Elijah Jamal Balbed performing last year with The Funk Ark at the 9:30 Club.

Over the course of dozens of interviews with many of the District’s most talented jazz artists, it becomes clear that one attribute that separates D.C.’s jazz scene from those of other cities is the sense of community among the musicians. On Tuesday night, one of those musicians, saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed, is tapping into that community to help with his 15-year-old sister’s medical care.

“I initially approached Omrao about doing a fundraiser to help my younger sister, who recently had surgery for scoliosis,” Balbed told DCist, referring to Bohemian Caverns owner Omrao Brown. “We don’t have the means to really take care a lot of the expenses that were involved with that, including recovery and just helping her.”

At Brown’s suggestion, the idea for a single concert turned into a three-week residency of Tuesday night performances for Balbed, culminating with tomorrow night’s fundraiser. There will be a cover charge and attendees are invited to make additional donations. Balbed is also looking to set up a method through which those unable to attend will be able to make an online donation.

At just 21 years of age, Balbed is a prime example of the quality talent that comes out of the D.C. metro area. His musical studies began in middle school, but it was while a student at Montgomery County’s Albert Einstein High School, playing under longtime band director Joan Rackey, that he became serious about his instrument. This led to a scholarship at Howard University, where he came under the tutelage of Charlie Young, a driving force behind that school’s excellent jazz program.

“He is one of the world’s most underrated and amazing sax players, both classically and jazz,” said Balbed.

As a result of his studies and willingness to play anywhere with anyone, Balbed has also become one of the busiest saxophonists in town, and was named Best New Jazz Musician in the Washington City Paper’s 2010 Reader’s Poll. In addition to holding steady gigs with his own quartet, he performs regularly with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, The Funk Ark and, recently, go-go legend Chuck Brown.

“It was always sort of my goal, or dream, to just be playing all the time,” Balbed explained. “I just started putting myself in those surroundings and just meeting as many people as I could.”

For tomorrow’s show, Balbed has assembled a lineup of outstanding local talent that will include pianist Tim Whalen, bassist Tarus Mateen and Nasar Abadey on drums. Special guests will include steel pan artist Victor Provost, vocalist Integriti Reeves, trumpeter Donvonte McCoy and alto saxophonist Fred Foss.

During his residency, Balbed has been playing a mix of his own material, as well as tunes that he has been wanting to play, but which he was saving for a listening audience. Tomorrow’s program will also include arrangements from guest musicians. In all, it seems like this time as an artist-in-residence at the Caverns has given Balbed an important opportunity to explore his instrument and the music he is interested in creating.

“I’m not sure what kind of sax player I want to be yet, I’m still searching. I’m sure I will be for a while,” said Balbed. “Overall, I’d like to play music that is both accessible to the critical jazz listener and to people who don’t know much about the music.”

Elijah Jamal Balbed & Co. will perform at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $7 in advance, $10 at the door.