What a weekend for jazz in D.C. The great Jon Faddis is at Blues Alley with his band; rising vibes star Warren Wolf plays at Westminster’s Jazz Night in Southwest; the Bullettes, the area’s only all-women jazz big band, makes its debut at NoVa Community College; innovators Sachal Vasandani and Jim Snidero each have two-night runs at U Street clubs; and a wealth of local heavies have gigs around town. Find details on all of these shows in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz,” our list of every D.C. jazz show on our radar. All our other 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!
NOTE: If this full post does not display correctly, please refer to capitalbop.com/calendar. All listings are available there. We apologize for any technical difficulties.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
cb picks:
- Warren Wolf Experience, Westminster Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
- Jon Faddis, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
- Sachal Vasandani, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Jim Snidero, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
Jazz in the Garden, Sheila Ross, 5 p.m. | For this installation of the popular Jazz in the Garden series at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, vocalist Sheila Ross will lead a band in renditions of jazz standards and the like. Free. View event on calendar | Jazz in the Garden 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
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 Jazz Band, 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
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
Bonnie Harris Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Straight-ahead jazz vocalist Bonnie Harris leads a talented quartet featuring Chris Grasso on piano, Zack Pride on bass and Lee Pearson on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Andréa Wood & Michael Kramer, Tasting Room, 8 p.m. | Singer Andréa Wood has started catching people’s ears since returning to D.C., her hometown, in 2009. The Duke Ellington School of the Arts graduate moves fearlessly up and down octaves, all the while maintaining a distinct sense of purpose. She can explore the upper register in a beguiling waft, or plunge into the basement with buoyant, swelling articulation. Wood and guitarist Michael Kramer play Brazilian and classic jazz standards every week as background fare at the Tasting Room, a wine bar in Friendship Heights. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Tasting Room website
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 Bistro website
Jim Snidero, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Sure, he might be far from a household name, but Jim Snidero is a highly respected player among fellow musicians – and a thrilling improviser. The alto saxophonist uses a blistering swing like two sticks rubbing together: He wants to make fire. Snidero spent two decades in Toshiko Akiyoshi’s big band, and has accompanied a wide array of stars – from Frank Sinatra to Eddie Palmieri. Snidero, who’s also a sharp post-bop composer, leads his own combo here. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 9 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every week leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Aaron Myers, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Vocalist Aaron Myers leads this straight-ahead jazz quartet, featuring piano, bass and drums, at the new Black Fox Lounge. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile
DeAndrey Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m. | Trumpeter DeAndre Howard’s weekly engagement at Utopia brings hordes to the restaurant and bar every Friday night. 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, JUNE 25
cb picks:
- Sachal Vasandani, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Jim Snidero, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Elijah Jamal Balbed Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy Quintet, 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 Quartet, 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
Full Ascent, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | This jazz band plays in a number of traditional styles, from hard-bop to Dixieland to calypso. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Triple Double Jazz Band, 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
Lena Seikaly & Potomac Jazz Project, 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 as well as a deference to traditional greats. 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 | Extra Virgin’s website
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. She’s typically joined by a pianist. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Henley Park’s website
Janine Gilbert-Carter Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Janine Gilbert-Carter has a fulsome set of pipes that employs with masterful finesse and delicateness, in a style not entirely unlike Betty Carter’s. She often sings gospel, but she’s just as likely to do straight-ahead jazz – which is what’s on the bill at the Mandarin Oriental. She’s backed by a trio of Vince Smith on piano, Donnie West on bass and Ron Compton on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel 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
WKSP Jazz Quartet, Black Fox Lounge, 9:15 p.m. | The WKSP Quartet is a straight-ahead jazz ensemble consisting of Seth Kibel on saxophone, Kenny Peagler on piano, Percy White on bass and Will Stephens on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile
Kaos Theory, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m. | Kaos Theory is a smooth funk band. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
John Williams II, Utopia, 11 p.m. | John Williams II is a local trumpeter with a biting tone and a fluidly lyrical method of pursuing melodies. He is filling in tonight for Elijah Jamal Balbed, who usually plays Saturdays at Utopia. Williams, a member of the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, will surely be leading a cohort of talented local stars for a lively jam on classic bop tunes, just as Balbed typically does on a weekly basis. 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, JUNE 26
cb picks:
- Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.
- Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 12 p.m.
- Shannon Gunn & the Bullettes, NoVa Community College, 4 p.m.
Alvin Trask, Bayou, 12:30 | Alvin Trask is a deft local trumpeter; here he leads his trio through a background set during Sunday brunch. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bayou profile
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
Carl Grubbs Ensemble, Anacostia Art Gallery, 4 p.m. | Carl Grubbs is a talented saxophonist who plays soprano, alto and tenor; he’s as indebted to free and Latin jazz as he is to the bebop tradition. His mercurial melodic barrages have punch and verve. This show is the second installation of an exciting new series called East River Jazz, in which Baltimore jazz musicians are presented at the Anacostia Art Gallery. $20 cover in advance, $25 at the door, no minimum. [NOTE: This concert was incorrectly listed in last week’s “Weekend in Jazz.”] View event on calendar | Anacostia Art Gallery 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
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
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
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
Robert Kupstas, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | Lithuanian vocalist Robert Kupstas specializes in the classic American pop and jazz songbooks. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins profile
Mike Phillips, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Alto saxophonist Mike Phillips’ credits stretch into R&B and rap, but his own music can generally be defined as smooth jazz. 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
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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