Veronneau performs on Sunday to celebrate the release of its new CD, which commemorates the famed album Jazz Samba. Courtesy veronneaumusic.com
Weekend in Jazz | 5.18-5.20: Jazz Samba 50 years later, Kris Funn’s beat-breakin’ band, and more
by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board
From funk-driven contemporary jazz (Kris Funn and Donvonte McCoy) to West African rhythms (Eme & Heteru) to swinging hard-bop (Thad Wilson), there are plenty of options this weekend. Virginia-based band Veronneau has a new CD coming out soon that marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s landmark Jazz Samba, which was recorded in 1962 at All Souls Unitarian Church in D.C. On Sunday, Veronneau performs a special concert at the church. It will be followed by a panel discussion about Jazz Samba. Find details on those performances and many more in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz,” a listing of every D.C. jazz show on our radar. Our favorites have a 
label, and as always, you can read CapitalBop’s full listings directly at our D.C. jazz calendar, if you’d rather. Happy hunting!
FRIDAY, MAY 18
cb picks:
- Roy Haynes, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
- Kris Funn & Corner Store, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Benito Gonzalez Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
Keith Ailer, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | What began as an experiment over a decade ago continues today as one of Washington’s greatest weekly traditions: Westminster Presbyterian Church’s “Jazz Night.” Every Friday night, the house of God becomes a hub for fish frying, communing and jamming on straight-ahead jazz. This week, vocalist Keith Ailer leads a band of some outstanding local musicians: Donvonte McCoy on trumpet, Harry Appelman on piano, Michael Bowie on bass and Lee Pearson on drums. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website
Karen Gray Trio, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m.| Commanding vocalist Karen Gray sings laid-back renditions of jazz standards in a drumless trio. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Potomac Jazz Project, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | The Yamomanem Jazz Band plays a faithful take on New Orleans jazz, conjuring the days of King Oliver and early Louis Armstrong with its lush brass section. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
L’Tanya Mari Trio, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | Singer L’Tanya Mari is influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, singing jazz with depth and soulful warmth. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Lena Seikaly Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Lena Seikaly sings jazz standards with a confident and playful demeanor, displaying a haziness reminiscent of Esperanza Spalding, but also nodding to traditional greats. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Roy Haynes, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | In terms of experience and breadth of musicianship, Roy Haynes is quite possibly the foremost jazz drummer alive today. He performed with virtually every luminary of the bebop era, from Charlie Parker to Bud Powell. His distinctive, constantly pushing ride cymbal attack became an emblem of the music. Here the 87-year-old master performs with his talented Fountain of Youth Band: Jaleel Shaw on saxophone, Martin Bejerano on piano and David Wong on bass. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum. [words by Luke Stewart] View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Jeron White, Black Fox Lounge, 8 p.m. | Bassist Jeron White leads a straight-ahead jazz combo. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox Lounge profile
Kris Funn & Corner Store, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Bassist Kris Funn, a member of famous trumpeter Christian Scott’s quintet, performs here with his own group, Corner Store. Its kinetic music centers on Funn’s blues-battered bass lines, rocking originals, and dramatically danceable revisions of John Coltrane and Sam Cooke tunes. The band’s lineup is hardly constant, but on this gig it includes John Lee on guitar and John Lamkin on drums, plus special guest saxophonist Tim Green. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30. $18 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile
Antonio Parker Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is swingin’ and soulful, with a bright, aggressive tone. He casually sprinkles neo-soul and R&B influences into his otherwise straight-ahead bop, and his improvisation shows a redolence to Kenny Garrett’s. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 9 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every Friday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Sin Miedo, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Sin Miedo is an energetic, nine-piece Salsa band that plays highly danceable Afro-Cuban jazz, Mambo and Samba. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile
Benito Gonzalez Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Pianist Benito Gonzalez, now a major force on the New York City scene, has moved around a lot in his life. But he will always retain a special place in the heart of D.C. jazz lovers: Before moving to New York, the Venezuelan-born Gonzalez spent years as the top pianist on the scene here. His language is grounded in bebop, with quick and fiery runs up top and a pounding, trenchant left hand (stacked fourths à la McCoy Tyner are a distinctive foundation). But Gonzalez pours in plenty of Latin jazz, with montunos and straight-feel soloing layered over his swing. One of the best things about seeing Gonzalez play is the visceral joy he gets from it. At Twins he’ll be performing with an unbeatable quartet featuring the powerful and Coltrane-esque Azar Lawrence on saxophone. Two separate shows at 9 & 11 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Aaron Myers, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Vocalist Aaron Myers leads a straight-ahead jazz quartet, featuring piano, bass and drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox Lounge profile
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m. | Arguably the city’s best jazz trumpeter, Donvonte McCoy plays every Friday and Saturday at the hip 18th St. Lounge. He likes to mix in some funk as well during the lounge gig, and he’s liable to inflect a touch of Chuck Brown-esque groove into his combo’s treatment of classic bop tunes by the likes of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. After all, the setting is that of a dance club, not a jazz joint – no tables and chairs or hushed applause after every solo. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. View event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile
SATURDAY, MAY 19
cb picks:
- Roy Haynes, Blues Alley, 8 p.m.
- Heidi Martin, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Benito Gonzalez Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Thad Wilson Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
Julie Mack & David Jernigan, Artomatic, 12 p.m. | Vocalist Julie Mack will explore jazz, Brazilian and pop tunes in this pared-down duet with bassist David Jernigan. Free. View event on calendar | Artomatic website
Jam Session with Peter Edelman, Columbia Station, 4 p.m. | Pianist Peter Edelman, a constant presence on the D.C. jazz scene for years now, leads an afternoon jam session every Saturday and Sunday. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Charles Woods, Johnny’s Half Shell, 6 p.m. | Saxophonist Charles Woods plays and has recorded in both free and straight-ahead jazz styles, but for his regular gig at Johnny’s Half Shell he keeps things within the traditional bop realm. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Johnny’s Half Shell website
Fundraiser: Petworth Jazz Project, Chez Billy, 6 p.m. | The Petworth Jazz Project, an upstart outdoor concert series now entering its second year, is holding a fundraiser featuring music by DJ Unknown and saxophonist Herb Scott and a silent auction of works by local visual artists. The event will be held at popular new Petworth restaurant Chez Billy. $10 suggested donation, no minimum. View event on calendar | Chez Billy Yelp
Mark Mosley Trio, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | Baltimore guitarist Mark Mosley plays a slick hand as a smooth jazz guitarist, but he can also hunker down on serious bop. He performs laid-back straight-ahead here with his trio. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Full Ascent, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | This jazz band plays in a number of traditional styles, from hard-bop to Dixieland to calypso. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Nancy Scimone, Henley Park Hotel, 7:30 p.m. | Nancy Scimone reaches into the jazz and popular American songbooks during this weekly gig at the Henley Park Hotel in downtown D.C., where she’s accompanied by a pianist. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Henley Park’s website
Lena Seikaly Trio, Extra Virgin Restaurant, 7:30 p.m. | Vocalist Lena Seikaly sings jazz standards with a confident and playful demeanor, displaying a haziness reminiscent of Esperanza Spalding and a fulsome power that approaches Sarah Vaughan’s. Here she leads her own drumless trio, joined by guitar and bass. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Extra Virgin’s website
Roy Haynes, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | In terms of experience and breadth of musicianship, Roy Haynes is quite possibly the foremost jazz drummer alive today. He performed with virtually every luminary of the bebop era, from Charlie Parker to Bud Powell. His distinctive, constantly pushing ride cymbal attack became an emblem of the music. Here the 87-year-old master performs with his talented Fountain of Youth Band: Jaleel Shaw on saxophone, Martin Bejerano on piano and David Wong on bass. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum. [words by Luke Stewart] View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Big Joe Maher Trio w/Marshall Keys, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Drummer Big Joe Maher plays boogie-woogie and blues, and sings in a playful drawl. His trio is joined here by smooth-toned, skillful D.C. saxophonist Marshall Keys. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Lydia Lewis Trio, Tasting Room, 8 p.m. | Tasteful drummer and composer Lydia Lewis leads her trio in background fare at the Tasting Room, a wine bar in Friendship Heights. She’s consistently joined by expert side musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Tasting Room website
Heidi Martin, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | The gifted D.C.-via-New York vocalist Heidi Martin emits messages complex but clear, with an essence of mourning and resilience that hints at Billie Holiday and a surprising, delicate control that’s not unlike Joni Mitchell’s. She’s one of D.C.’s treasures. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $20 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile
Benito Gonzalez Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Pianist Benito Gonzalez, now a major force on the New York City scene, has moved around a lot in his life. But he will always retain a special place in the heart of D.C. jazz lovers: Before moving to New York, the Venezuelan-born Gonzalez spent years as the top pianist on the scene here. His language is grounded in bebop, with quick and fiery runs up top and a pounding, trenchant left hand (stacked fourths à la McCoy Tyner are a distinctive foundation). But Gonzalez pours in plenty of Latin jazz, with montunos and straight-feel soloing layered over his swing. One of the best things about seeing Gonzalez play is the visceral joy he gets from it. At Twins he’ll be performing with an unbeatable quartet featuring the powerful and Coltrane-esque Azar Lawrence on saxophone. Two separate shows at 9 & 11 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Palanke Music Company, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Led by vocalist and guitarist Jaime Andrés Salazar, a.k.a. Gato, Palanke Music Company is tropicalia meets electro meets Samba meets Afro-Cuban jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile
Thad Wilson Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Trumpeter Thad Wilson plays with articulation and clarity, and a deference to melody that makes it easy to fall in love with his playing. A prominent member of the D.C. jazz community, Wilson once led a resident big band at Bohemian Caverns and now teaches at George Washington University. He returns to HR-57, a frequent stomping ground, for a night at the helm of his quartet. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Some Like It Hot, Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m. | Some Like It Hot is a small jazz and that performs traditional music from the swing era. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox Lounge profile
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m. | Arguably the city’s best jazz trumpeter, Donvonte McCoy plays every Friday and Saturday at the hip 18th St. Lounge. He likes to mix in some funk as well during the lounge gig, and he’s liable to inflect a touch of Chuck Brown-esque groove into his combo’s treatment of classic bop tunes by the likes of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. After all, the setting is that of a dance club, not a jazz joint – no tables and chairs or hushed applause after every solo. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. View event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile
SUNDAY, MAY 20
cb picks:
- Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.
- Veronneau (Jazz Samba Golden Anniversary), All Souls Church, 3 p.m.
- Darius Jones Quartet, Bohemian Caverns, 7 p.m.
- Eme & Heteru, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Marshall Keys’ saxophone can sing the blues or swing to the rhythms of bebop with a laid-back sense of cool; the native Washingtonian is a fluid, graceful player. He plays every Sunday brunch at Acadiana, usually with a group consisting of the city’s top jazz scene veterans: Federico Peña on piano, Tarus Mateen on bass and either Lenny Robinson or Mark Prince on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website
Veronneau (Jazz Samba Golden Anniversary Celebration), All Souls Unitarian Church, 3 p.m. | In 1962, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd came together with a band of D.C.-based musicians to record Jazz Samba, the record credited with introducing U.S. audiences to bossa nova. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts (the only jazz record to ever achieve such a feat), and is hailed as a landmark. Fifty years after the album’s recording, the amiable, Virginia-based quartet Veronneau has produced an album paying tribute to Jazz Samba. With a two-acoustic-gu
Jam Session with Peter Edelman, Columbia Station, 4 p.m. | Pianist Peter Edelman, a constant presence on the D.C. jazz scene for years now, leads an afternoon jam session every Saturday and Sunday. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile
Potomac Jazz Project, Laporta’s, 6:30 p.m. | The Potomac Jazz Project is a quartet that takes on modern and classic jazz tunes (and even some pop covers) with a showmanly flair, as well as skill. It’s led by bassist Stan Hamrick, and its rotating lineup often features some of D.C.’s best musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Laporta’s website
D.C. Jazz Jam, Dahlak, 6:30 p.m.| This jazz jam presents a friendly, relaxed environment where professionals and amateurs can play together. This week, fleet trumpeter Donvonte McCoy is the guest “master,” making this session an even better training ground for up-and-coming musicians. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | View Dahlak profile
Darius Jones Quartet, Bohemian Caverns, 7 p.m. | Darius Jones returns to the D.C. area comes equipped with new original music, a new group and a new album. “Book of Mæ’bul (Another Kind of Sunrise)” is the latest installment in Jones’ “Man’ish Boy” series, and it is his first record to feature a quartet, rather than a trio. Jones has employed pianist Matt Mitchell, completing the traditional jazz quartet instrumentation
DC Choro, Grill from Ipanema, 7:30 p.m.| DC Choro is a sextet that plays Brazilian music drawing on European folk traditions. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Grill from Ipanema profile
Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Jazz Direct, Zoo Bar Café, 7:30 p.m.| This combo specializes in traditional New Orleans-style jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Zoo Bar website
Eme & Heteru, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | In the supercharged grooves of Eme and Heteru’s large ensemble, the rhythms of West Africa give a hip-swiveling seminar in the roots of jazz, soul and hip-hop, and the real-time magnetism of Afrobeat. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 8:30 p.m.| The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every Sunday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” no cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile 
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