by Giovanni Russonello and Luke Stewart
Today, we’re announcing the D.C. Jazz Loft Series – a collection of four DIY jazz shows organized by CapitalBop at the upcoming D.C. Jazz Festival. We couldn’t be more excited.
We’ll be bringing three of the most innovative and acclaimed groups on the New York City scene to mix and mingle creatively with D.C.’s brightest musical minds – expanding on our focus on promoting and strengthening the reach of D.C. jazz.
The shows will take place on the first two Fridays and Saturdays in June. The headliners include the J.D. Allen Trio, led by the powerful tenor saxophonist who has become an in-demand heavyweight of the New York scene as well as a favorite here for his gripping shows at Bohemian Caverns; Tomas Fujiwara & the Hook Up, a drummer-led band of post-bop professionals that includes the D.C.’s finest tenor saxophonist, Brian Settles; and the Darius Jones Trio, a scion of the avant-garde jazz scene who has been hailed by the New York Times for his “robustly accomplished debut [album] that confirms not only the blunt fact of his arrival but also the ceaseless vitality of his chosen tradition.” Rising local duo the Jolley Brothers will also headline a night of music.
Take all those groups and pair them up with bands led by top local talent like Settles, saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed, pianist Amy K. Bormet and free-jazz collective OOO, and now you’re in business. Things are getting lofty.
Fans of our initial D.C. Jazz Loft shows will recognize those local names. We’re also thrilled to be bringing things back to Red Door, the dressed-down Chinatown studio space where we’ve held our lofts thus far. But we’ll be expanding, too, into other DIY venues with proven records of hosting righteous, forward-thinking jazz: the Fridge – a self-described “art gallery, performance space, music venue and classroom” in Eastern Market – and Subterranean A, a makeshift concert hall where Darcy James Argue blew everyone’s mind in January.
In order to adequately compensate musicians, especially those who are traveling, these loft shows will be ticketed events – but we’ve kept the prices as low as possible. CapitalBop and the D.C. Jazz Festival are not taking in any profits whatsoever from these concerts; in true jazz loft fashion, all proceeds go to the musicians. Yet we still need to ask your help: In order to pay the musicians adequately without taking a loss, we are raising money at Kickstarter.com. Please support our pledge drive – even just a $5 donation helps us, and gets you a small reward!
– Update (3.30.11 12:15 p.m.) The Kickstarter page has launched!
Support the series and earn special rewards! –
A full listing of the D.C. Jazz Loft Series performances is available at our newly unveiled, permanent webpage, capitalbop.com/dcjazzloft. And please check back in the near future for more information on this hard-charging series of DIY jazz shows.
Fantastic!
I just bought my pass.
Look forward to these Jazz loft events as the first few were some of the best jazz sessions I’ve been too.
This is great! I’m in.
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