Composer Darcy James Argue leads his big band, Secret Society, on Saturday at the Atlas. >> New York based guitarist Larry Brown, Jr. is an accomplished sideman who is now branching out to lead his own group. His band will be at Twins Jazz tonight for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Undercover Jazz, a recently formed straight-ahead jazz group under the direction of guitarist Glenn Wiser, plays Takoma Station on Thursday. 6:30 to 9 p.m. No cover.
>> Talented area saxophonist Brent Birckhead will lead his quartet on Thursday at the Old Town Theater. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15-$25.
>> The Kennedy Center‘s annual Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival takes place Thursday through Saturday. Each night features three acts, including headliners Sheila Jordan, Regina Carter and Cindy Blackman Santana. 7 p.m. Tickets $38 for each night.
>> Sheila E hails from a respected family of Latin percussionists and first gained notoriety playing drums and percussion with Prince in the early and mid-’80s. She had moderate solo hits with “A Love Bizarre” and “Glamorous Life”, but has spent much of the past two decades as a featured player with numerous acts. She will bring her group to The Howard Theatre on Thursday. Check out our full preview. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $34.50 in advance/$39 day of show.
>> Local guitar ace John Lee brings his trio to the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on Thursday. 9:30 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval begins a four night stand of 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday at Blues Alley. Tickets $43 plus minimum/surcharge.
>> Jazz Night in Southwest hosts vocalist Mavis Waters and a band of excellent area musicians. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> OOO (pronounced “tree-oh trio”), assembled by bassist Luke Stewart, is a fresh addition to the area’s avant-garde scene. The group will be at Urban Eats on Friday. 8 p.m. $5 suggested donation.
>> Kenny Rittenhouse plays with trumpet with the esteemed U.S. Army Blues, as well as a number of other groups, and is known for his swinging hard bop sound. He will lead his own band through 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $15 plus $10 food/drink minimum.
>> Kenneth Rodgers has played bass with the likes of Me’Shell N’Degeocello, Bilal, Talib Kweli and a host of others who straddle the line between R&B and jazz. Better known by his stage name, Gizmo, he will be at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday to lead a group that includes saxophonist Marcus Strickland. The band is supporting Gizmo’s new album, Red Balloon. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $18 online/$22 at the door.
>> HR-57 hosts regulars Antonio Parker (Friday) and AJ Parham (Saturday). 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets $15.
>> The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra performs a free show on Saturday at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. 6 p.m.
>> In the two years since we interviewed composer/arranger Darcy James Argue, his ensemble, Secret Society, has breathed new life into the very concept of the jazz big band. The Secret Society will be at the Atlas on Saturday to support its new release, Brooklyn Babylon, which is already getting major critical props and will likely be on many best-of lists at the end of the year. The recording is a collaboration with Croatian-born visual artist Danijel Zezelj, who has created an animated piece set in a steampunk-esque take on Brooklyn. 8 p.m. Tickets $15-$30.
>> The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club celebrates the 75th anniversary on Saturday of the elegant art deco, once-upon-a-time cinema that now houses the venue. The club marks its “Grand Re-opening” with a performance from NEA Jazz Master Branford Marsalis. Ticket packages for the special event range from $75 to $175.
>> Ron Kearns has for decades been among one of the area’s most esteemed saxophonists. He is also a respected jazz educator, having spent years teaching in Montgomery County’s public school system. Now retired from teaching, he still performs regularly and will be at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Sunday. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20 plus $15 food/drink minimum.
>> DRUMS ALONG THE POTOMAC-A Global Go-Go Fantasia is a collaboration between New York-based experimental jazz group Burnt Sugar, the Arkestra Chamber, along with D.C. Go-Go players Donnell Floyd, Go-Go Mickey, and Kenny “Kwick” Gross. Dubbed a “polyrhythmic and romantic orchestral Go-Go suite,” the performance takes place on Monday at the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free.
>> Blue Monday Blues hosts Big Joe & the Dynaflows. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.
>> Trumpeter Donvonte McCoy continues his Tuesday night run as April’s Artist-in-Residence at Bohemian Caverns. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 online/$15 at the door.
>> Tommy Cecil has long been among the area’s first call bassists. On Tuesday, he will team up with pianist Bill Mays at Blues Alley to perform selections from Sondheim Duos, their album of songs by the Broadway icon. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum/surcharge.
>> The Hot Club of DC brings its take on gypsy jazz to Twins Jazz on Tuesday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus $10 food/drink minimum.
