Harmonica player Gregoire Maret will team up with top notch local musicians on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns.

>> Gregory Porter is a jazz singer at heart, but also draws from blues and gospel influences. The two-time Grammy nominee is touring in support of Liquid Spirit, his debut for the legendary Blue Note label. Porter will be at The Howard Theatre tonight for an 8 p.m show. Tickets $32.50.

>> Bassist Roberto Pomili combines jazz with his native tango, and will be leading a trio through 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Blues Alley. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Marco Benevento is among the more acclaimed keyboardists to have made their name in the new millennium. He was popular on the jam band circuit as part of the Benevento Russo Duo and is also well known in experimental and jazz circles, as well as for his songwriting. The multi-faceted artist will be at U Street Music Hall on Thursday. 6:30 p.m. doors. $15.

>> Medeski Martin & Wood is one of the most acclaimed instrumental groups of the past twenty years, drawing from influences as varied as jazz, old school funk and avant-garde minimalism. Each member also engages in outside projects, and on Thursday John Medeski will be at the Barns of Wolf Trap for a solo piano concert. Stay tuned for a full preview. 8 p.m. Tickets $25.

>> Saxophonist Charley Gerard leads his quintet through 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday at Twins Jazz. The intriguing set features jazz interpretations of classical works by Mozart. Tickets $12 plus food and drink minimum.

>> Dukem, U Street’s popular Ethiopian restaurant, is going to be adding to the drag’s jazz happenings with a weekly Thursday event that it is billing as Dukem Jazz: U Street’s Newest Jazz Club. The series launches this Thursday with the wonderful vocalist, Akua Allrich, who will also return next week. Singer Sharón Clark will perform on December 19th and then the club will take a break for the holidays before continuing on January 9. 9 and 10:30 p.m. sets. No cover.

>> Legendary Latin jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval begins a four night stand of 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday at Blues Alley. Tickets $45 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Organist Jackie Hairston and veteran local pianist Wade Beach will co-lead a band on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.

>> Trumpeter Donald Tillery leads a group on Friday at HR-57. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $15.

>> Less fusion and more jazz-rock, Blood, Sweat & Tears cut some highly influential albums in the 1970s. Though there have been numerous lineup changes, the band is now celebrating the 45th anniversary of its first release. The group will be at The Birchmere on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets $49.50.

>> Bill Frisell‘s latest album, Big Sur, is comprised of avant-garde and post-bop jazz with classical, folk, and country influences. The eclectic guitarist will be at the Barns of Wolf Trap on Friday in support of the release. Stay tuned for a full preview. 8 p.m. Tickets $35.

>> Spyro Gyra formed initially in the ’70s during the height of the fusion movement. In the ’80s, they pioneered what would become known as smooth jazz. Still going strong after nearly 30 albums, the group will be at The Hamilton on Friday for a 9 p.m. set. $46 in advance/$61.50 at the door.

>> Veronneau, the 2013 WAMMIE winners for Best Jazz Group, moves effortlessly from samba to gypsy jazz. The ensemble is built around the vocalist Lynn Veronneau, whose nimble voice allows her to sound authentic in a number of styles. Veronneau will be at the Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus food and drink minimum.

>> Grégoire Maret is a virtuoso harmonica player who can perform any genre of music. He will be at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday to perform with two of D.C.’s finest, keyboardist Federico Gonzalez Peña and burning drummer, Sean “The Rick” Rickman. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $18 online/$22 at the door.

>> NPR’s annual A Jazz Piano Christmas takes place on Saturday at the Kennedy Center and features Andy Bey, Stanley Cowell, Sullivan Fortner, and Michele Rosewoman. The 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets are sold out, but it’s worth contacting the box office for last minute availability. Tickets $55.

>> Singer Will Downing has drawn huge sales by straddling the line between classic R&B, neo soul and contemporary jazz. Downing’s rich baritone will be at The Howard Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. 8 p.m. $69.50 in advance/$75 at the door.

>> Highlights of the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra‘s calendar are its annual holiday concerts, where the big band performs Ellington’s Nutcracker and other famous seasonal classics. On Sunday, the ensemble will depart from its normal home in the cave for the more posh surroundings at the Mansion at Strathmore. 3, 5, and 7 p.m. sets. Tickets $22.50 to $25.

>> Avant-garde woodwind artist Bill Cole will lead the latest iteration of his Untempered Trio on Sunday at Bohemian Caverns. The group features bassist Shayna Dulberger and saxophonist Ras Moshe. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 online/$20 at the door.

>> Blue Monday Blues hosts Midnight Blue. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.

>> Tommy Cecil has long been a first call bassist in the local scene for over 35 years. Last year, he teamed up with pianist Bill Mays to release Side By Side, which featured the works of Stephen Sondheim. This year, the pair is revisiting the songs of the great Broadway composer with Sondheim Duos, vol. 2. They will celebrate the album’s release on Monday with 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> A native of Germany now living in Austria, pianist Ulrich Drechsler and his group bring their northern European jazz stylings to Twins Jazz on Tuesday. Tickets $12 plus food and drink minimum.

>> Area big band leader Eric Felten leads his ensemble through its annual holiday show at Blues Alley on Tuesday and Wednesday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.