by Luke Stewart

Washington, D.C. has had a long and important history within the jazz timeline, producing many great musicians. The D.C. Love Orchestra is a group that developed out of the fertile creative community in the 1990s, and has since been a strong example of collective expression.

D.C. Love Orchestra – “Satellite Armondo” [audio:http://ehub23.webhostinghub.com/~capita37/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/charles_rahmat_woods_-_satellite_armondo_-_42.mp3|titles=”Satellite Armondo”|artists=Charles Rahmat Woods and the D.C. Love Orchestra]

The D.C. Love Orchestra was born at the Memorial Concert for Don Cherry shortly after his death in the mid 1990s.  Many of the members had been collaborators in a group called Mr. DC, specifically during a memorable project with District Curators. Since then, the orchestra has performed in many incarnations throughout the years, conducting performances with as many as 26 musicians. The group’s first recording came in 1997, soon after its founding, and was released on leader and saxophonist Charles Rahmat Woods’ Rahmat Shabazz label.

Their most recent recording came in 2005, featuring a stripped-down quartet. On pocket trumpet was former Sun Ra collaborator Bobby Thomas, on bass was Baltimore great Vatell Cherry, and on drums the then-18-year-old Terence Arnett.

On Sunday, the D.C. Love Orchestra will perform at CapitalBop’s D.C. Jazz Loft, presenting original compositions. This group is definitely one of the area’s most ambitious and historical projects, and will swing as much as it moves your spirit.

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Charles Rahmat Woods and the D.C. Love Orchestra perform at CapitalBop’s D.C. Jazz Loft on Sunday. You can purchase their album at cdbaby.com.

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