Local pianist Chris Grasso leads his group with featured guests tonight at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. >> Spyro Gyra formed in the 1970s during the height of the fusion movement. The band is still going strong after nearly 40 years and will be at The Hamilton tonight for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets $30-$40.
>> Chris Grasso is one of the area’s top jazz presenters, as he has curated a number of successful jazz series around the city. He is also a skilled jazz pianist, specializing in accompanying vocalists. One of his chief collaborators is Sharón Clark, a singer’s singer who tours the world with her classic sound. The two will team up tonight at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 8 p.m. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Bassist Nicole Saphos leads her band through 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Baltimore’s Orchester Praževica plays high energy music that comes from the traditions of Eastern European Czardas and Gypsy Swing, but also with a heavy dose of jazz and blues. The band will be at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge tonight. 9 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Tia Fuller landed one of the most sought-after gigs in music when she was tapped to become part of Beyoncé’s touring band. A versatile saxophonist who can handle any genre, Fuller will play The Clarice on Thursday, leading a jazz group. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $10-$25.
>> The jazz world is currently awash in tributes to the great Billie Holiday, as April 7 marked the centenary of the jazz icon’s birth. AMP has assembled a quartet of the DMV’s top vocalists to stage its own homage to Lady Day. Lena Seikaly, Rochelle Rice, Christie Dashiell, and Integriti Reeves will take the stage on Thursday with accompaniment from saxophonist Elijah Balbed and pianist Mark Meadows. 8 p.m. Tickets $12-$20.
>> New York-based saxophonist Darryl Yokley comes to D.C. to play Twins Jazz on Thursday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Vocalist Jane Monheit brings her timeless style to the Barns at Wolf Trap on Thursday for an 8 p.m. show. The performance is sold out but it’s worth contacting the box office for last minute availability.
>> Brian Settles, one of D.C.’s finest saxophonists, will lead his quartet on Thursday at Dukem Jazz. 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover.
>> Ramsey Lewis‘s group was playing the historic Bohemian Caverns in 1965 when it recorded a live album that featured “The In Crowd,” a cover of a pop hit by singer Dobie Gray. The song became a hit on both the R&B and jazz charts that year and is Lewis’s most recognizable performance. The 79-year old will return to Blues Alley on Thursday to begin a four night stand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that release. Tickets $60 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Respected local vocalist and educator Lori Williams leads a group on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Keiko Matsui has long explored more ethereal sounds, creating music that straddles smooth jazz and new age. She will bring her rich soundscapes to The Birchmere on Friday. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $45.
>> Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock are among the greatest jazz pianists of all time, having earned universal acclaim and 34 Grammy awards between them. They will perform as a piano duo on Friday at the Kennedy Center for a concert produced by the Washington Performing Arts Society. 8 p.m. Tickets $45-$125.
>> Andrew Bishop (saxophone), Gerald Cleaver (drums), and Tim Flood (bass) started performing together in 1996 and have achieved a simpatico that is rare among jazz groups. The trio will perform material from its latest album, De Profundis, on Friday at The Atlas. 8 p.m. Tickets $22-$28.
>> Pianist Donal Fox created a niche for himself at the intersection of classical music and jazz. His deconstruction of works by Bach, Piazzolla, Schumann, Monk, and Schoenberg earned him the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 1997. Fox will bring his eclectic style to AMP on Friday. 8 p.m. Tickets $28-$35.
>> Pianist Marc Cary is an innovative musician whose curiosity has led him to embrace sounds from any and all traditions. He will set up shop at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday with a band that includes District mainstay Tarus Mateen, as well as percussionist Sameer Gupta. The band celebrates the release of its new album, Rhodes Ahead, Vol. 2. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $23 in advance/$28 at the door.
>> Diane Marino is an accomplished pianist, arranger, and vocalist who performs traditional jazz, Latin and Brazilian jazz and puts her own stamp on classic American standards. She’ll lead a group on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Dianne Reeves is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists and will be performing at the Kennedy Center on Saturday. She has assembled an all-star cast of musicians for this 8 p.m. performance, including drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, pianist Billy Childs, and others. Tickets $20-$68.
>> Woodwind artist Seth Kibel has won an astounding 28 Wammies, including multiple awards in the “Best World Music Instrumentalist” and “Best Jazz Instrumentalist” categories. His quartet, which draws from gypsy jazz, traditional swing, and klezmer influences, will be at the Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom on Saturday. Vocalist Lena Seikaly will be a featured guest. 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets $12-$18.
>> CapitalBop once again brings its excellent Jazz Loft series to Union Arts on Sunday. This month’s iteration offers groups led by an established local artist and two fast-rising up-and-comers, the former in the person of trumpeter Donvonte McCoy and bassist Eliot Seppa and drummer Allen Jones fitting into the latter category. 7 p.m. $15 suggested donation.
>> On Sunday, trumpeter Rob Mazurek leads São Paulo Underground at Bohemian Caverns. Embracing electronics, free jazz, and Brazilian tropicalia, the band is a collision between Chicago’s avant-garde seen and the colors and rhythms of Brazil. 7 and 8:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
>> Keyboardist Cory Henry is perhaps best known for his work with Snarky Puppy. He also leads his own group, The Funk Apostles, which will be playing Gypsy Sally’s on Sunday. 8 p.m. Tickets $15-$25.
>> Saxophonist Herb Scott is this month’s Artist-in-Residence at Bohemian Caverns, performing 7:30 and 9 p.m. sets each Tuesday. Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door.
>> Eliane Elias can captivate audiences with both her prodigious piano skills and alluring voice. She returned to her roots for her latest album, Made in Brazil, choosing material ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Elias will perform songs from the album on Tuesday at The Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $30-$40.
>> Vocalist Donna Byrne leads a quartet on Tuesday at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
