Sine Qua Non celebrates the release of its debut album on Monday at Blues Alley. >> Freedom Plaza, located at 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, plays host to the Big Band Jam throughout this week. The event gives talented high school and university ensembles the chance to perform in afternoon concerts.
>> New Orleans trumpeter Shamarr Allen will put his spin on the classic Crescent City sound at the Millennium Stage tonight. 6 p.m. Free.
>> MODATT is a collaboration between drummer Allison Miller, trumpeter Shane Endsley and pianist Dan Tepfer. The group explores the possibilities of free form improvisation, and has been doing so since the trio first performed together at the Blue Note jazz club in New York City, during its highly regarded Spontaneous Construction series. MODATT will perform tonight at the Atlas. 8 p.m. $15-$25.
>> Isabelle De Leon is a drumming phenom who recently won the young artist contest at the Washington Women in Jazz Festival. She is also currently serving as Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore, and will give her final recital tonight in the mansion. 7:30 p.m. $15.
>> Ernie Watts doesn’t have the widest name recognition among saxophonists, but his nearly 50-year career has included over 500 recordings, including work with artists as diverse as Cannonball Adderley and Frank Zappa. Tonight, he will perform at Blues Alley with The Allen Baylock Orchestra. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $30 + minimum/surcharge.
>> Veteran local trumpeter Thad Wilson leads his new ensemble, New Light, on Thursday at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 7:30 p.m. $20 + food/drink minimum.
>> New York based saxophonist Russ Nolan visits Bohemian Caverns on Thursday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
>> Trio Ode, with vocalist Rachel Sberro, bassist Russell Sledge and guitarist Alex Martin, performs music in the classic French chanson style, with a mix of original material and standards. The group will be at Twins Jazz on Thursday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Grammy nominated pianist/vocalist Karrin Allyson begins a three night stand at Blues Alley on Thursday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $30 + minimum/surcharge.
>> Jazz Night in Southwest presents to youth jazz ensembles under the direction of saxophonist Paul Carr and bassist Michael Bowie. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Vocalist Heidi Martin is a D.C. native and has long been a familiar face within the local jazz community. She will bring her latest group, Moon in Scorpio, to Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday for 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. $18 in advance/$22 at the door.
>> Baltimore-based saxophonist Tim Green celebrates the release of his new album, Songs for the Season, on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $15 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> HR-57 hosts fiery Latin jazz pianist Chuchito Valdes on Friday and Saturday. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $25.
>> On Saturday afternoon, the presenters of Jazz Night in Southwest present All in the Family: Intergenerational Jazz Musicians, which features our locally based jazz families, including the Jolleys, Dashiells, Abadeys, Redds, Lamkins and Carters. 1 p.m. Free.
>> Long running smooth jazz act Hiroshima plays a 7:30 p.m. set at The Birchmere on Saturday. $45 + fees.
>> Pianist Kenny Barron is an NEA Jazz Master and it’s probably not long before bassist Dave Holland receives that honor as well. These two living jazz legends will share the stage on Saturday as a duo for an intimate performance at the Kennedy Center. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. $30 + fees.
>> 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 Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Saturday. 8 p.m. $25 + food/drink minimum.
>> Kurtis Adams is a respected saxophonist and educator, currently serving as the head of the jazz department at Shepherd University. He will be leading a group on Sunday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + $10 food/drink minimum.
>> The 20-member Capital City Voices Jazz Choir pays tribute to the great Ella Fitzgerald on Sunday at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $20 + minimum/surcharge.
>> Peter Fraize has been a first call saxophonist in the D.C. area for over 20 years and is a respected educator, running the jazz department at GW. He will lead his quartet on Tuesday at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 7:30 p.m. $20 + food/drink minimum.
>> UDC’s annual Calvin Jones Big Band Festival brings together the premiere student bands from UDC, Howard and the University of Maryland for a horn-filled extravaganza. This year’s festival takes place on Monday at the school’s performing arts building, located in its Van Ness campus. 8 p.m. $10-$20.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts Danny Blew & the Blues Crew. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Last year, bassist Michael Bowie formed Sine Qua Non, a group featuring saxophonist Lyle Link, pannist Victor Provost, percussionist Sam Turner and drummer Mark Prince. Blending jazz with European classical influences, the band was 2012’s most welcome addition to the local jazz scene. On Monday at Blues Alley, SQN celebrates the release of its excellent debut album, Simple Pleasures. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $20 + minimum/surcharge. Make sure you check out the band’s music video for a taste.
>> The Army’s Jazz Ambassadors touring ensemble will perform on Tuesday at the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free.
>> Saxophonist Elijah Balbed concludes his run as Bohemian Caverns‘ April Artist-in-Residence on Tuesday. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. $10 in advance/$15 at the door.
>> The Capitol Bones brings together 5 of the area’s best trombonists along with a standard jazz rhythm section to create a sound that is not often heard. The group will be at Blues Alley on Tuesday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets.
