Cedar Walton>> Bobby McFerrin begins a two night stand this evening at the Birchmere. Read our full preview here. 7:30 p.m. $65
>> Guitarist and smooth jazz star Earl Klugh begins a four night stand at Blues Alley this evening. Tickets to the nightly 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $43 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Just out of high school, saxophonist Braxton Cook is already making a name for himself on the local scene. He’ll be leading his group tonight at Twins Jazz. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.
>> Vocalist L’Tanya Mari’, a graduate of Howard University, performs regularly throughout the D.C. area and in her native Philadelphia. She will take the stage on Thursday in the Smithsonian American Art Museum‘s Kogod Courtyard, as part of the museum’s monthly Take Five! jazz series. 5 to 8 p.m. Free
>> Henry Butler, an eight-time W.C. Handy Award nominee, is a New Orleans piano legend. On Thursday, he will perform at Madam’s Organ to benefit the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu is also scheduled to make an appearance. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $125 for a pair, $75 for a single.
>> Tatsuya Nakatani has developed an expressive and entirely original brand of solo percussion performance. He’ll be playing upstairs at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on Thursday along with the sax/drums duo of Aaron Martin and Sam Lohman. 8 p.m. Call 202-667-0088 for set time and cover information.
>> Puzzlebox, an octet under the direction of bassist/composer Keith DeStefano is a band that is starting to get regional exposure for its modern sound that blends third stream jazz, with more progressive elements. The band will be at Twins Jazz on Thursday. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.
>> On Friday, Jazz Night in Southwest presents a group of local musicians who perform regularly at Adams Morgan’s Columbia Station. The band, under the direction of pianist Peter Edelman, also features the eccentric bassist Butch Warren, a veteran of many classic Blue Note recordings from the 60s. 6 to 9 p.m. $5
>> Masters of seemingly disparate disciplines come together on Friday at the Music Center at Strathmore, as Latin jazz master Paquito D’Rivera, the inventive Turtle Island String Quartet, and the Luna Negra Dance Theater team up for a program titled Danzón. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $27 to $67.
>> David Gibson is being praised as a fresh trombone voice on the crowded New York scene, earning praise from the likes of Slide Hampton and Curtis Fuller, and a spot in the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Band. He will play 9 and 11 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday with his own group at Twins Jazz. Tickets are $15 + $12 minimum/surcharge.
>> For decades, legendary drummer Art Blakey used his Jazz Messengers to provide a platform for dozens of musicians who would become jazz stars in their own right. Cedar Walton has been known ever since he spent 3 years as Blakey’s music director in the mid-60s, contributing the standards “Bolivia” and “Ugetsu” to the standard jazz repertoire. Javon Jackson has spent 20 years touring and recording with many a jazz great appearing on over 100 albums, and also releasing eight critically acclaimed albums as a leader. On Friday and Saturday, these two Blakey alums team up for 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets are $30.
