The tenth DC Jazz Festival officially begins Tuesday, and with it comes days of jazz, jazz and more jazz in dozens of venues across the city. Below we highlight one event from each day, while you can check out the full schedule here.
Monday
The festival kicks off Tuesday, but don’t miss two sets Monday from the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra featuring saxophonist Jon Irabagon. The resident band at one of D.C.’s best jazz clubs, this 17-piece orchestra features some of the area’s best talents playing a variety of music. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $15 advanced, $20 door.
Tuesday
If that doesn’t fill your stride piano quota for the week, Johnson will be participating in a “cutting contest” with Orrin Evans and Lafayette Gilchrist at Union Arts & Manufacturing on Thursday. 8 p.m. $20.
>> Origem at Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital, 7 p.m.; The Brass-A-Holics at The Hamilton Live, 7:30 p.m.; Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio at Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Wytold Lebing at Tryst, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday
If sitting in your seat isn’t the way you best experience jazz, check out Black Noize: A Marc Cary SE Dance Jam at the Anacostia Playhouse. 7 p.m. $14.99 plus a fee. The go-go veteran and post-bop pianist will be playing throughout the week, including Thursday at THEARC and Friday at The Lot @ Atlantic Plumbing for a jazz block party.
>> Charles Rahmat Woods at Children’s National Health Center, 11 a.m.; Snarky Puppy at Sidwell Friends School, 4:30 p.m, and at The Hamilton Live, 7:30 p.m..; Sin Miedo at Dupont Circle Hotel, 5 p.m.; Firm Roots at Georgia Brown’s, 7:30 p.m.; Andy Milne & Dapp Theory at Bohemian Caverns, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Cyrus Chestnut Quartet presents BRUBECK REIMAGINED at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 8 p.m.; Bob Schwartz “BSQ” Jazz Band at Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Herb Scott Ensemble at The Black Fox Lounge, 8 p.m.; The Indigo Project at Rumba Café, 9 p.m.
Thursday
Pianist Helen Sung and saxophonist Tia Fuller will both lead their quartets for a salute to women in jazz at The Hamilton. Sung is the winner of the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz competition, and Fuller once toured with Beyonce. 7:30 p.m. $25 standing, $35 seated.
>> Laura Sperling at Children’s National Health Center, 11 a.m.; Marshall Keys at The Mayflower Renaissance, 5 p.m.; Gary Rowe & Eddie Eaton Duo at 701 Restaurant, 7 p.m.; Rock Creek Jazz at Haydee’s, 7:30 p.m.; Dwayne Adell at Bohemian Caverns, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; James Benson Trio at The Black Fox Lounge, 8 p.m.; Marc Cary’s Retrospective Suite at THEARC, 8 p.m.; Pat Braxton Project at Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Emmanuel’s Trio- Latrifulca at Rumba Café, 9 p.m.; Lena Seikaly at Dukem, 9 p.m.; Sharón Clark at Dukem, 10:30 p.m.
Friday
Cream drummer Ginger Baker returns to his jazz roots on his first album in 16 years, Why?, due out June 24. Friday offers a chance to see one of the greatest living drummers perform the works of jazz greats, like Thelonius Monk and Sonny Rollins, and his originals at The Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $42.50 to $80.
>> Frédéric Yonnet and Akua Allrich at the Capitol Riverfront at Yards Park, 5 p.m.; Sin Miedo: A Salsa Party at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 5 p.m.; Victor Provost at Renaissance Downtown, 5 p.m.; Olayimika Cole‘s L’ife Suite at Wesley United Methodist Church, 6:30 p.m.; Gary Rowe & Eddie Eaton Duo at 701 Restaurant, 7 p.m.; D.6 Jazz at Haydee’s, 7:30 p.m.; Paquito D’Rivera at The Hamilton Live, 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Kari Lkonen Trio at Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; David Sanchez at Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Oren Levine’s Vocal Showcase at The Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m.; Sharón Clark at Loews Madison Hotel, 10 p.m.; La Sabrosura at Rumba Café, 11 p.m.
Saturday
Three days of jazz continues at Yards Park with vocalist Gregory Porter, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Yasiin Bey (better known as Mos Def) and other guests. $55 or $100 plus fees.
>> A discussion with Corcoran Holt, Donald Malloy, Kush Abadey, Ronald Sutton, Jr., and Benito Gonzalez at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2 p.m.; Clearwater Duo, Ronald Sutton, Jr. Quintet, and the Corcoran Holt Quartet with Sharp Radway at Wesley United Methodist Church, 4 p.m.; Gary Rowe & Eddie Eaton Duo at 701 Restaurant, 7 p.m.; The Dizzy Gillespie (TM) Afro-Cuban Experience at The Hamilton Live, 7:30 p.m and 10:30 p.m.; Hess with Space Lab Music at Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Matana Roberts’ COIN COIN with the Tarus Mateen Quartet at The Fridge, 8 p.m.; David Sanchez at Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Alison Crockett at Loews Madison Hotel, 10 p.m.; Kique’s Band at Rumba Café, 11 p.m.
Sunday
The Greater U Street Jazz Collective will perform their new album, Ballin’ the Jack, at the Anacostia Playhouse. The record features the upbeat song “Style Section,” a scathing look at a certain class of D.C. residents. $14.99 plus a fee.
>> Slongin In ? at Georgia Brown’s, 10 a.m.; Kiyem Ade & John Lee at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 10 a.m.; Rebirth Brass Band and Irma Thomas at Yards Park, 2 p.m.; Bohemian Caverms Jazz Orchestra at Dumbarton House, 3 p.m.; Underwater Ghost and Double Date at Atlas Performing Art Center, 7 p.m.; Etienne Charles and Rudresh Mahanthappa at The Hamilton Live, 7:30 p.m.; Gary Bartz at Bohemian Caverns, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Norway’s The Deciders at Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Lena Seikaly at Loews Madison Hotel, 10 p.m.
