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Interviews

With her new book, millennial D.C. historian Briana Thomas aims to tell the ‘full story’ of U Street

For much of the 20th century, U Street was known as “Black Broadway,” a mecca of Black cultural life in the United States — perhaps second only to Harlem. The corridor was home to 300 Black-owned businesses, including numerous jazz clubs, dance halls, nightclubs and theaters; 100 churches; and the crown jewel, Howard University, a […]

May 7, 2021 0

Interviews

‘ESL: The Photo Book’ captures a unique place and time in D.C. nightlife

Editor’s note: In recognition of Jazz Appreciation Month, CapitalBop is publishing a series of articles throughout April on books that depict the history and culture of D.C. jazz. You can read the first piece in that series here, and the second here. For 25 years, Eighteenth Street Lounge stood as a major hub of nightlife in D.C. […]

April 30, 2021 0

Features

‘DC Jazz’ tells a history of the people and places that made D.C. an important home for jazz

Editor’s note: In recognition of Jazz Appreciation Month, CapitalBop is publishing a series of articles throughout April on books that depict the history and culture of D.C. jazz. This is the second piece in that series; you can read the first here, and the third here. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of books dedicated to […]

April 23, 2021 0

Interviews

Photo collection aims to make a century of D.C. jazz history ‘personal’

Editor’s note: In recognition of Jazz Appreciation Month, CapitalBop is publishing a series of articles throughout April on books that depict the history and culture of D.C. jazz. This is the first piece in that series; you can read the second here and the third here. There are 195 photos in the book Washington, DC, […]

April 8, 2021 0

News

Can the D.C. Council regulate street noise without harming performers?

After members of the D.C. Council re-introduced a controversial piece of legislation last month that would outlaw street performances above a certain volume, other members of the council have stepped in with a different proposal that would take much of the onus off performers, and place it on developers. Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Janeese […]

April 7, 2021 0

Features

Remembering Aaron Martin Jr., a saxophonist with an unending commitment to the music

Editor’s note: Aaron Martin, a saxophonist who had been an important part of the D.C. jazz scene for decades and served as a mentor to all of us at CapitalBop, died on March 18. A memorial concert will be held in celebration of his life this Saturday, March 27, at 7 p.m. Details on that […]

March 25, 2021 0

News

DC Jazz Festival plans a return to in-person shows in September

The DC Jazz Festival is aiming for a return to in-person programming this fall, including some events at the Wharf in Southwest, organizers announced this week. The festival’s leadership said it was planning to host the festival Sep. 1-5, with both virtual and, hopefully, in-person activities slated to take place. Organizers promised more than 20 […]

March 19, 2021 1

News

D.C. Council re-introduces amplified noise bill, again

Members of the D.C. Council reintroduced a controversial bill on Tuesday that would outlaw street performances above a certain volume level, drawing an outcry from many musicians and community advocates. This is the third time since 2018 that the council has considered such legislation, following attempts that year and in 2019. The Amplified Noise Amendment […]

March 5, 2021 1

Features

Rachel Winder finds ‘Freedom’ in the midst of struggle

On a chilly, clear-skied February morning in Baltimore City, the young composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Rachel Winder was holed up in the Moose House Recording Studio, delegating out musical tasks as she glided from the vocal booth to the engineering room. Standing over her recording engineer’s shoulder, she offered thoughts and suggestions for slight enhancements […]

March 5, 2021 0

News

Washington Women in Jazz Festival, One of the Pandemic’s First Casualties, Makes Its Return

For many D.C.-area musicians, the cancellation of last year’s Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF) came as a surprise. It was soon followed by many months of less-and-less-surprising cancellations, as the coronavirus pandemic surged across the country. “I was avant-garde, I was the cutting edge of cancelling,” pianist Amy K. Bormet, the festival’s founder and director, […]

March 1, 2021 0