to top the Jolleys’ music. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | B. Smith’s website
Keiko Matsui, DAR Constitution Hall, 3 p.m. | Keiko Matsui is somewhere between Horowitz and Sting. An expanded palette is at hand here, with the Air Force band alongside her. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | DAR Constitution Hall website
Jam Session with Peter Edelman, Columbia Station, 4 p.m. | Pianist Peter Edelman, a constant presence on the D.C. jazz scene for years now, leads an afternoon jam session every Saturday and Sunday. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Potomac Jazz Project, Laporta’s, 6:30 p.m. | The Potomac Jazz Project is a quartet that takes on modern and classic jazz tunes (and even some pop covers) with a showmanly flair, as well as skill. It’s led by bassist Stan Hamrick, and its rotating lineup often features some of D.C.’s best musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Laporta’s website
Jazz Jam, Dahlak, 6:30 p.m.| This jazz jam presents a friendly, relaxed environment where professionals and amateurs can play together. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | View Dahlak profile
Black Notes, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m. | Following in the tradition of era-defining Black bards like Gil Scott-Heron, the Last Poets, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, Black Notes integrates deep grooves and red-blooded messages of revolution and solidarity. The accomplished band includes Reginald Cyntje on trombone and Antonio Parker on alto saxophone. Two separate shows at 7 & 9 p.m. $15 cover in advance, $18 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile
DC Choro, Grill from Ipanema, 7:30 p.m.| DC Choro is a sextet that plays Brazilian music drawing on European folk traditions. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Grill from Ipanema profile
Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Jazz Direct, Zoo Bar Café, 7:30 p.m.| This combo specializes in traditional New Orleans-style jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Zoo Bar website
Buster Williams, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Bassist Buster Williams is hard-bop royalty. Known for his precise technique and commanding swing, Williams performed with Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea and so many others, and since the mid-1970s has led a formidable recording career as a leader. Williams performs here with an all-star, straight-ahead combo featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Cindy Blackman. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
David Caldwell-Mason, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The young pianist David Caldwell-Mason displays a range of influences, but his sensibilities are distinctly modern. His music is exciting, and expertly presented. He performs here with Kellen Harrison on bass and Art Lillard on drums. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Wynton Marsalis w/the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Kennedy Center, 8 p.m. | Along with the Mingus Big Band and a few others, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is one of the few large jazz ensembles today that can stand firmly above the divide between orchestral tradition and compositional/a
Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 8:30 p.m.| The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every Sunday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” no cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Cheryl Jones Trio, Utopia, 9 p.m. | Singer Cheryl Jones has a weekly engagement every Sunday at Utopia, where she sings with depth, force and clarity. Jones is equally likely to sing jazz standards, pop tunes or gospel classics. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile 
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