Two jazz titans, bassist Buster Williams and pianist Larry Willis, join forces on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns.

Ed note: This Week in Jazz will be taking a break due to Sriram Gopal’s travel schedule. The roundups will resume on February 4, but in the mean time here are the highlights for the rest of January.

>> Will Calhoun (drums) and Doug Wimbish (bass) have long been the formidable rhythm section that drives the rock band, Living Colour. Vocalist Vinx will join the pair tonight on the Millennium Stage to form Jungle Funk, an improvisational, drum n’ bass inspired project that is sure to result in some vicious grooves. 6 p.m. Free.

>> The Lucky So & So‘s is a local band that infuses hip hop with jazz and Latin influences. The group will be sharing the stage with All The Best Kids on Thursday at Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. Tickets $12.

>> The D.C. jazz community deeply felt bassist Butch Warren’s 2013 passing. A local legend who played on some of the great jazz recordings of all time, but who also struggled with personal demons, Warren was revered by many. On Thursday, one of the area’s finest bassists, Blake Meister, leads a band at Dukem Jazz in tribute to Warren. 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover.

>> Cyrus Chestnut is one of the most soulful pianists around, a true throwback to the gospel infused hardbop of the ’50s and ’60s. He also recently joined the music faculty at Howard University. Chestnut will begin a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Thursday. Tickets $27.50 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> On Friday, Jazz Night in Southwest celebrates its 16th anniversary of presenting the best in local jazz. Pianist Vince Evans and bassist Pepe Gonzalez will also be leading bands on this venerable stage over the next few weeks. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.

>> >> Though there are artists out there with a more visible profile, Buster Williams must be name-checked among the top bassists of his generation. The Miles Davis alum has led his own ensemble, Something More, for decades and it features a rotating cast of musicians. On Friday and Saturday, he teams up with pianist and fellow titan, Larry Willis, at Bohemian Caverns for what is sure to be a spirited and soulful conversation. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $23 in advance/$28 at the door.

>> Benito Gonzalez took the D.C. jazz scene by storm in the early 2000s when he moved to this area from his native Venezuela. He moved to New York several years ago, leading his own bands and playing with a number of jazz greats, but still pays regular visits to our fair city. Gonzalez will play Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> The D.C. Jazz Singers Jam has found a new home at Bistro Bohem. The first session takes place on Sunday with a fantastic house band comprised of vocalist Sharon Clark, pianist Mark Meadows, bassist Eliot Seppa and drummer Ele Rubenstein. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Free.

>> Violinist Jason Kao Hwang, a relentlessly exploratory musician, leads his ensemble, SING HOUSE, on Sunday as part of Bohemian Caverns‘ Sundays @ 7 series. 7 and 8:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $15.

>> Vocalist Heidi Martin is a familiar face in area clubs, and has been for quite some time. She will be playing Bohemian Caverns every Tuesday this month as the historic club’s Artist-in-Residence for January. 7:30 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door.

>> Three Man Soul Machine features Carter Stevens on organ, Mylie Durham IV on drums and Frank Mitchell Jr. on tenor saxophone. Durham and Mitchell have played with a host of prominent local bands over the years, including The Funk Ark, See-I, and Thievery Corporation. The trio brings its pan-global sounds to the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on January 22nd. 9 p.m. Tickets $5.

>> Christylez, the Grammy-nominated MC and D.C. native will team up with Indian classical violinist Nistha Raj on January 24th and 25th at the Atlas to explore the spaces between their respective genres. The event marks the launch to the Washington Sound Museum’s 2015 season. 8 p.m. show on Saturday, 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets $25.

>> Area trombonist and bandleader Shannon Gunn is the driving force behind the Jazz and Freedom Festival, taking place on Sunday at Union Arts. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to midnight, beginning with a panel discussion on the jazz’s role in social activism. Six groups will perform, and featured musicians include vocalist Alison Crockett, trombonist Reginald Cyntje and drummer Nasar Abadey. Gunn’s own octet will close the show with selections from Max Roach’s seminal Freedom Now Suite. We’ll also have an interview with Gunn later this week. $20 suggested donation.

>> The Kennedy Center‘s jazz season resumes with a performance on January 23rd by Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, led by Diz’s long time bassist, John Lee. Percussionist Machito Jr. will be a featured performer. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $26-$32. The following day, talented young pianist, Sullivan Fortner, takes the stage as part of the Center’s Discovery Artist series. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $22.

>> The local jazz community got a huge boost when Tarus Mateen decided to relocate to D.C. The world class bassist plays regularly in area clubs and has also launched his own group, WestAfroEast. The band draws from West African and Afro-Cuban influences to create a culturally rich sound. WestAfroEast plays the Millennium Stage on January 28th. 6 p.m. Free.

>> Baltimore-based artist Todd Marcus has an intriguing sound not only because he expresses himself on a somewhat unusual instrument, the bass clarinet, but also because he blends music from his Arabic roots into a jazz setting. Marcus will lead his ensemble on January 28th at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> Zap Mama hails from Belgium and is among the most highly regarded Afro-pop acts in the world. Antibalas is a band from Brooklyn that blends afrobeat and contemporary funk. The groups come together on January 30th for a collaboration at Lisner Auditorium. 8 p.m. Tickets $30-$50.

>> Local trombonist Reginald Cyntje will close out January with two performances on the 30th and 31st at Bohemian Caverns. He has gathered a stellar group of local musicians to present material from Spiritual Awakening, his forthcoming album. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door.

>> Trumpeter Thad Wilson has been a consistent voice in area clubs since he arrived here in the mid-’90s. He will be leading a group at Twins Jazz on January 30th and 31st that will feature saxophonist Robert Landham. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets $16 plus minimum and surcharge.

>> The late, great pianist Jaki Byard gave flautist Jamie Baum several pieces of music while she studied with him at the New England Conservatory. Baum has assembled an ensemble to present this material on January 31st at the Kennedy Center. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $26-$32.