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This Week in Jazz

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Amir ElSaffar
>> Busy local trumpeter Joe Herrera is performing tonight at Utopia and will be leading a tribute to the great Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The band will feature Three Stars alum Matt Rippetoe on tenor, Jen Krupa on trombone, Three Stars alum Will Rast on piano, Dave McDonald on drums, and Andrew Cox on bass. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover


>> Saxophonist Ben Boker leads a quintet of young musicians this Thursday at Twins Jazz. The band specializes in the classic hard bop sound of the 50s and 60s, but adds a contemporary twist through original compositions and arrangements. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.

>> Folks across the river should consider heading over to Fyve Restaurant & Lounge, located at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. Talented pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman leads a group every Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. His band features ace saxophonist Lyle Link.

>> Local regular Luis Faife leads a quartet this Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. If you've missed out on the smokin' Latin jazz rhythm section of Alejandro and Leonardo Lucini, here's your chance to make amends. Tickets to the 9 and 11 p.m. sets are $15.

>> World class saxophonist and Crescent City native Donald Harrison will be at Bohemian Caverns this Friday and Saturday for 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. His backing band will be a quartet led by monster drummer John Lamkin. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door.

>> We first encountered Amir El Saffar performing with Safaafir, a group specializing in maqam, a form of Iraqi classical music. In addition to playing santoor, a traditional hammer dulcimer, El Saffar is also a fine jazz trumpeter. He will be performing a must see show Saturday at the Sackler Gallery's Meyer Auditorium. The project, Two Rivers, infuses ElSaffar's musical heritage into a modern jazz sensibility. The all-star band includes Rudresh Mahanthappa, saxophone; Nasheet Waits, drums; Carlo DeRosa, bass; and Zaafir Tawil, oud, violin, and dumbek. The 7:30 p.m. show is free, but tickets are required. Visit the Meyer Auditorium web site for more information.

>> Hungarian native Beáta Palya delivers a silky vocal style while blending Hungarian folk and Gypsy music with jazz and pop. She will be playing on the Millennium Stage on Sunday. 6 p.m. Free

>> If you've never seen Christylez Bacon perform, then you're missing one of the most talented young artists on the local scene. The MC rhymes over live orchestrations that include strings, horns, African drums, and his own rhythm guitar. Bacon will perform Monday night on the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free

>> For those of you who miss Wednesday night's Utopia show, you'll get another chance to check out Three Stars alum Will Rast on Sunday at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. He'll be leading his killin' groove band, The Funk Ark, through sets beginning at 9:30 p.m. No cover

>> One of the area's authorities on Brazillian jazz, pianist Wayne Wilentz will be performing on Tuesday night at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 9:30 p.m. No cover

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By Sriram Gopal in on February 4, 2009 9:55 AM

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