Weekend in Jazz | 1.11-1.13: Quincy Phillips at Bohemian, Tedd Baker at the D.C. Jazz Loft & more

Quincy Phillips performs with his quintet at Bohemian Caverns this weekend. Courtesy Timothy Forbes Photography/flickr

by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

CapitalBop’s D.C. Jazz Loft is back this Sunday with a killer lineup: the redoubtable tenor saxophonist Tedd Baker, the swinging trumpeter JS Williams and the clarinet virtuoso Joseph Howell. Earlier in the weekend, there are shows on U Street by two great drummers, Quincy Phillips and the up-and-coming Aaron Seeber. And Westminster Presbyterian Church welcomes the world-class vibraphonist Warren Wolf on Friday. You can find info on all those shows and many more in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz.” Our favorites have a label. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11

cb picks:

  • Warren Wolf & Wolfpack, Westminster Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
  • Aaron Seeber Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
  • Quincy Phillips Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
  • Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Warren Wolf & Wolfpack, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | Warren Wolf has an unassuming personality but a bold style on the vibraphone, reapplying Milt Jackson’s minor blues tonalities in an energized, post-bop setting. The Baltimore resident is a linchpin of bassist Christian McBride’s band, Inside Straight, and is an in-demand sideman on the national scene. At Westminster Presbyterian, he leads a hard-hitting band: Allyn Johnson on piano, Tim Green on saxophone, Kris Funn on bass and Kush Abadey on drums. $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

Yamomanem, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | The Yamomanem Jazz Band plays a faithful take on New Orleans jazz, conjuring the days of King Oliver and early Louis Armstrong with its lush brass section. 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

Aaron Seeber Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The drummer Aaron Seeber is just 20 years old. He looks it, but he sure doesn’t play like it. The lithe, swinging drummer is steeped in the lessons of post-boppers like Tony Williams and Eric Harland. This weekend, he leads a quintet of local all-stars: the saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed, the pianist Bob Butta and the bassist James King. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Gerald Albright, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Gerald Albright is a saxophonist who runs the gamut between soul jazz, R&B and smooth jazz. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $43 cover, $2.50 surcharge, $12 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Quincy Phillips Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | The drummer Quincy Phillips is a D.C. native and a national star. He performs as a sideman for some of the best musicians in the world, including Roy Hargrove. Here Phillips brings his driving patter and funk-laced swing feel to Bohemian Caverns with a quintet of his own, featuring Kris Funn on bass, Janelle Gill on piano, Tim Green on alto saxophone and Quamon Fowler on tenor saxophone. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30. $18 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns 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

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

Cashandra J, Black Fox Lounge, 10:30 p.m. | CaShandra J sings jazz standards and originals with a combo. 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, JANUARY 12

cb picks:

  • ‘NSO in Your Neighborhood,’ Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
  • Quincy Phillips Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 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 Jazz Band, Sala Thai (Petworth), 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

‘NSO in Your Neighborhood,’ Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The National Symphony Orchestra is bringing its annual “NSO in Your Neighborhood” program to the U Street Corridor this year, with a series of shows mixing jazz and classical music. Here, three members of the orchestra – Jeffrey Weisner on bass, David Teie on cello and Ruth Wicker Schaaf viola – will perform opposite the Eric Wheeler Trio, a formidable local jazz group. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. Free. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Gerald Albright, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Gerald Albright is a saxophonist who runs the gamut between soul jazz, R&B and smooth jazz. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $43 cover, $2.50 surcharge, $12 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Quincy Phillips Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | The drummer Quincy Phillips is a D.C. native and a national star. He performs as a sideman for some of the best musicians in the world, including Roy Hargrove. Here Phillips brings his driving patter and funk-laced swing feel to Bohemian Caverns with a quintet of his own, featuring Kris Funn on bass, Janelle Gill on piano, Tim Green on alto saxophone and Quamon Fowler on tenor saxophone. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30. $18 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Kent Miller Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Strong and swinging bassist Kent Miller leads his own straight-ahead quartet. $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

David Schulman, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Violinist and effects pedal whiz David Schulman performs his avant-leaning jazz here with a conga player. 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, JANUARY 13

cb picks:

  • Jazz Brunch: Reginald Cyntje, Twins Jazz, 11 a.m.
  • Rob Brown & Daniel Levin, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m.
  • D.C. Jazz Loft, Chez Billy, 7 p.m.
  • Anthony Pirog Trio, 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. 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

D.C. Jazz Loft, Chez Billy, 7 p.m. | At this month’s D.C. Jazz Loft, three of the District’s most swinging horn players will lead bands: the stalwart saxophonist Tedd Baker, the zinging trumpeter John Williams, and Joseph Howell, the sleeper pick on clarinet, who just arrived in D.C. a few months ago and has been dropping jaws with his lighting-quick solos ever since. Don’t miss out on the loft, the best showcase of the District’s wide ranging pool of jazz talent! $15 suggested donation, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Rob Brown & Daniel Levin, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m. | The cellist Daniel Levin and the alto saxophonist Rob Brown have a special synergy; in the close quarters of a duo, they explore issues of tone, intimacy and chaos. Two separate sets at 7 & 9 p.m. $15 cover in advance, $20 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

Anthony Pirog Trio, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | Guitarist Anthony Pirog’s music runs the gamut from post-bop to electric fusion to ambient soundscapes. You’ve got the ideas of M83, Allan Holdsworth and Bill Frisell all vying for space in his overflowing cauldron. With a trio, Pirog pries away at the rhythmic logic of small-group jazz, wielding a battery of effects pedals, and a patient improvisatory instinct. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum.. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Gerald Albright, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Gerald Albright is a saxophonist who runs the gamut between soul jazz, R&B and smooth jazz. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $43 cover, $2.50 surcharge, $12 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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About Giovanni Russonello

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A co-founder of CapitalBop, Giovanni Russonello has also served as a music writer and critic for the New York Times. He teaches writing as a lecturer at New York University's School of Professional Studies and hosts a weekly radio show on WPFW 89.3 FM on Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. He is currently at work on a biography of Gil Scott-Heron. Reach Giovanni at [email protected]. Read him at giovannirussonello.tumblr.com or nytimes.com/by/giovanni-russonello.

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