Area saxophonist Tim Green celebrates the release of his new album, “Songs from this Season”, on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. >> Kaoru Watanabe, a former member of the renowned Japanese drumming ensemble Kodo, and Kenny Endo, one of the world’s best-known taiko artists, perform traditional Japanese drum music, selections from kabuki theater, and jazz-influenced works of their own. The two will perform tonight at the Freer Gallery. Free tickets are required to the 7:30 p.m. show.
>> Electric cellist Wytold is this month’s Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore, and will be performing at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the mansion. $13.50 – $15.
>> Up-and-coming local alto saxophonist Herb Scott leads his band, Cinnamon Stix, through 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Twins Jazz. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Brazilian vocalist Bebel Gilberto, who collaborates regularly with Thievery Corporation, will perform tomorrow night at 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $35.
>> Ramsey Lewis earned widespread notoriety 50 years ago by releasing “The In Crowd,” “Hang On Sloopy,” and “Wade in the Water,” singles that each sold more than a million copie s– a most unlikely scenario in the 1960s for an acoustic piano trio (interesting fact: “The In Crowd” was recorded at Bohemian Caverns). The bona fide jazz legend will bring his latest group to The Howard Theatre on Thursday for 7:30 and 10 p.m. sets. $35 in advance/$40 day of show.
>> Pianist Florian Hoefner‘s 2012 release, Songs Without Words, earned rave reviews and raised his profile on New York’s jazz scene. The German Embassy sponsors his quartet’s performance at Twins Jazz on Thursday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Fusion lovers are doing themselves a severe dis-service if they don’t head to Blues Alley this weekend. Guitarist Mike Stern will begin a four night stand at the club with a band that includes drumming legend Dave Weckl, groundbreaking bassist Anthony Jackson and saxophonist Bob Franceschini. 8 and 10 p.m. sets from Thursday through Sunday. $35 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Swingin’ local trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse celebrates the release of his new album, New York Suite, on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Founded by pianist Kristian Blak and based in the Faroe Islands, Yggdrasil is a group that draws from ethnic sounds, free jazz and classical styles. The band will perform 7:30 and 9:30 sets on Friday at the Kennedy Center as part of Nordic Cool. $25.
>> THIEFS, featuring drummer and vocalist Guillermo E Brown, bassist Keith Witty and saxophonist Christophe Panzani plays an eclectic brand of jazz that goes from fully electric to totally acoustic. The band performs at Friday Night Eclectic at the Mansion at Strathmore on Friday. 8:30 p.m. $18 – $20.
>> Colorado-based saxophonist Aakash Mittal teams up with beatboxer/rapper Christylez and Indian classical violinist on Friday at the Atlas as part of INTERSECTIONS. 9:30 p.m. $15-$20.
>> Baltimore-based saxophonist Tim Green is on the rise, bringing a rich gospel influence to his sound. His style is front and center on Songs From This Season, the new album whose release he will be celebrating with 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. $18 in advance/$23 at the door.
>> The DC Jazz Composers Collective was formed with the mission of increasing the performance of original jazz compositions in the region. will be at Twins Jazz this Friday and Saturday. Friday’s set will feature saxophonist Brian Settles and the Collective will play new works on Saturday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Drummer Nasar Abadey has been a first-call drummer on the local scene for years, and his son, Kush Abadey, is carrying on the family legacy. The two will pair up at INTERSECTIONS on Saturday with their respective bands for an 8 p.m. show. $20-$25.
>> Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen‘s sparse and subtle style is many ways exemplary of the Scandinavian jazz sound, leading in his becoming an influential voice in Europe. He will be leading his long-running trio on Sunday at the Kennedy Center as part of Nordic Cool. 7:30 p.m. $29.
>> Busy local saxophonist Bobby Muncy will return to Twins Jazz on Sunday with his Radiohead Jazz Project, offering jazz interpretations songs by the iconic alt-rock band. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts Charlie Sayles & the Blues Disciples. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Blues guitarist Billy Thompson will perform 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Monday. $18 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Composer and trumpet player Gabriel Alegría formed the Afro-Peruvian Sextet in 2005 with the goal of combining the African-influenced coastal music of his native Peru with modern jazz. The band will perform 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Tuesday. $25 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
