Cassandra Wilson performs on Sunday at The Howard Theatre.

>> The D.C. Music Salon kicks off its fifth season of gatherings that focus on local music history. Tonight’s salon features a screening of Bossa Nova:The Brazilian Music Which Charmed the World. The film, directed by award winning jazz filmmaker Bret Primack, spends a lot of time on Jazz Samba, a 1962 album recorded here by the local Charlie Byrd Trio with celebrated saxophonist Stan Getz. Area guitarist Ken Avis will lead a post-film discussion. The event takes place at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library. 7 p.m. Free.

>> Steve Fidyk is most often seen playing drums with the U.S. Army Blues, the Army’s premiere jazz ensemble. Outside of his service work, he is an accomplished bandleader, author, and educator (who even spent a couple years teaching a certain DCist jazz writer). Fidyk celebrates the release of his new album, Heads Up!, tonight at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. The quintet features a wonderful horn section comprised of trumpeter Terrell Stafford and saxophonist Tim Warfield. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Esperanza Spalding‘s group is playing The Birchmere tonight at 7:30 p.m. and the show is predictably sold out. Contact the box office for last minute availability. Tickets $65.

>> American saxophonist Darius Jones and French vocalist Emelie Lesbros will join forces on Thursday for a performance on the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free.

>> Saxophonist Bobby Muncy brings his Radiohead Jazz Project, which includes the alchemic sounds of guitarist Anthony Pirog, to Bohemian Caverns on Thursday. Like its namesake, this band always takes its music in surprising directions. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door.

>> Percussionist Rajna Swaminathan, an area native and recent UMD grad, was trained in the Indian classical tradition, but is quickly working her way up the New York scene playing in a variety of genres. Her resume includes gigs with 2014 MacArthur “genius grant” recipient, Steve Coleman and 2013 MacArthur fellow, Vijay Iyer. Swaminathan will lead her new project, RAJAS, on Thursday at the Mansion at Strathmore. The band includes her sister, violinist Anjna Swaminathan, and trumpeter Amir ElSaffar. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $18-$20.

>> The Potomac Jazz Project will be at the Carlyle Club on Thursday to play the works of George and Ira Gershwin. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> A native of Italy, Roberta Gambarini is a jazz chanteuse in the most classic and timeless sense. She begins a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Thursday. Gabarini will lead a stellar band that includes pianist Cyrus Chestnut and legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Pianist Larry Brown leads a group of A-list local talent on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.

>> Bandleader Eric Felten leads his jazz orchestra through the swing classics of the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s on Friday at the Carlyle Club. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $28 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Multi-instrumentalist Muhal Richard Adams is a co-founder of the famed Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, an organization formed in Chicago in 1965, which went on to become a hub for artists wanting to explore avant-garde jazz and music from the African diaspora. Adams’ work led to his being named an NEA Jazz Master and he will be making a rare D.C. appearance on Friday at the Kennedy Center. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $32.

>> The Funk Ark, under the direction of keyboardist Will Rast, focuses on afrobeat music, but features some of D.C.’s best jazz players, including trumpeter Joe Herrera and saxophonist Matt Rippetoe. The band celebrates the release of its latest album, Man is a Monster, on Friday at the Black Cat. 9 p.m. doors. Tickets $12.

>> Otis Brown III has long been a highly sought after drummer, having played with the likes of Joe Lovano and Esperanza Spalding. His debut album as a leader, The Thought of You, came out last month on Blue Note records and he’ll be performing material from the recording with his band on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door.

>> Annapolis-based saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk leads a band of the area’s finest with his Brazil Project, focusing on contemporary South American sounds, on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus food and drink minimum.

>> Drummer Deric Dickens and trombonist Ryan Keberle don’t limit themselves to any one genre. Jazz, soul, roots music and international sounds are all fodder on Saturday as their two bands take the stage simultaneously for a collaborative performance at the Atlas. 8 p.m. Tickets $20-$25.

>> We make no secret of our esteem for Cassandra Wilson, who deservedly stands among the all-time great jazz vocalists in terms of both talent and originality. She’ll be at The Howard Theatre on Sunday to play material from her new album, Coming Forth By Day, a tribute to the great Billie Holiday. 7:30 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $39.50 to $75 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Choosing a show to attend on Sunday is going to be difficult. If Cassandra Wilson is one of our favorite jazz acts, then Red Baraat is one of the most accessible and fun. The bhangra-brass band returns to The Hamilton on Sunday after having recently played the Rosslyn Jazz Festival. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $22-$25.

>> Saxophonist Brad Linde is among the most active voices in the local jazz community. On Sunday, he will bring a new project, Ditch Panther, to Twins Jazz. Co-led by pianist Erika Dohi, the band engages in free improvisation drawn from themes in Baroque counterpoint, 20th Century music and modern jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Trumpeter Herb Alpert first rose to prominence in the ’60s as the leader of the Tijuana Brass. He went on to became a powerful record executive as the “A” in A&M Records, whose catalog includes The Police, The Carpenters, The Go-Gos, and dozens of other platinum selling acts. He has returned to performing in recent years, and will appear at The Birchmere on Monday with his wife, vocalist Lani Hall. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $59.50.

>> The husband and wife duo of Marcus and Jean Baylor have each been well-established in the jazz community, he as a drummer for a number of top acts, and her as a gifted vocalist. The two will lead a band as The Baylor Project on Tuesday at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.