Duke Fest artistic adviser Paquito D'Rivera

It's an exciting time for jazz lovers as this week marks the 4th installment of the annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, which begins tonight and runs through October 7 (here's a look back at last year's event). Though still a far cry from the well-established festivals in New Orleans or the European circuit, Duke Fest has already become the serious jazz festival for the region and has the potential to become a world class event. For the next week, many of the city's music venues will be participating and offering dozens of outstanding performances, many of which are FREE.

A complete schedule is available here. In addition to all of the great performances, the festival offers a host of concerts and masterclasses aimed at students and aspiring artists. This festival is also unusual in that, unlike other major festivals, Duke Fest is not concentrated into a handful of centralized venues. The planners have taken an approach that spreads events across the city, mainly through the Jazz in the 'Hoods program.

With all the outstanding events to choose from, we thought it might be helpful to offer a list of shows that piqued our interest. Here are our picks for Duke Fest 2008.

Wednesday:

Top pick:
The festival opens tonight with a gala at the Inter-American Development Bank featuring Latin jazz legend and festival artistic adviser Paquito D'Rivera. He will perform with the Turtle Island String Quartet, who recently entered the jazz world with their stunning arrangement of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. Invitation only

Runner up:
If you weren't lucky enough to get an invite to the gala, we suggest you head over to the Millennium Stage to catch jaw dropping pianist Benito Gonzalez. 6 p.m. Free.

Step Afrika!

Thursday:

Top pick: Step Afrika! and the W.E.S. Group, led by former American University music professor Will E. Smith, team up to perform Trane, an attempt to merge the percussive sounds & movement of stepping with on-stage jazz musicians. The 7:30 p.m. performance will take place at the Atlas Theater. Tickets are $25.

Runners up:
Soulful and sultry Israeli vocalist Yardena bridges her Jewish roots with Mediterranean/Middle Eastern influences at the D.C. Jewish Community Center. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20/$25.

American bassist Paul Steinbeck and French saxophonist Pierrick Menuau team up to lead an exciting quintet at Bohemian Caverns that has a repertoire ranging from free jazz to hip-hop. Tickets to the 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $15.

Friday:

Top pick:
Fertile Ground, one of the area's most exciting live bands, will headline a show this Friday at the 9:30 Club. Opening will be Chopteeth, D.C.'s only Afrobeat big band, and Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music Latin Jazz All-Stars, La Timbistica. 7 p.m. $25

Runners-up:
A journeyman saxophonist who is a legend in jazz circles, but whose popularity is limited among those not in-the-know, Sonny Fortune will be leading a group at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. Tickets to the 9 and 11 p.m. sets are $20.

Recently profiled drumming star Winard Harper will be leading his group this Friday at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets to the 9 and 11 p.m. sets are $18.

Talented woodwind player Anat Cohen, fluent in traditional jazz, latin jazz, and the music of her native Israel, will be performing on Friday at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. 7:30 p.m. $25

Saturday:

Top picks:
Thankfully, festival organizers have always had a goal of exposing young children to this great art form. The Sylvan Theater on the Monument grounds will host Jazz 'n' Families Fun Day from 12-6 p.m. The afternoon will be filled with activities for the whole family, including concerts and demonstrations. Free.

New York's Dana Leong is one of the most exciting musicians we've come across in the past year. The cellist/trombonist blends hip-hop, world rhythms, and jazz to deliver an energetic and uplifting experience. Leong and his band will be playing at Busboys & Poets on 14th Street with 9 and 11 p.m. sets. $15 admission at the door.

Runners-up:
The Lincoln Theatre will host the annual NEA Jazz Masters concert at 8 p.m. The lineup includes the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Paquito D'Rivera, bassist Christian McBride and more. The concert will also act as a ceremonial event where concert promoter George Wein, founder of the long-running Newport Jazz Festival, and local legend Buck Hill will be awarded lifetime achievement awards. Tickets are $25 + Ticketmaster fees.

Steve Herberman is one of the most sought after local jazz guitarists and is worthy of wider recognition. He will be giving a free solo performance at The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm on U Street. 7:30 p.m.

Sunday:

There's only one place to be on Sunday, and that is at the Sylvan Theater for the annual Jazz on the National Mall concert, the centerpiece of every Duke Fest. This year's stellar lineup includes Howard University's Afro Blue, bluesman Taj Mahal, bassist Christian Mcbride and his Quartet, Conrad Herwig's Latin Side Project, the McCoy Tyner Quartet, and dynamo vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. 12 to 7 p.m. Free.

Monday:

Top pick:
21-year old pianist Alex Brown is a rising star who blew us away at last year's opening gala. He'll be playing 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. Tickets are $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

Runner-up:

DCist fave Thad Wilson leads his Ugetzu big band at Bohemian Caverns. 8:30 p.m. $5

Tuesday:
Last year's closing performance, which honored Voice of America jazz DJ Willis Conover, was a moving experience that brought together musicians who came up in Communist bloc nations. This year, artistic adviser Paquito D'Rivera will celebrate the music of the Americas. Joining him for this free concert are a set of culturally diverse and eclectic musicians, including his regular rhythm section of pianist Alex Brown, bassist Oscar Stagnaro (Peru), and drummer Mark Walker. Guests will include harp-sensation Edmar Castaneda (Colombia), percussionist Pernell Saturnino (Curacao), cellist/trombonist Dana Leong, and his long-time trumpeter, Diego Urcola (Argentina). The performance will take place at the Voice of America's Cohen Auditorium. To reserve a seat, email rsvp(at)dejazzfest[dot]org, subject: Viva Las Americas RSVP. 7 p.m.