That time of year has arrived, when the District is given the chance to showcase its place within the great American art form that is jazz. The buzz surrounding this year’s D.C. Jazz Festival, which begins on Friday, has been building up for sometime. This year’s festival boasts some of the world’s best talent within the genre, not to mention that most of the core events that make up its heart and soul have not only simply returned, but have expanded.
“Every year we try to do something a bit more creative or challenging,” said Charlie Fishman, the D.C. Jazz Festival’s founder and executive producer.
The DCJF is breaking ground on multiple fronts this year. Most notably, the festival will feature 10 consecutive nights of concerts at The Hamilton. Many evenings will pair a local ensemble with a more renowned artist, beginning on Friday with D.C.’s own Akua Allrich sharing a bill with piano great Randy Weston. Other artists with local connections include D.C. native Ben Williams, and saxophonist Marshall Keys, who will be paying tribute to he great Cannonball Adderley. The more nationally recognized acts include Les Nubians, NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath, groundbreaking guitarist John Scofield, trumpeter Roy Hargrove (a DCJF regular) and more. One certain highlight of Jazz at The Hamilton will be a tribute to the late Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, by the Brass-A-Holics, the breakout act of last year’s festival.
“Originally, Chuck Brown was supposed to sit-in with the band,” explained Fishman. “But now they’re going to do the arrangements they made of his songs.”
This year’s marquee concert at the Kennedy Center is being dubbed Jazz Meets the Classics, in which NEA Jazz Masters Paquito D’Rivera, Ron Carter and Kenny Barron will team up with vibraphonist Stefon Harris and drummer Lewis Nash to perform jazz interpretations of works by Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky.
Carter will also be leading his own group for the opening weekend at Bohemian Caverns. For the past several years, the historic club has served as the hub for the DCJF’s Jazz in the ‘Hoods programming. This year’s festival will feature over 150 local acts performing in 56 venues across 17 different neighborhoods, including a series of shows taking place east of the Anacostia.
“We’re celebrating D.C.’s rich jazz legacy and demonstrating that jazz is busting out all over,” said Fishman of DCJF’s commitment to local music.
Other popular attractions will be returning to this year’s event, such as the Jazz n’ Families Fun Days at The Phillips Collection, which features performances by prominent local artists like Brian Settles, Elijah Balbed and Michael Bowie, as well interactive programs for children. CapitalBop is expanding on its popular D.C. Jazz Loft showcase this year with performances from Todd Marcus, Orrin Evans and Marc Cary. Unfortunately, the well-attended Jazz on the National Mall program will not be taking place this year due to a combination of financial constraints, construction on the Mall and conflicts with other events. However, Fishman is confident that the concert will take place at least biennially.
Regardless, this year’s D.C. Jazz Festival boasts a promising lineup, proving once again that it is well on its way to becoming one of the nation’s premier jazz events. That it takes place in the nation’s capital also establishes jazz as a truly international art form.
“The fact that we have so many international artists reflects that D.C. is a truly international city,” said Fishman. “Jazz is truly an international language and arguably the best form of communicating among people.”
With that, we’ll turn to our picks for this year’s DCJF.
Top Pick: Legendary bassist Ron Carter, an alum of Miles Davis’s classic quintet from the mid-’60s, leads a group on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. $38.
Runner-up: Excellent local vocalist Akua Allrich shares a bill with veteran pianist Randy Weston at The Hamilton. 8:30 p.m. $27.50-$38.
Also: One of the few jazz bass clarinetists you’ll see, Baltimore’s Todd Marcus will showcase is excellent composing abilities with his jazz orchestra on Friday at The Dunes as part of the Jazz Loft series. Christie Dashiell, who garnered national attention during Afro Blue’s run on The Sing Off will open. 8:30 p.m. $10 in advance/$14 at the door.
Also: Steel pannist Victor Provost will be leading an excellent group of area musicians through midnight sets on Friday and Saturday at Cashion’s Eat Place. No cover.
Top Pick: The Jazz n’ Families Fun Days at the The Phillips Collection. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. The event continues on Sunday with a different set of acts, beginning at noon.
Runner-up: Les Nubians at The Hamilton. 8 and 10:30 p.m. sets. $20-$27.50.
Also: One main goal of this year’s DCJF is to bring jazz to neighborhoods east of the Anacostia. To that end,trombonist Reginald Cyntje (4 p.m.) and bassist Michael Bowie‘s Sine Qua Non (8 p.m.) at the Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique. Free.
Also: CapitalBop‘s D.C. Jazz Loft with Tarbaby (pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Nasheet Waits) and local bassist Kris Funn‘s Corner Store. 8:30 p.m at The Fridge. $10 in advance/$14 at the door.
Top Pick: Haunting, introspective and elegant are all words that could describe saxophonist Mark Turner‘s sound and approach to music. He will be performing at the Atlas on Sunday as part of Jazz in the ‘Hoods. 8 p.m. $15-$25.
Runner-up: Many jazz icons of yore graced the stage of the Howard Theatre before it fell into disrepair. Now, the swing returns to the newly renovated venue, and renowned chanteuse Dianne Reeves will be performing there on Sunday. 8 p.m. $45-$65.
Also: Fierly Latin jazz saxophonist David Sanchez will be performing at The Hamilton with trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda. 7:30 p.m. $22.50-$33.
Top Pick: Jazz Meets the Classics, the Kennedy Center‘s major concert of the DCJF, takes place on Monday and features Paquito, Kenny Barron, Stefon Harris and a host of other greats. 7:30 p.m. $20-$65.
Runner-up: Bassist Ben Williams and pianist Jonathan Batiste are rising young lions in the jazz world. They will each be leading bands at The Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. $20-$27.50.
Also: The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra‘s Monday night residency at the historic club is one of the best music deals in town. The band will be performing works by the one and only Duke Ellington for its 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10.
Also: If you’re into the funkier side of jazz, head on over to The Howard Theatre to hear guitarist Steve Kimock. Kimock is more of a jam guitarist than anything else, and his band will include groundbreaking keyboardist Bernie Worrell (P-Funk, Talking Heads). 8 p.m. $20.
Top Pick: NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath will lead his quintet at The Hamilton on Tuesday, sharing the stage with saxophonist Antonio Hart‘s organ trio. 7:30 p.m. $27.50-$38.
Runner-up: The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra plays a free show on the Kennedy Center‘s Millennium Stage. 6 p.m.
Also: Soulful vocalist Kiyem Ade plays Bohemian Caverns. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. $10.
Top Pick: Two fantastic local talents will be teaming up for a special performance at the Atlas. Guitarist Rodney Richardson and vocalist Lena Seikaly are both examples of the influx of talent that has over the past decade bolstered D.C.’s already rich jazz tradition. 8 p.m. $15-$25.
Runner-up: Internationally renowned trumpeter Roy Hargrove and local mainstay Marshall Keys will each lead bands at The Hamilton. $27.50-$38.
Also: Guitarist Yotam Silberstein‘s career has taken off since his 2005 move to New York from Israel. Catch his trio playing 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Bohemian Caverns. $18.
Top Pick: Woodwind artist Anat Cohen can play everything from classic Benny Goodman-style swing to Argentinian tango. She will be leading a quartet in the 6th and I Historic Synagogue‘s atmospheric setting. 8 p.m. $25.
Runner-up: Pianist Cyrus Chestnut and vocalist Roberta Gambarini are both familiar faces at the DCJF. They will be sharing The Hamilton‘s stage tonight for a 7:30 p.m. show. $20-$27.50.
Also: Local violinist Matvei Sigalov and guitarist Nicki Gonzalez revisit the gypsy jazz that took Parisian clubs by storm in the 1930s. Their project, The Hot Club of D.C., will perform a 9 p.m. show at 1905. Call 202-332-1905 for cover information.
Top Pick: The Brass-A-Holics take the stage at The Hamilton for what is sure to be a groove filled tribute to the late Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown. 8 p.m. $27.50-$38.
Runner-up: Vocalist Malika Zarra blends jazz with her French-Moroccan heritage to create a truly worldly sound. She’ll perform a free show at 6 p.m. on the Kennedy Center‘s Millennium Stage.
Also: Marcus Strickland is simply one of the finest saxophonists of his generation, and his talents have led to stints with Roy Haynes, Mos Def and a host of others. Strickland will lead his own group on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. $22.
Top Pick: CapitalBop‘s ultimate D.C. Jazz Loft will take place today with MegaFest. The day long event will feature a film screening, an art gallery, pop-up shop and oh yeah, some music. Local talents Elijah Balbed and Lenny Robinson will lead groups to set the stage for pianist Marc Cary‘s latest project, Cosmic Indigenous. 3:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. $12 in advance/$15 at the door. Taking place at the Taste of D.C. Loft located at 629 New York Ave. NW.
Runner-up: Piano great Monty Alexander will lead his Harlem-Kingston Express on Saturday at The Hamilton. The band puts the music of his native Jamaica in a jazz setting. Rising young trumpeter Etienne Charles will lead the opening band. $33-$43.50.
Also: Excellent local trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse leads his quintet through 9 and 11 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.
Top Pick: John Scofield is not only considered one of the best jazz guitarists of his generation, but one of the all-time greats of the genre. He will be leading a trio at The Hamilton that includes ace drummer Bill Stewart. 7:30 p.m. $33-$43.50.
Runner-up: Integriti Reeves is one of the bright new voices coming up in the local scene, and she is already making waves. She will be playing 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Bohemian Caverns. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. $18.
Also: Guitarist Pino Daniele‘s compositions draw from pop, blues, jazz and Middle Eastern influences, with the addition of folk sounds from his native Italy. He will be playing an 8 p.m. show at The Howard Theatre. $45.
