Aaron “Ab” Abernathy leads the Nat Turner Band on Thursday at Bohemian Caverns. >> Blues Alley‘s Italian jazz series continues tonight with saxophonist Marco Pignataro‘s band, IQ. The series breaks for a few days and then concludes next week with bands led by drummer Gianluca Pellerito (Monday) and bassist Marco Panascia (Tuesday). 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20-$25 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Pianist Joe Vetter moved to the D.C. area after finishing his studies at the famed Manhattan School of Music. He’s working to establish himself in the local scene and will be at Twins Jazz on Wednesday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> The Hot Club of DC celebrates the classic Parisian jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. The Carlyle Club will offer a perfect setting for this timeless material on Thursday. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> >> Chaise Lounge performs a brand of easy going, yet sophisticated jazz that was made popular by Capitol Records in the early ’60s. The band will be at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Thursday. 8 p.m. Tickets $25 plus food and drink minimum.
>> Baltimore has a highly underrated jazz community and Kristin Callahan is a young singer who is making a name for herself there. She’ll take the drive down 295 on Thursday for her 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Aaron “Ab” Abernathy graduated from Howard University’s prestigious jazz program and then went into the hip-hop realm to serve as music director for the underground hip-hop heavyweight, Black Milk. The pianist will return to his jazz roots on Thursday to lead the Nat Turner Band at Bohemian Caverns. 8 p.m. Tickets $15.
>> Trumpeter Donvonte McCoy holds court most Fridays and Saturdays at Eighteenth Street Lounge. This week, he’ll add a Thursday night performance, leading his quartet at Dukem Jazz. 9 p.m. to midnight. Free.
>> The Weekend Jazz series at the Loews Madison Hotel features Veronneau on Thursday (6 to 9 p.m.), vocalist Sharón Clark on Friday (8 to 11 p.m.) and pianist Andrew Adair on Saturday (8 to 11 p.m.). Free.
>> Terence Blanchard is among the finest trumpeters of his generation, or ever, and regularly makes stops here in the District. His group will return to Blues Alley on Thursday for a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $40 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Saxophonist Herb Scott will lead a group of the area’s finest up-and-coming musicians on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5. The following day, Westminster Presbyterian will also host the 13th Annual D.C. Jazz Preservation Festival, an all day celebration of local jazz with performances from different groups each hour. Noon to 8 p.m. Free.
>> The Funk Ark, under the direction of keyboardist Will Rast, focuses on afrobeat music, but features some of D.C.’s best horn players, including trumpeter Joe Herrera and saxophonist Matt Rippetoe. The band is one of three groups on the bill for Tropicalia‘s Afrofunk festival, taking place on Friday. 7 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance/$13 at the door.
>> Saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk was one of the first area jazz artists we featured here on DCist. He’ll lead the Brazil Jazz Project on Friday at the Montpelier Arts Center. The performance features virtuoso bassist Leonardo Lucini. 8 p.m. Tickets $25.
>> >> Pianist Larry Willis has appeared on over 300 recordings during a career that spans 50 years. He has been a sideman with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, Art Blakey and Woody Shaw, and has recorded a number of albums as a leader. Willis will lead a group on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
>> Thad Wilson has been a regular on the local circuit for nearly 20 years. The veteran trumpeter will be at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday, leading a group that includes the excellent singer, Alison Crockett. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Cooper-Moore has been an important voice in the avant-garde community, as a composer, performer and instrument designer, for over 40 years. The piano is his main instrument, and he will bring a trio to Bohemian Caverns on Sunday to perform the Sundays @ 7 series. 7 and 8:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
>> Saxophonist Marty Nau continues his Tuesday night residency at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
