by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

This weekend, the action is at the jazz clubs. On U Street, Bohemian Caverns welcomes the powerful and sensitive young drummer EJ Strickland on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday an excellent avant-garde trio will pay tribute to the late, great Fred Anderson; down the block at Twins Jazz, the Nordic Jazz Festival brings a couple of virtuosos on Friday and Saturday. All weekend at Blues Alley, the Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander — who blends Calypso, jazz and so much else — will be plying his funky trade.

Also, on Friday night, Ulah Bistro is continuing its experiment with jazz presenting, hosting another late-night jam session and hang. Go and support this show, which features the MP3 Trio as its house band, and there’s a good chance Ulah will decide to make jazz programming a regular thing. There’s info on all those shows and many more in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz.” As always, you can find our full listings at CapitalBop’s D.C. jazz calendar. Our favorites have a label. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

cb picks:

• Tómas R. Einarsson, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
• EJ Strickland, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Alex Jenkins with Gail Shipp, 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, the pianist Alex Jenkins leads a straight-ahead combo in support of the vocalist Gail Shipp. $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

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

Potomac Jazz Project, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | The Potomac Jazz Project is a jazz combo led by bassist Stan Hamrick that takes on modern and classic jazz tunes with a showmanly flair, as well as skill. The cast of supporting musicians tends to rotate. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Tómas R. Einarsson, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | When you think of Scandinavian jazz, a limited number of presumptions comes to mind: the music is probably slow, viscous, looking at beauty through opaque glass. The Icelandic bassist, composer, screenwriter, director, and bandleader doesn’t fit the bill. He appreciates slow rock grooves that winnow far into the pocket, Latin jazz syncopation, and the uncharted depths that he can reach when he blends them with Icelandic music and musicians. A record with vocalists, 2008’s Truno, achieves the synthesis exceptionally well. Here he appears with a trio as part of the Nordic Jazz Festival, which stakes out its headquarters every year at Twins Jazz. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | The veteran pianist Monty Alexander uses jazz as a canvas; the music of the Caribbean, American cities, and various other cultures around the globe are his colors. In his collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, Alexander’s Jamaican roots have always shone through. As a leader, he blends swing, calypso, funk groove, dub and other rhythms, and knows how to get the crowd to invest in his entertainer’s sense. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum, $2.50 surcharge. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

OOO (Tri-O Trio), Urban Eats, 8 p.m. | The sound of this free-jazz trio is crackling, whinnying, evasive and confrontational. From the classic saxophone-trio format, these three local musicians draw a sound that blasts you into your own brain. The group consists of the alto saxophonist Aaron Martin, the bassist Luke Stewart (who’s also a CapitalBop editor) and the drummer Sam Lohman. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Urban Eats Facebook

Steve Washington Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Steve Washington sings standards with the controlled grace of so many 1950s soul and jazz singers. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

EJ Strickland, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | EJ Strickland has forged himself an impressive résumé in the only way that most jazz drummers know how: by playing in bands led by some of today’s greatest musicians – among them the saxophonists Ravi Coltrane and Marcus Strickland, EJ’s brother. But now he’s putting his energies toward his own group, also comprised of top 20- and 30-something players. Strickland’s drum attack lies in patter and groove, equally informed by funk, hip-hop and post-bop. Here he plays with a quintet featuring Tivon Pennicott on tenor saxophone, Luis Perdomo on piano, Jaleel Shaw on alto saxophone and Linda Oh on bass. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $18 cover in advance, $23 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Antonio Parker Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | The alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is swinging and soulful, colored by 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 of Kenny Garrett. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

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

Alfredo Mojica, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Alfredo Mojica, who sang at Bossa for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa 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

MP3 Trio, Ulah Bistro, 11 p.m. | Since Utopia closed for renovations last year, the U Street jazz scene has been missing a reliable gathering place with free entry and serviceable jazz. Last month, Ulah Bistro started dipping a toe in, to consider filling the role. This week, its trial run continues with bassist Mike Pryor’s band, MP3, a funky, electric jazz trio that triangulates George Benson, Marcus Miller and the Meters. If the gigs go well, the management may decide to host live jazz every weekend from here forward. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Ulah Bistro website

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

cb picks:

• Jazz Brunch: Donvonte McCoy, HR-57, 11:30 a.m.
• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
• EJ Strickland, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Steve Synk Trio, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Jazz Brunch: Donvonte McCoy, HR-57, 11:30 a.m. | HR-57 – a reliable destination for strong, swinging jazz – recently added weekend brunch shows to its itinerary. The musician leading the way, Donvonte McCoy, is one of the best in the city. He plays the trumpet with focus and power and a contemporary rhythmic swagger, never overstating his case but easily drawing a soulful essence from the horn. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

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

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

Triple Double Jazz Band, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m. | Consisting of Joey Whitney on tenor sax, Ed Gallagher on guitar, Alan Pachter on bass and Tom Reed on drums, the Triple Double Jazz Band plays straightforward, straight-ahead versions of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Line Kruse, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The Danish violinist Line Kruse throws around a lot of tools – electronic percussion, Scandinavian folk, rock’s power, lounge music’s’ svelteness. She can’t be hemmed in, and her chops are unassailable. She plays at Twins Jazz as part of the Nordic Jazz Festival. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | The veteran pianist Monty Alexander uses jazz as a canvas; the music of the Caribbean, American cities, and various other cultures around the globe are his colors. In his collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, Alexander’s Jamaican roots have always shone through. As a leader, he blends swing, calypso, funk groove, dub and other rhythms, and knows how to get the crowd to invest in his entertainer’s sense. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum, $2.50 surcharge. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Steven Walker Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | The guitarist and singer Steven Walker boasts a broad repertoire that encompasses jazz standards and classic pop tunes. He appears here with a jazz combo. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

EJ Strickland, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | EJ Strickland has forged himself an impressive résumé in the only way that most jazz drummers know how: by playing in bands led by some of today’s greatest musicians – among them the saxophonists Ravi Coltrane and Marcus Strickland, EJ’s brother. But now he’s putting his energies toward his own group, also comprised of top 20- and 30-something players. Strickland’s drum attack lies in patter and groove, equally informed by funk, hip-hop and post-bop. Here he plays with a quintet featuring Tivon Pennicott on tenor saxophone, Luis Perdomo on piano, Jaleel Shaw on alto saxophone and Linda Oh on bass. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $18 cover in advance, $23 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Cubista, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Cubista is a salsa band that plays at Bossa every Saturday. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Lecount with the James Benson Trio, Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m. | The guitarist James Benson manages a handsome blend of jazz, blues, West African music and classic electric-guitar rock. Here his trio supports the local vocalist Lecount Holmes. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile

Zet Harris Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | No description available. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

Steve Synk Trio, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m. | Lyrical bassist Steve Synk, a music major at the University of Maryland, leads a young trio that explores music ranging from standards to originals, groove-based contemporary jazz to swinging bop. No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station 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, JUNE 23

cb picks:

• Jazz Brunch: Donvonte McCoy, HR-57, 11:30 a.m.
• Jean-Paul Bourelly and Ernest Khabeer Dawkins, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m.
• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.

 
Gospel Brunch, The Hamilton, 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Every Sunday morning, the Hamilton presents two sets of rafters-raising gospel, along with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Two separate shows at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. $25 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | The Hamilton website

TBA, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Performer TBA. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website

Jazz Brunch: Donvonte McCoy, HR-57, 11:30 a.m. | HR-57 – a reliable destination for strong, swinging jazz – recently added weekend brunch shows to its itinerary. The musician leading the way, Donvonte McCoy, is one of the best in the city. He plays the trumpet with focus and power and a contemporary rhythmic swagger, never overstating his case but easily drawing a soulful essence from the horn. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

Harlem Gospel Choir, Howard Theatre, 12 p.m. | The talented Harlem Gospel Choir, which has been active since 1986, performs a Sunday brunch show every week at the Howard Theatre. Either an all-you-can-eat buffet or an a la carte menu are available. Doors open at noon, and the music starts at 1:30 p.m. Tickets vary ($35 for all-you-can-eat or $20 for admission and a la carte options in advance, $45 or $30 at the door). View event on calendar | Howard website

Todd Simon, Kellari Taverna, 12 p.m. | The sturdy and swinging pianist Todd Simon performs every Sunday in a duo setting; his accompanists vary from bass to guitar to saxophone, depending on the week. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Kellari Taverna 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

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

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

Jean-Paul Bourelly and Ernest Khabeer Dawkins, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m. | In this tribute to the late saxophonist and Chicago jazz patriarch Fred Anderson, the guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly and the saxophonist Ernest Khabeer Dawkins will play in a trio with D.C.-based drummer Nasar Abadey. Bourelly tends toward jazz-funk with a Hendrix flavor, while Dawkins operates within a domain that will be more familiar to fans of Anderson’s work – ranging from straight-ahead jazz with a swinging heartbeat to acoustic free jazz. The show is presented as part of Transparent Productions’ “Sundays at 7 at the Caverns” series. Two separate sets at 7 & 9 p.m. $15 cover online, $20 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bethesda Blues & Jazz website

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | The veteran pianist Monty Alexander uses jazz as a canvas; the music of the Caribbean, American cities, and various other cultures around the globe are his colors. In his collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, Alexander’s Jamaican roots have always shone through. As a leader, he blends swing, calypso, funk groove, dub and other rhythms, and knows how to get the crowd to invest in his entertainer’s sense. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum, $2.50 surcharge. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Max Light Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The young guitarist Max Light, a native of the D.C. suburbs who now studies at New England Conservatory, leasd a straight-ahead jazz combo comprised of Wills McKenna on tenor saxophone, Dan Pappalardo on bass and Aaron Seeber on drums. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Mayu Saeki, Black Fox Lounge, 7 p.m. | The flutist Mayu Saeki has collaborated with a range of renowned jazz stars, from Chico Hamilton to Aaron Goldberg. She pours Romantic music, jazz-rock fusion and blues into her own singular style. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox 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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