James Brandon Lewis leads a trio on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns to celebrate the release of his latest recording. >> The always infectious No BS! Brass Band performs a free outdoor concert at Strathmore tonight as part of its summer concert series. 7 p.m.
>> Karen Briggs made her name as a featured guest on platinum selling albums by New Age star Yanni in the 1990s. That aside, she is a fiery improviser who has taken fusion violin to new heights. Briggs leads her ensemble tonight at AMP. 8 p.m. Tickets $25-$35.
>> Area saxophonist Jordan Dixon performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
>> New York-based trumpeter Joe Pino comes to D.C. on Thursday with his organ trio to play Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Veteran area trumpeter Tom Williams leads a quartet of fine local players on Thursday at Dukem Jazz. 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover.
>> Guitarist Larry Coryell was at ground zero when the fusion movement exploded. He and his band, Strings Attached, will begin a three night run on Thursday at Blues Alley as the historic club continues its 50th anniversary celebration. The band features five guitarists with bass and drums. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Sin Miedo brings its Afro-Cuban sounds to the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture garden for Jazz in the Garden on Friday. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Free.
>> Trumpeter DeAndrey Howard leads a group of area mainstays on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets $5.
>> Guitarist Matt Ingeneri and bassist Mark Saltman perform jazz standards and hard bop classics at Sotto from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. No cover.
>> Not long ago, area vocalist Aaron Myers gave Metro riders some sage advice with a touch of swing. Perhaps you’ll here his “Stand Right” during his set on Friday at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Anita King brings her blend of soul, jazz and R&B to the venue on Saturday. No cover, two item minimum per person.
>> A good time is always had at any Brass-a-Holics show. The band started coming to D.C. through a string of performances at the DC Jazz Festival, where they were a fan favority. The New Orleans band returns to the nation’s capital on Friday for a performance at The Hamilton. 8:30 p.m. Tickets $20-$30.
>> James Brandon Lewis is a saxophonist whose star is slowly but surely on the rise. He will lead a trio at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday in support of his latest album, Days of Freeman. The title refers to Freeman Street, where he grew up in Buffalo, NY. The recording serves as a sonic autobiography, making references to Lewis’s carefree boyhood, and later his explorations into love, identity and faith. Luke Stewart, local bassist and jazz entrepreneur, will also be on the gig. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
>> Formed by brothers Joe and Lou Natale, Project Natale has been performing around the area since the late ’90s and have become a mainstay. The band will play 9 and 11 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> It’s the last Saturday of a summer month, so that means it’s time for the July edition of the Petworth Jazz Project. This month’s iteration features a 6 p.m. performance from Planet Swagg and a 7 p.m. show from ace pianist Mark Meadows and his group. Free.
>> Pianist, vocalist and five-time Grammy winner Diana Krall is coming to Wolf Trap on Saturday. Her new album, Wallflower, features popular classics that have inspired Krall from the late ’60s till the present day. 8 p.m. Tickets $40-$75.
>> Janel & Anthony, the exploratory duo comprised of cellist Janel Leppin and guitarist Anthony Pirog will perform at the Fringe Arts Space on Saturday. Also on the bill will be a side project from each of them, which includes Pirog’s trio and Leppin’s Mellow Diamond. 9:30 p.m. Free.
>> Paul Reed Smith‘s eponymous guitar manufacturing company makes such a fine product that axe-wielders like Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin and a host of other guitar gods are proud to endorse it. Smith is also a fine guitarist himself, and will lead a band on Sunday at The Hamilton that features drummer extraordinaire Dennis Chambers. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15-$20.
>> Recent U. of Maryland grad and saxophonist Nathan Reising leads a band on Sunday at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> The Greater U Street Jazz Collective is a group of veteran players who are inspired by the great jazz tradition that came out of that neighborhood before urban blight set in. The ensemble is July’s Artist-in-Residence at Bohemian Caverns and will conclude its run of Tuesday nights next week. 7:30 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $10.
