Cyrus Chestnut begins a six-night run at Blues Alley on Saturday.
>> Vocalist Steve Washington leads a band tonight at the Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> Up-and-coming young guitarist Elijah Cole leads a band tonight at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Born in Tigzirt-sur-Mer, Algeria, singer-songwriter Kamel Zennia‘s music is rooted in the Kabyle Berber culture. He will bring his rich sound to the Bossa Bistro & Lounge tonight. 8 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> Now in it’s 17th year, the Millennium Stage‘s annual Christmas Day Jazz Jam brings together D.C.’s finest musicians to perform as a who’s who of the local jazz community. Performers at Friday’s concert include host/vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeter Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores Williams. 6 p.m. Free.
>> Jazz Night in Southwest moves from its usual Friday night slot due to a certain religious holiday and will instead take place on Saturday with a group led by bassist Wes Biles. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> Saxophonist Rick Alberico leads his band through 9 and 11 p.m. sets on Saturday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Ben Williams is a bassist and D.C. native whose career has exploded over the past five years. He won the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition and released his first album, State of Art, in 2011. Along with the rest of the Pat Metheny Unity Band, he won the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album of 2012. Williams was then awarded the 2013 DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll award for rising bassist. Williams, who is now based out of New York, returns to the District to perform at Bohemian Caverns this weekend. 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Saturday, and 7 and 9 p.m. sets on Sunday. Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
>> The Rebirth Brass Band, the legendary outfit from New Orleans, will be at The Hamilton on Saturday and Sunday. The Funk Ark, D.C.’s own, will open the Saturday show. 8:30 p.m. Tickets $37-$42.
>> Cyrus Chestnut is a deeply soulful pianist whose gospel infused sound is heavily influenced by the hardbop of the ’50s and ’60s, when it was all about the swing and groove. Now a full-time faculty member at Howard University‘s prestigious jazz program, Chestnut will take the stage at Blues Alley on Saturday to begin a six-night run at the historic club. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $35-$40 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Smooth jazz star Kirk Whalum presents matinee and evening performances on Sunday of his holiday program, A Gospel According to Jazz Christmas. The 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. sets take place at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. Tickets $50-$75 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Vocalist James Zimmerman performs on Sunday at the Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> The Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe hosts vocalists Akua Allrich and Tamika Love Jones on Sunday. 8 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance.
>> Busy area pianist Todd Simon teams up with his bass playing brother, Shawn Simon, to co-lead a band through 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Sunday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> 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 Sunday at 9 p.m. No cover.
>> Area trombonist/bandleader Shannon Gunn has launched a new project, the Firebird Organ Trio, which has started a weekly Tuesday night residency at Columbia Station. Gunn chooses a classic jazz album to interpret over the course of the first set and the second set features originals by the house band. Musicians are also welcome to sit-in. 8-11 p.m. No cover.
