by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

Bohemian Caverns plays host this weekend to two saxophone eminences who emerged in the 1970s and have honed personal forms of experimentalism since: Odean Pope on Friday and Sonny Fortune on Saturday. Down the block at Twins Jazz, the redoubtable local saxophonist Lyle Link leads his quartet; it’s hard to name a more exciting player operating in the District these days. You can find details on all these shows and 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, NOVEMBER 23

cb picks:

• Odean Pope Trio, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Lyle Link Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Bobby Felder, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | This weekend, D.C.’s so-called jazz church offers a rare showcase of big band music, when trombonist Bobby Felder leads his 15-piece group in an annual performance. The church’s music series began as an experiment over a decade ago, and continues today as one of Washington’s greatest weekly traditions. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church 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, straight-ahead versions of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

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

Lori Williams Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Smooth-voiced singer Lori Williams is a regular member of the local jazz group Saltman-Knowles. Here she steps out, singing standards at the fore of her own quartet. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

Alex Bugnon, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Pianist Alex Bugnon is only one name on the extraordinarily long list of smooth jazz players who have become regulars on Blues Alley’s stage in recent years. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Odean Pope Trio, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Somewhere between the steely conviction of John Coltrane and the quaking tremolo of David Murray, you’ll find the Philadelphian tenor great Odean Pope. He blows the horn hard, drawing prismatic beams of sound. Pope spent two decades in the Max Roach Quartet, and now favors his own non-traditional formations; he leads a respected Saxophone Choir with a nine-piece saxophone section, and this weekend performs in a stripped-down trio with Lee Smith on bass and Craig McIver on drums. $20 cover in advance, $25 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

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

Alfredo Mojica, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Alfredo Mojica, who sang at Bossa for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Lyle Link Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Hardly any D.C. saxophonist is more worth spending time with than Lyle Link. He plays his horn with a command that’s always spry and often sultry; he’s also an adventurous and ebullient composer, with tunes that can lift a quartet off the ground. An adaptable sideman on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones as well as flute, Link doesn’t lead his own bands often enough. But when he does, his message is clear: This music is about feeling as much as hearing. Do yourself a favor and catch him at Twins Jazz this weekend. Two separate sets at 9 & 11 p.m. $10 cover in advance, $15 at the door, $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, and his improvisation shows a redolence to Kenny Garrett’s. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website

Robbie Wancowicz Ensemble w/Jenny George, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Jenny George can’t yet drink legally at Black Fox Lounge, but she’s a prescient young vocalist who takes on jazz standards with strength and sensitivity. Here she appears with the Robbie Wancowicz 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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24

cb picks:

• Sonny Fortune Quartet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Lyle Link Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
• Steve Synk Trio, Columbia Station, 9:30 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

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

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, straight-ahead versions of jazz standards. 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

Julian Hipkins Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Julian Hipkins sings with a swinging flair and jaunty, deep voice that recall Jimmy Rushing. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

Alex Bugnon, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Pianist Alex Bugnon is only one name on the extraordinarily long list of smooth jazz players who have become regulars on Blues Alley’s stage in recent years. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Sonny Fortune, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Sonny Fortune is a saxophonist who rose through the ranks in the late 1960’s and early ’70’s, amid radical changes in both society and in the music industry. By the time he moved to New York City in 1967 from his hometown of Philadelphia, the post-bop era was in decline, fusion’s seeds had been planted, and the great saxophone idol John Coltrane was dead. Fortune joined drummer and former Trane accomplice Elvin Jones’ group soon after the legend’s passing. Fortune then recorded with Miles Davis on what have been called two of the best fusion albums ever: Agharta and Pangaea. He went on to have some quiet success as a saxophone trailblazer in the 1970s, using the momentum from his work with Davis to record some standout fusion albums of his own. During the 1990s, he was one of the resident greats at the revivified Blue Note label, and has continued to perform as a leader and sideman throughout the world. $20 cover in advance, $25 at the door, no minimum. [words by Luke Stewart] View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Lyle Link Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Hardly any D.C. saxophonist is more worth spending time with than Lyle Link. He plays his horn with a command that’s always spry and often sultry; he’s also an adventurous and ebullient composer, with tunes that can lift a quartet off the ground. An adaptable sideman on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones as well as flute, Link doesn’t lead his own bands often enough. But when he does, his message is clear: This music is about feeling as much as hearing. Do yourself a favor and catch him at Twins Jazz this weekend. Two separate sets at 9 & 11 p.m. $10 cover in advance, $15 at the door, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Saltman Knowles, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Saltman Knowles is a band that blends Latin, straight-ahead and soul-jazz influences. The core trio consists of joyous and smooth-voiced singer Lori Williams, pianist William Knowles and bassist Mark Saltman. But the group’s ancillary instrumentation — like its musical ambitions — is always changing: On the band’s latest CD, Saltman Knowles refashioned itself as an octet, complete with the steel pan sounds of Victor Provost. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website

Cubista, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Cubista is a salsa band that plays at Bossa every Saturday. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Los Carribeat, Haydee’s (Mt. Pleasant), 9 p.m. | Los Caribbeat is a small ensemble that plays upbeat, danceable Afro-Caribbean jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Haydee’s website

Dee Stone, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 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

Steve Synk Trio, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m. | Lyrical bassist Steve Synk, a music major at the University of Maryland, leads a young trio that explores music ranging from standards to originals, groove-based contemporary jazz to swinging bop. No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station 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

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25

cb picks:

• Jazz Brunch: Reginald Cyntje, Twins Jazz, 11 a.m.
• Hamiett Bluiett, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m.
• David Ullman, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.

Gospel Brunch, The Hamilton, 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Every Sunday morning, the Hamilton presents two sets of rafters-raising gospel, along with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Two separate shows at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. $25 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | The Hamilton website

TBA, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Performer TBA. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website

Jazz Brunch: Reginald Cyntje, Twins Jazz, 11 a.m. | Twins Jazz’s new Sunday Jazz Brunch initiative revolves around the magnetic powers of Reginald Cyntje’s trombone. Last year, he released his debut CD, “Freedom’s Children: The Celebration,” a glimmeringly hopeful record immersed in the warm, danceable rhythms of Cyntje’s native U.S. Virgin Islands. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Twins profile

Harlem Gospel Choir, Howard Theatre, 12 p.m. | The talented Harlem Gospel Choir, which has been active since 1986, performs a Sunday brunch show every week at the Howard Theatre. Either an all-you-can-eat buffet or an a la carte menu are available. Doors open at noon, and the music starts at 1:30 p.m. Tickets vary ($35 for all-you-can-eat or $20 for admission and a la carte options in advance, $45 or $30 at the door). View event on calendar | Howard 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

D.C. Jazz Jam, Dahlak, 6 p.m. | This jazz jam presents a friendly, relaxed environment where professionals and amateurs can play together. Today’s jam features a “Monthly Master,” the hard bop-era bass great Butch Warren. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Dahlak 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

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

Bill Heid, Black Fox Lounge, 8 p.m. | Bill Heid plays piano and sings blues songs and jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox Lounge profile

Alex Bugnon, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Pianist Alex Bugnon is only one name on the extraordinarily long list of smooth jazz players who have become regulars on Blues Alley’s stage in recent years. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

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

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