Earlier this week we marked the 115th birthday of Duke Ellington, who grew up bouncing from club to club on U Street and immersing himself in the sounds of D.C. In the time since his birth, America has created countless forms of music — jazz, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, hip-hop — and the strip known as Black Broadway has been crucial to many of them. This weekend, we’re celebrating U Street’s past and present with a free, first-of-its-kind festival: the Funk Parade. You don’t want to miss this. It’s gonna be big.

All up and down U Street, outdoor stages will present music throughout the afternoon, and CapitalBop is hosting one of those stages, outside the historic M.A. Winter Building at 1436 U St. NW. The Washington Post has already pointed to our programming as a “highlight” of the day. Food and drink will be available by the stage, where two of the greatest — and funkiest — musicians in D.C. jazz will set up shop with their bands: The great Quincy Phillips will lead a trio (Phillips is the drummer for Roy Hargrove’s quintet when he’s on the road, and for the Young Lions here at home).

Before Phillips’ set, the trumpeter Donvonte McCoy will bring his own ensemble. McCoy is the leading light of late-night jazz in D.C., with regular weekend gigs at Eighteenth Street Lounge that have been blending jazz, go-go, funk and so much else since 2006.

CapitalBop’s daytime programming runs from noon till 5 p.m., but the Funk Parade doesn’t end there. From 5 to 7, a true parade of live musicians will make its way down V Street. Then, from 7 until late, a dozen clubs will open their doors for free concerts: The venues range from Twins Jazz to Patty Boom Boom to U Street Music Hall.

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