>> Tonight, local saxophonist Bobby Muncy leads an excellent group at U-topia, playing jazz interpretations of Radiohead songs. 9 p.m. No cover.
>> Jake Silverman is a young pianist hailing from Baltimore. Not yet out of high school, he has won numerous awards for his playing and will be entering Oberlin’s prestigious music program in the fall. He’ll lead a group tonight at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10.
>> The 6th Annual Big Band Jam kicked off yesterday, and features 10 days of special performances and workshops. A full schedule of events is available here. As part of the Big Band Jam, Blues Alley hosts the renowned Count Basie Orchestra through Sunday for nightly 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets to hear such classics as “April in Paris” and “One O’Clock Jump” are $60 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>>The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad, produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is designed to foster cultural exchange worldwide. Between March and December 2010, ten talented American jazz, urban, gospel, blues, and roots music artists will visit Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans. Every year, the selected acts perform in a series of free concerts at the National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium. Thursday marks the start of the series, and will feature the jazz sounds of the Mark Sherman-Tim Horner Quartet at 6 and the gospel sounds of Oscar Williams, Jr. and Perfected Praise at 7:15. Free.
>> Pam Parker, Susan Faucon and Liz Briones are the women of Killer Stilts. Combining music with comedy and plenty of attitude, their show covers topics ranging from money to relationships to politics. They’ll be at Twins Jazz on Thursday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $15 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> The Bossa Bistro & Lounge hosts a double bill on Thursday night. Damn Right, an electro-jazz-funk trio out of Baltimore will play downstairs (10 p.m.), while the Fourth Wall presents and evening of avant-garde music upstairs (8 p.m.). $5.
>> This weekend, the GWU jazz department is putting together a small festival of the program’s ensembles to honor Jazz Appreciation Month. On Friday at 7:30 p.m., the Blues Revue, will take the stand, followed by King James and the Serfs of Swing at 9 (a big band conducted by pianist James Levy). On Sunday the 25th the University Jazz Combo will play at 7:30 p.m. followed by the Latin band, Los Gringos, under the direction of percussionist Alejandro Lucini and saxophonist Peter Fraize. Both events are at the
Betts Theatre inside G-dub’s Marvin Center (800 21st St. NW). Free.
>> On Friday, Jazz Night in Southwest hosts vocalist Janine Gilbert-Carter and a group of top notch local musicians in a program titled In A Silent Tear. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
