Red Baraat performs on Thursday at The Howard Theatre. Photo by Ferny Chung / Retouching by Louis F. Cuffari.>> Warner Williams, an area native, is among the finest Piedmont-style blues guitarists in the country. He performs with harmonica player Jay Summerour tonight at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Pianist William “Chan” Hall leads his band tonight at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> The Kennedy Center hosts a major festival each spring and this year the prestigious venue will be staging IBERIAN SUITE: global arts remix, a major festival highlighting the many cultures that comprise the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking peoples. This week, as part of the festival, the Millennium Stage will feature a number of jazz acts including vocalist Claudia Acuña (Thursday) and trombonist Papo Vázquez (Friday). 6 p.m. Free.
>> A former member of the Grammy-nominated jazz vocal group, Rare Silk, vocalist Jamie Broumas has been a familiar face on the local scene since the ’80s. She also curates the Fortas Chamber Music Series at the Kennedy Center. Broumas will lead an ensemble of the city’s best on Thursday at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets $23 in advance/$28 at the door.
>> Spring time marks the Hindu festival of Holi, which is in part celebrated by masses of people throwing colored powder at each other. Red Baraat has embarked on its annual Festival of Colors tour to add to the joy, which will stop at The Howard Theatre on Thursday. In addition to bringing its infectious blend of North Indian bhangra and New Orleans brass sounds, the night will begin with a short film centered around Holi with a score by Vijay Iyer, as well as an opening band, Rupa & The April Fishes. 6 p.m. doors/8 p.m. show. Tickets $20-$40.
>> Veteran area saxophonist Marty Nau performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz on Thursday. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Smooth jazz star Alex Bugnon performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Thursday. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> The Intersections festival at the Atlas closes this weekend. Visit the web site to see if any shows pique your interest.
>> The Feedel Band brings its infectious combination of Ethiopian music and jazz to the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on Thursday. 10 p.m. Tickets $10.
>> A sextet of the DMV’s finest come together on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. The band, dubbed Inner Urge, includes pianist Allyn Johnson, saxophonist Lyle Link, trumpeter Thad Wilson and other world class local artists. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Akua Allrich is one of D.C.’s most dynamic jazz singers. She just returned from her first self-produced tour, which culminated with a residency at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Doha. Allrich will be performing at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday with a program to celebrate Women’s History Month. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $18 in advance/$23 at the door.
>> When we first profiled The Flail, way back in 2008, we wrote of how rare it was to have actual jazz bands in today’s world. Nearly 7 years later, the group is still going strong, making it even more of a rarity. The Flail returns to D.C. on Friday and Saturday for performances at Twins Jazz. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Stanley Jordan will bring his unique tapping style of guitar playing to Blues Alley this weekend for a three night run of solo performances. The string of 8 and 10 p.m. sets begins on Friday. Tickets $27.50 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Vocalist extraordinaire Rachelle Ferrell performs 7:30 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at The Birchmere. Tickets $59.50.
>> DRKWAV is a relatively recent project featuring keyboardist John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood), ace drummer Adam Deitch and saxophonist Skerik. The band’s improvisational approach incorporates a heavy dose of electronics and live sampling, blurring the lines between jazz, EDM and funk. The trio will be at The Hamilton on Saturday. 7 p.m. doors/8:30 p.m. show. Tickets $20-$25.
>> CapitalBop hosts the second edition of its Traveling Loft at the Dance Institute of Washington on Sunday. Pianist Lafayette Gilchrist now tours the world from his base in Baltimore, but the D.C. native still holds his hometown in high regard. Sunday marks the first time he will perform his 2014 album, The Go-Go Suite, live in the District with help from his band, New Volcanoes. Allyn Johnson, arguably D.C.’s finest pianist, leads a trio to open. 7 p.m. doors/8 p.m. show. Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door.
>> Erik Deutsch can play just about anything on the piano. His resume includes works with singer-songwriters (Norah Jones), jazz-funk bands (Charlie Hunter) and country stars (Shooter Jennings). As a leader, he stays in the jazz realm, but ties in all of these other influences. He will perform at Bohemian Caverns on Sunday in support of his latest recording, Outlaw Jazz. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
>> William Hooker is a tirelessly exploratory musician and a mainstay of New York’s avant-garde community. He will lead a group on Sunday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> For her latest album, The Lagos Music Salon, vocalist Somi spent 18 months in Nigeria to develop a sound that draws from soul, jazz and traditional Nigerian music. She will perform material from the recording at Blues Alley on Monday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Howard “Kingfish” Franklin has spent years playing drums behind some of the area’s finest jazz musicians. He is in the midst of a month-long run of Tuesday nights at Bohemian Caverns as the historic club’s Artist-in-Residence. 7:30 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door.
>> Bassist Avery Sharpe spent nearly 20 years playing with piano legend McCoy Tyner, in addition to stings with Dizzy Gillespie and Pat Metheny. He leads his own group on Tuesday at Blues Alley. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
