5 D.C. jazz picks for September 2025
This past weekend’s DC Jazz Festival provided a reminder of how gifted the musicians of the city’s jazz scene are, and it was wonderful to hear them mix with visiting maestros from across the globe. I hope that as many of you as possible were able to get down to The Wharf to enjoy the annual festival’s main events.
Though DCJF is over, late summer jazz festival season has just begun, with the Silver Spring Jazz Festival (more in detail below) and Rosslyn Jazz Festival both happening on Saturday, Sep. 6.
For those looking for sit-down (or at least indoor) affairs, the city’s clubs offer strong shows. The month starts strong at Jojo’s, where drummer Kelton Norris will lead a trio at the early set. The same night, powerhouse trumpeter Donvonte McCoy will lead a quintet at Westminster Presbyterian, providing an alternative for those wishing to take in the music at D.C.’s jazz church.
Takoma Station has some excellent offerings as well. In the middle of the month, the tavern will once again load in a grand piano in order to highlight two special musical voices. First, Baltimore’s bop maestro pianist Cyrus Chestnut joins Norris and bassist Obasi Akoto Saturday the 13th. The next night, kaleidoscopic luminary Janelle Gill takes over the Station for her own trio performance. The Dorsey Siblings, Ebban and Ephraim will grace the stage later in the month, making their return to Takoma Station Sep. 20.
Blues Alley is hosting its own sort of festival this month, celebrating Latin jazz with a series of performances from local, national and international performers. The highlight of that series is Chilean-born saxophonist Melissa Aldana, who performs Sep. 19 and 20 with a combo that includes D.C.’s own Kush Abadey.
For all other jazz needs, consult the full D.C. jazz calendar.
SILVER SPRING JAZZ FESTIVAL
Saturday, Sep. 6, 3 p.m.
Silver Spring Veterans Plaza (free tickets)
[view on calendar]
The Silver Spring Jazz Festival offers an annual late-summer showcase of established and emerging musicians from the D.C. and Baltimore jazz scenes performing alongside top jazz talent. Highlights from the locals include the JoGo Project and the Paul Carr Quintet.
This year’s headliner is the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. For over six decades, the band has been touring the world, acting as the unofficial global ambassadors of the traditional New Orleans jazz sound. Founded by Alan Jaffe in the 1960s, the group evolved out of the house band for the storied Preservation Hall as a means to keep the traditions of the music alive. Personnel often rotates, and often features a multi-generational lineup of musicians representing the many venerable musical families of the Big Easy.
DANTE’ POPE
Saturday, Sep. 13, 5 p.m.
Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center (tickets)
[view on calendar]
Dante’ Pope is a steady drummer who has brought a signature soul, jazz and gospel groove to both local and national bandstands. Most recently, he completed a two-year stint as a featured member of the Americana band Old Crow Medicine Show.
As a leader, Pope brings that soul to the forefront, playing music that blurs the lines between coffee shop singer-songwriters and Motown vocal groups like Boyz II Men and The Temptations. Here, the Chicago-born Pope presents a tribute to the Windy City’s own Sam Cooke as part of Strathmore’s “Bloom at Good Hope” concert series.
RENE MARIE AND EXPERIMENT IN TRUTH
Saturday, Sep. 13, 7 and 9:30 p.m. & Sunday, Sep. 14, 5:30 and 8 p.m.
Blues Alley (tickets)
[view on calendar]
Vocalist Rene Marie brings that classic jazz vocalist tone: big, enveloping, warm and able to sound hushed and commanding at the same time. Originally from Warrenton, Va., Marie came to the bandstand late, becoming a professional musician at age 42. Her career launched in 1999 after a debut album and performance at Blues Alley, and she has been a staple of the national touring circuit since.
Here, she returns to Blues Alley to perform with her longtime band Experiment in Truth, who showcase Marie’s original songs exploring life in 21st century America alongside the odd standard or two.
NASAR ABADEY QUINTET + FRIENDS: ‘A LOVE SUPREME’ JOHN COLTRANE CELEBRATION
Friday, Sep. 19, 7 p.m.
ELife Restaurant (tickets available in advance from Blue Nile Botanicals, Sankofa Video Books and Cafe, Senbeb Cafe or Everlasting Life Restaurant)
[view on calendar]
Few musicians in D.C. command as much respect or presence on the bandstand as Nasar Abadey. The master percussionist and drummer leads his own group, Supernova, through quietly bristling spiritual jazz, and can also be found co-leading the Washington Renaissance Orchestra with Allyn Johnson or accompanying fellow elders like Steve Novosel.
Here Abadey performs with a quintet to anchor the D.C. United Black Community’s 21st annual “A Love Supreme” tribute to the ascended John Coltrane. Abadey’s group will be joined throughout the night by vocalist Sendy Brown, poet Kenny Carroll, dancer Nana Malaya, percussionist Jabari Exum, and the Malcolm X Park Drummers and Dancers.
DEVIN GRAY, ANTHONY PIROG, DAVE BALLOU
Saturday, Sep. 27, 7 p.m.
Tonal Park (tickets)
[view on calendar]
Anthony Pirog uses his guitar and effects pedals to make collages that steadily intensify, then zag into darkness or white-hot light. His 2014 debut, Palo Colorado Dream, was a breakout success for the D.C.-area guitar hero, earning acclaim from far and wide. His tenure with the jazz-punk Messthetics has brought even wider acclaim.
In Dave Ballou’s hands, the trumpet is a supremely malleable instrument, capable of bellowing guttural roars or singing out sweet and bright. A longtime fixture of the Baltimore creative scene, he can often be found on this end of the I-95 corridor at Rhizome with fellow sonic adventures like Mike Kuhl or (CapitalBop co-founder) Luke Stewart.
The two mesh with Devin Gray, a Brooklyn-based drummer and improviser who has been behind the kit for a multitude of projects from creative musicians like Ballou, bassist Michael Formanek and trumpeter Ralph Alessi. The group celebrates the release of its new album, Live at FEMA, which was recorded in March of this year at the Frederick Experimental Music Association.
Some text based on previous calendar listings by Giovanni Russonello.
DC, DC jazz, jazz, Washington
