The first ever Duke Ellington Jazz Festival kicked off last night, and the District is all a buzz with what’s in store for the weekend after what we’ve heard was a thrilling performance by the Dave Brubeck Quartet at the Lincoln Theatre.
The rest of the schedule, put together by Dizzy Gillespie’s former producer and manager Charles Fishman, looks to be equally goosebump inducing. We can’t tell you how many e-mails and comments we’ve already gotten recommending the slate for Saturday’s free show on the National Mall. Between the Wayne Shorter Quartet, New Orleans’ The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Sunny Sumter, and local Go-Go hero Chuck Brown, frankly, we can’t think of anyplace else we’d rather be from noon to 8 p.m. that day.
More performances to watch out for: Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra tonight at 8 at the Lincoln, Venezuelan Aquiles Báez Quintet at Bohemian Caverns on Friday, and D.C.’s own Allyn Johnson Trio at Twins Jazz on Sunday.
Make sure to get on out there and let us know all about the shows you see. It’s about time D.C. had it’s own Jazz Fest, so we’re hoping it’s a big smash.
