David Murray.>> Smooth jazz star Marcus Johnson begins a four night stand of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Thursday. $27.50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Buddy Guy is one of the most revered and influential blues guitarists of all time and has a legacy that stretches far and wide. He will be on Wolf Trap on Thursday along with Brit-blues pioneer John Mayall. 8 p.m. $25-$42 + fees.
>> Jazz Night in Southwest hosts pianist Vince Evans leading a group of local heavyweights on Friday. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> David Murray initially made his name by applying his powerful tenor saxophone sound in the context of free choice. Since then, his music has involved to be more “inside,” but no less exploratory. On Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns, he will team up with a rhythm section of New York badasses that includes drummer Nasheet Waits, pianist Marc Cary and bassist Charnett Moffett. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. $25.
>> Just 19-years old, drummer Aaron Seeber has already played with many of the area’s finest. He will do so again on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz, leading a band that includes pianist Allyn Johnson and saxophonist Tim Green. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts blues singer Lil Royal and band. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Saxophonist Igor Butman is Russia’s most popular native jazz musician. Like so many musicians who grew up behind the Iron Curtain, he abandoned classical music as a teenager and started “studying” jazz through nightly radio broadcasts on Voice of America. He also lived in the United States, studying at Berklee, and returned to his homeland after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Butman will be leading a big band at Blues Alley on Monday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $22.50 + 12.50 minimum/surcharge.
Ed. Note: Sriram Gopal will be on vacation next week, so here are a few shows to catch while he is away. This Week in Jazz will return on July 25, 2012.
>> Elijah Balbed is a rising voice in the local scene. Still just in his early 20s, he has played with many of the area’s veteran players and was a member of Chuck Brown’s band at the time of The Godfather’s unfortunate passing. Balbed will lead a group through a free 7 p.m. show at Strathmore on July 18.
>> New Orleans has a brass band tradition that goes back over 100 years, but no group personifies that tradition more than the Rebirth Brass Band. This Crescent City institution will be at The Hamilton on July 18 for a 7:30 p.m. show. $33.
>> Fiery Latin jazz sensation Chuchito Valdes, son of Cuban legend Chucho Valdes, will perform 9 and 11 p.m. sets at HR-57 on July 21 and 22. $25.
>> Drummer Louis Hayes‘ deep swing laid the foundation for the hard bop sounds of legends like Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley and Oscar Peterson in the ’50s and ’60s. He will be at Bohemian Caverns on July 21 and 22, leading his band, the Jazz Communicators. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. $23.
>> Trumpeter Tom Williams‘ jazz pedigree is as good as it gets. He spent time in the Duke Ellington Jazz Orchestra and was a featured soloist with the Army Blues. On July 21 and 22, Williams will lead his own group through 9 and 11 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Eldar Djangirov was considered a piano prodigy in his native Kansas City and is now forging an impressive professional career. He will be leading a group on July 23 at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Jeff Antoniuk & the Jazz Update was among the earliest jazz acts we profiled here on DCist. The band has released two critically acclaimed recordings and will be at Blues Alley on July 24 for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $22 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
