Bill Frisell>> Founded in Amsterdam back in 1980, Fra Fra Sound initially blended jazz with the indigenous music of Surinam. Since then, the group has incorporated music from the rest of the Caribbean, resulting in an infectious sound that has kept the group going for nearly 30 years. The band will play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley tonight. Tickets are $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> The Vocal Workshop is an 8-week performance course designed by local musicians Chris Grasso and Paul Pieper that culminates with a live performance. Catch the latest batch of students and learn more about the program tonight at Twins Jazz. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.
>> Bassist Stanley Clarke turned the jazz world on its ear when he burst onto the scene in the late 1960s and early ’70s, first as an acoustic musician and then pioneering fusion with Return to Forever. He will be performing with pianist Hiromi and drummer Lenny White on Thursday at the Barns of Wolf Trap. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $45 (preview forthcoming).
>> Always known as a singer’s singer, Rachelle Ferrell‘s music ignores conventional boundaries and incorporates any and every style of African American music. She starts a four night stand at Blues Alley on Thursday. Tickets to the nightly 8 and 10 p.m. sets are a pricey $60 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Pianist Larry Brown has long been a regular of the local scene, leading a group that includes many of the area’s best, including saxophonist Peter Fraize and trumpeter Kyle Funn. Brown will lead his group this Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest, along with guest vocalist Bonnie Harris. 6 to 9 p.m. $5
>> It was only this past spring that guitarist Bill Frisell delivered a masterful performance at Wolf Trap that showed how taste and restraint can make for a wonderful evening of music. Frisell will return to the area on Friday, performing at the Kennedy Center along with long time colleagues Tony Scherr and Kenny Wolleson. Tickets to the 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets are $35.
