Photo courtesy U.S. Navy Band.

In what may be as fitting a tribute as possible, the U.S. Navy Band’s jazz ensemble will play Yards Park tonight, just four days after the horrific shooting at the Navy Yard.

The performance by the Commodores, an 18-piece group formed in 1969, was scheduled well in advance of Monday’s shooting, which left 13 people, including the shooter, dead. But now with the Navy Yard shooting, the performance has taken on new meaning.

“We will be dedicating our performance to the people affected by the horrific events on Monday,” musician first class Jennifer Krupa, who plays trombone, told DCist.

“We feel that music in general offers an opportunity to heal and reflect,” Krupa continued. “With everything that happened on Monday, we feel that it’s important for us to go out and do our jobs, and show that the Navy is a family, whether we’re active duty or reservist of civilian. We can’t be deterred from doing what we do and being strong.

“If we can go out there and do our jobs and play our music and help anyone to heal and reflect on what happened then we’re doing the right thing.”

The Commodores will play Yards Park (355 Water Street SE) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight.