We thought we’d have an easy time bringing you a jazz agenda this week, but unfortunatly, the major jazz festival in town appears to be SOLD OUT for the weekend. We’ll tell you about it anyway, only because there might be tickets available through “other means.” If you can’t get tickets to the shows, fear not, for there is still a lot of great jazz to be had.

>> The Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival takes place this weekend at the Kennedy Center from May 10 through May 12. All of the evening concerts are sold out, according to the Kennedy Center’s web site, but we still suggest contacting the venue to see if there might be standing room or cancelled tickets available. Highlights of the shows include legendary Latin vocalist, Flora Purim and fusion violinist Karen Briggs on Thursday. Ms. Purim will be playing with her husband, legendary percussionist Airto. The festival features a host of award winning performers on Friday, including the winner of last year’s Women in Jazz Award, Jane Ira Bloom. On Saturday, Ann Patterson’s Maiden Voyage, a stellar all female big band, will perform. Though the shows appear to be sold out, our loyal readers can’t say that we haven’t already told you about the festival.

>> The festival also features some great FREE concerts. On Thursday and Saturday, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage will feature the International Association for Jazz Education Sisters in Jazz Collegiate All-Stars, a jazz combo comprised of some of the best female jazz students in the country. The shows start at 6 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. There is also a performance competition associated with the Women in Jazz Festival and on Friday, at 6 p.m., the finalists in the competition will perform on the Millennium Stage.