Davell Crawford.>> Veteran saxophonist Steve Wilson is a regular to the area, and tonight he’ll be at Blues Alley with a fantastic band that features pianist Patrice Rushen and all-star drummer Billy Kilson. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Paco de Lucia is considered the world’s greatest flamenco guitarist, and his collaborations with fellow gunslingers John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola are the stuff of legend. Catch de Lucia tonight at the Music Center at Strathmore, as he brings a jazz sensibility to the dynamic rhythms of his native music. The 8 p.m. show is sold out, but it’s worth contacting the box office for last minute availability.
>> Latin Grammy nominee Joe McCarthy now directs the jazz ensemble at George Mason University. Tonight, the group will perform A Night at the Palladium, a program that will also feature District-based dance troupe D.C. Casineros, which will perform several pieces during the program. The 8 p.m. show will take place at the university’s Center for the Arts. $10-$15.
>> This is a good time to remind you that the Smithsonian‘s lineup for Jazz Appreciation Month includes several events happening this week. A full schedule is available here.
>> Continuing Overtures, a concert series to celebrate the cherry blossom centennial, smooth jazz star Keiko Matsui will begin a four night stand of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Thursday. $45 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Busy local saxophonist Bobby Muncy returns to Twins Jazz on Thursday with his Radiohead Jazz Project, which, as you might guess, puts music by the influential alt-rockers into a jazz context. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Local vocalist Jobari Parker-Namdar performs a daytime recital on Friday at the Mansion at Strathmore. The program will feature Tin Pan Alley hits by Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, and George and Ira Gershwin. 11 a.m. $15.
>> The annual Big Band Jam, beginning on Friday, brings student and professional jazz orchestras from around the region to celebrate the rich tradition of the classic big band sound. There will be performances at clubs like Blues Alley, and next week the Sylvan Theater on the Monument grounds will also feature daily performances. A full schedule of events is available here.
>> Pianist and vocalist Davell Crawford blew us away a few of years ago with the soulful sounds of his native New Orleans. He will return to the District on Friday and Saturday for 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets at Bohemian Caverns, a perfectly intimate setting for an artist worthy of wider recognition. $20.
>> For many years, Doug Lawrence toured the world as a featured saxophonist with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. He has now started to lead his own groups, and will do so on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. His rhythm section features a number of local veterans including drummer Nasar Abadey, bassist James King and pianist Bob Butta. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Saxophonist/vocalist Carlos Johnson will lead a band this Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> HR-57 hosts regulars Antonio Parker (Friday) and Kent Miller (Saturday). 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $15.
>> On Saturday at the Atlas, the American Youth Chorus will use song and dance to trace the development of jazz from its early roots in ragtime and the blues, to the swing and bebop of the 1930s and 1940s, to the cool jazz and hard bop of the 1950s and 1960s. 7:30 p.m. $15-$25.
>> Chaise Lounge performs a style of sophisticated yet easy going jazz that was epitomized by releases on Capitol Records in the early ’60s, and which was commonly heard in coffee shops on every college campus before social upheaval changed things. The band will be performing at The Hamilton on Saturday to celebrate the release of their new album, Insomnia. 8:30 p.m. $22.50-$27.50.
Chaise Lounge, photo by Elliot Berlin. >> Straight from Cuba comes Sierra Maestra, playing music from the golden age of son, the dance music that was heard throughout Havana’s nightclubs during the ’20s and 30s. The band will be at Artisphere on Saturday for a 10 p.m. show. $22-$25.
>> Fans of the avant-garde should check out Diamond Terrifier (aka Sam Hillmer), a solo saxophone and electronic artist whose work is inspired by the drones of Himalayan music. He will be performing on Sunday at the Back Alley Theater (1365 Kennedy St. NW). Also on the bill will be Patrick Higgins, re-interpreting the works of Bach, Joey Molinaro and Valerie Kuehne. 7 p.m. doors/8 p.m. show. $10.
>> WPFW DJ Bobby Hill continues his adventurous Sunday concert series at Bohemian Caverns with EDGE, an ensemble led by violinist Jason Kao Hwang. Hwang’s work ranges from jazz and classical stylings to “new” and world music. Stay tuned for a full preview. 7 p.m. $15.
>> New York based saxophonist Tom Tallitsch will bring his original compositions to Twins Jazz on Sunday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Rachelle Ferrell‘s style is rooted in contemporary jazz, but she’s not afraid to bring in R&B, hip-hop and other influences. The singer’s singer will be at The Birchmere on Sunday for a 7:30 p.m. show. $59.50 + fees.
>> Virginia-based roots/blues artist Corey Harris curated True Blues, a show taking place this Sunday at the Howard Theatre that is aimed at illustrating the state of contemporary blues. Headlining the bill are legendary guitarist/vocalist Taj Mahal and the reigning Queen of the Blues, Shemekia Copeland. 8 p.m. $49.50. Stay tuned for a full preview.
>> Khris Royal & Dark Matter is part of a new wave of young musicians from New Orleans that is redefining the Crescent City’s jazz and funk traditions. They’ve taken their home city by storm, and are now spreading their wings on tour. Dark Matter will perform a free show on Monday at the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts The Nighthawks. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Bela Fleck and the Flecktones have spent over twenty years as one of the most innovative jazz ensembles on the scene. The band’s original lineup re-formed last year, and they’ve been touring relentlessly ever since. They will be at The Birchmere on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. show. $59.50 + fees.
