Stefon Harris leads a quintet on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. >> Dick Smith played for the Washington football team in the 1960s and has become an important part of the jazz community as a vocalist and the driving force behind Jazz Night in Southwest. He will be at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club tonight as a special guest with pianist Chris Grasso‘s trio. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Terry Bozzio brings his compositional drumming to The Hamilton tonight for a unique solo drumset performance. See our full preview for more details. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20-$25.
>> Saxophonist Tedd Baker will lead a combo made up of his colleagues in the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premiere jazz ensemble, on Wednesday at the Music Recital Hall on the Rockville campus of Montgomery College. This year marks the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane’s seminal recording, A Love Supreme. The band will perform the album in its entirety and will augment the program with other classics from that era. 7:30 p.m. Free. Part of the USAF Band Chamber Series.
>> Saxophonist Bob Schwartz leads his quartet through 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight and tomorrow at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Legendary drummer Billy Cobham assembled a quartet last year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his album, Spectrum, considered a landmark of the 1970s fusion era. The group performs at The Howard Theatre on Thursday. See our full preview for more details. 7 p.m. Tickets $30-$50 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> The weekend jazz series at the Loews Madison Hotel features Brazilian vocalist Elin on Thursday (6 to 9 p.m.), Janine Gilbert-Carter on Saturday (8 to 11 p.m.) and Akua Allrich on Sunday (8 to 11 p.m.). No cover.
>> Legendary fusion outfit The Yellowjackets first formed back in 1977. While the lineup has changed many times over the years, the group continues to put out high quality music that lives up to its long history. The band begins a four-night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday night at Blues Alley. Tickets $35 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Sharon Clark is one of D.C.’s finest vocalists and an electric performer. She will lead a group of area mainstays on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5. The 2013 New York Bistro Jazz Singer award winner will also play a free show the previous night at Dukem Jazz. 9 p.m. to midnight.
>> The son of the late, beloved Malian guitarist, Ali Farka Touré, Vieux Farka Touré is following in his father’s footsteps in celebrating his native music, but is also not afraid to create more of an edge with rock and funk influences. He will be at Artisphere on Friday with local opener, Elikeh. 8 p.m. Tickets $18-$25.
>> Stefon Harris emerged in the 1990s along with a crop of young lions that injected some real electricity into the jazz community. He also brought much needed attention to the vibraphone as a lead instrument in jazz. Now 20 years into his career, he continues to assemble outstanding bands and has released seven well-received albums as a leader. Harris brings his quintet to Bohemian Caverns this Friday and Saturday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 in advance/$30 at the door.
>> Nomad Stories is a septet under the direction of saxophonist Kelly Shepherd. The ensemble draws the entire range of 20th century American music that came out of the blues. One song might recall traditional New Orleans jazz, the next might draw from Jimi Hendrix. Nomad Stories performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Shemekia Copeland is the reigning Queen of the Blues, and the most widely praised blues singer of her generation. She will be playing with the Bad Influence Band on Saturday at The Hamilton. 8:30 p.m. Tickets $22-$27.
>> The D.C. Jazz Singers Jam takes place every Sunday at the Black Fox Lounge. This week’s event is a “Best of” with awards and prizes being given out to local vocalists. 5 to 7:30 p.m.
>> Saxophonist Darius Jones and French vocalist Emilie Lesbros, recently collaborated on project in tribute to French avant-garde vocalist Brigitte Fontaine. The two will co-lead a group to present this material as part of Bohemian Caverns‘ Sundays @ 7 series. 7 and 8:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
>> New York-based vocalist Shoshana Bush will visit the District on Sunday to play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Blue Monday Blues celebrates its 8th anniversary with a jam session. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Saxophonist Marty Nau continues his Tuesday night residency at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
>> The Swiss embassy is presenting two natives of that country on Tuesday at Blues Alley. Beat Kaestli is a vocalist who has issued four critically acclaimed albums in the past decade-and-a-half. Gregoire Maret has taken jazz harmonica in new directions. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
