Bill Frisell, photo by Jimmy Katz.>> Baltimore-based pianist Alan Blackman will premiere his new piece, The Coastal Suite, tonight at the Atlas. His band features saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist Max Murray and drummer Frank Russo. 8 p.m. $15 to $30.
>> Harrison Young, a talented young vocalist out of New York, will lead his quartet tonight at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. $10 plus $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Henry Butler is considered one of the great pianists to have emerged from the Crescent City. Fans of New Orleans music should head to Blues Alley tonight to catch his 8 and 10 p.m.. $25 plus $12.50 minimum.
>> The area’s finest blues musicians convene at The Hamilton tonight for Capitol Blues Night. 7:30 p.m. $25.
>> There’s nothing we can say about Buddy Guy that hasn’t been said a thousand times over. The legendary blues guitarist will perform on Thursday and Friday at The Howard Theatre. 6 p.m. $70 in advance/$75 at the door.
>> Launched by respected saxophonist and educator Jeff Antoniuk, Capital City Voices is a jazz choir that features singers age 16 and older, including gifted amateurs and seasoned performers. The group will perform 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday at Twins Jazz. $15 plus $10 minimum.
>> Trumpeter John Lamkin leads a group of local all-stars, including his drummer son, on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 p.m. $5.
>> Bill Frisell has long been a favorite here it DCist. The veteran guitarist returns to the Kennedy Center on Friday to join the venue’s Artistic Advisor for Jazz, Jason Moran, and Moran’s group, The Bandwagon. The ensemble will perform LIVE: TIME, a commission from the Philadelphia Museum of Art based on the quilts and quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $26-$30.
>> A gifted drummer and trumpeter Ralph Peterson models his career after the great Art Blakey. Like that jazz legend, he is not only dedicated to the music, but also to providing opportunities to young musicians as a bandleader and professor at the Berklee College of Music. Peterson will lead his own group on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. 9 and 11 p.m. $22 plus $10 minimum.
>> A member of the U.S. Army Blues, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and leader of his own group, trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse is known for his hard-swinging style and big sound. He will be at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday with a sextet. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. $18 in advance/$22 at the door.
>> HR-57 hosts regulars Antonio Parker (Friday) and Keith Kilgo (Saturday). 9 p.m. $15.
>> Smooth jazz star Najee will be performing 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley from Friday through Sunday. $50 plus $12.50 minimum.
>> DownBeat magazine has named Kurt Elling Male Vocalist of the Year thirteen times. On Saturday, the celebrated crooner will be performing at the Kennedy Center in support of his album, 1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project. The recording’s title refers to the building that housed office space for some of the 20th century’s most successful songwriters, including Duke Ellington, Paul Simon and Carole King. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $38.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts Nadine Rae & the All-Stars. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Catch the next generation of jazzers on Monday at the University of Maryland as its big bands, under the direction of Chris Vadala, perform at their annual Big Band Pre-Halloween Scream. 7:30 p.m. Free.
>> For two decades, the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet has brought their signature 4-part harmonies to inventive vocalese, big band swing, American Songbook classics and original material. The group will perform 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Tuesday. $20 plus $12.50 minimum.
