Grace Kelly, photo by Jimmy Katz.

>> Vaughn Ambrose is respected educator, serving as Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Francis C. Hammond Middle School in Alexandria. As with many of the areas best teachers, he is also an accomplished composer and saxophonist. He will be leading a group through 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Blues Alley. $18 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Dr. Joseph D. Howell has gone from being a mostly self-taught musician from a poor small-town family to earning a Doctor of Musical Arts from a prestigious conservatory. The world class clarinetist will hold a Wednesday night residency at Twins Jazz for the month of January, where each week’s performance will feature his original compositions with a rotating cast of the area’s best players. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> Composer Gina Biver and new media artist Edgar Endress teamed up to form the Fuse Ensemble. A multimedia experience that combines music and video, the group performs classical music with influences from jazz, world, minimalism, avant-garde, and electronica. The Fuse Ensemble will perform on Thursday at the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free.

>> Vocalist Abby Schaffer is relatively new to the area scene, but brings years of experience in musical theater to her interpretations of jazz standards and contemporary material. She will be leading a group through 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz on Thursday. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> Guitarist Chris Thomas King is best known for the Robert Johnson-esque character he portrayed in the hit Coen Brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?. While that role recreated a certain place and time, he has devoted his career to bringing the blues into the 21st century. King will bring his contemporary sound to Blues Alley on Thursday for a four night stand of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $22.50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Talented local vocalist Lavenia Nesmith will lead a group of area heavyweights on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.

>> Saxophonist Salim Washington plays music reminiscent of the explorations that John Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders conducted back in the ’60s. He will bring his Harlem Arts Ensemble, including monster trombonist Frank Lacy, to Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. sets. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> HR-57 hosts regular Antonio Parker on Friday and Saturday. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $15.

>> The Greg Harrison Jazz Band performs standard jazz tunes in a swing jazz format based on the small bands of the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s. The ensemble will be performing on the Millennium Stage this Saturday. 6 p.m. Free.

>> Guitarist Anthony Pirog is a skilled musician who has spent time performing straight-ahead jazz originals with the Bobby Muncy Quintet, ambient sound experiments as a member of the duo Janel and Anthony, and indie hard rock with Skysaw (a band led by former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin). On Sunday, Pirog will lead a trio at Twins Jazz that will include drummer Larry Ferguson and bassist Mark Foster. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> Blue Monday Blues hosts the Tom Newman Blues Band. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.

>> Saxophonist Marty Nau continues his Tuesday night residency at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.

>> Ace local drummer Lenny Robinson will be featured as January’s Artist-in-Residence at Bohemian Caverns. He will begin his run of Tuesday night gigs next week. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. $10 in advance/$15 at the door.

>> Grace Kelly is just 20-years old, but has been in the jazz world’s spot light since her early teens. Downbeat magazine named her one of the alto saxophone from 2009 to 2012, and you can see this talented young artist lead her group on Tuesday at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.