Joe Lovano leads his Village Rhythms Band this weekend at the Kennedy Center’s KC Jazz Club.
>> The Jazz & Cultural Society hosts Doug Pierce and The Band of Brothas Quartet tonight. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> Saxophonist Nathan Hook made waves in his native Austin before making the trip east to New York. He is now continuing his studies at the esteemed Peabody Conservatory and will make the trip down 95 tonight to play Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Vocalist Indigo Love pays tribute to Sarah Vaughan with 8 and 10 p.m. sets tonight at Blues Alley. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Saxophonist Jonathan Parker‘s octet returns to The Wonderland Ballroom tonight for an evening of music by Parker himself, along with compositions by jazz greats. 9 p.m. to midnight. $5 suggested donation.
>> 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. 9:30 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> The Smithsonian American Art Museum‘s Take Five! jazz series presents saxophonist Kenny Nunn on Thursday in the Kogod Courtyard. His quartet of Howard University musicians perform hard bop saxophonist Hank Mobley’s music, covering Mobley’s classic 1960 Soul Station album. 5 p.m. Free.
>> Three Man Soul Machine plays BIN 1301 on Thursday. 7 p.m. No cover.
>> Christie Dashiell is one of the area’s top vocalists and one of three (3!) local singers to qualify for the finals of last year’s prestigious Monk Competition. She will play 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets on Thursday at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets $18 in advance/$23 at the door.
>> Smooth jazz saxophonist Kim Waters comes to Blues Alley on Thursday to start a four-night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $43-$48 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> The Soul Rebels is a New Orleans brass band that puts a contemporary spin on the Crescent City sound. To that end, they are touring with rapper Talib Kweli and will play a late show at 9:30 Club tomorrow. 10 p.m. doors. Tickets $25. Stay tuned for a full preview from DCist.
>> Greg Boyer joined Parliament-Funkadelic right out of high school and has since played trombone for the likes of Prince and Chuck Brown. He will lead his own straight-ahead jazz band on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> John Hammond was a fixture of the blues revival that took place in the 1960s. While he never received the same notoriety as some of his contemporaries, he was respected enough to have performed with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Howlin’ Wolf, and Muddy Waters. Hammond will play an intimate solo acoustic show on Friday at AMP. 8 p.m. Tickets $30-$40.
>> The Sandcatchers are a new band blending the Middle Eastern sound of the oud with the dreamy, Americana-infused textures of the lap steel with original music by Yoshie Fruchter. They will be upstairs at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on Friday with opener Anthony Pirog doing a solo set. 8 p.m. doors. $10 at the door.
>> It’s a night of smooth jazz on Friday at The Carlyle Club, featuring Marcus Johnson and Marcus Mitchell. 8 p.m. Tickets $25.
>> Excellent area trumpeter Michael Thomas leads his quintet on Friday at Bohemian Caverns. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $18 in advance/$23 at the door.
>> Union Arts has played an important role in D.C.’s cultural landscape as one of the few artist-run DIY spaces in the city. That role is now under threat as development plans will be turning 411 New York Ave. NE into a “boutique hotel.” A zoning hearing is scheduled for February 23, and proponents of Union Arts are holding a fundraising concert on Friday to generate awareness on the issue. The 8:30 p.m. show features PRIESTS, Janel & Anthony, Adriana-Lucia Cotes, and Escape-ism. Donations accepted at the door.
>> Joe Lovano is known for a warm, yet full tone that fits into almost any style of music. He will bring his Village Rhythms Band to the Kennedy Center on Friday and Saturday for 7 and 9 p.m. sets. The ensemble explores the relationship between West African music and American jazz. Tickets $39.
>> Mr. Henry’s hosts Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Direct Jazz Band (Friday) and vocalist Renee Tannenbaum (Saturday). 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
>> 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.
>> Trombonist Reginald Cyntje and bassist Herman Burney are both first-call musicians in the D.C. area. Capital Fringe is sponsoring a duo performance of these two veteran artists on Saturday at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library. 2 p.m. Free.
>> Saxophonist Brian Settles‘ career is emblematic of the resurgence D.C.’s jazz scene has experienced over the past 15 years. A native of the District, his studies took him to New York before he returned to Howard to complete his Master’s degree. He now performs throughout the northeast and will bring his band, Central Union, to Bohemian Caverns on Saturday night. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $18 in advance/$23 at the door.
>> Chris Botti has a career that spans a wide array of music, from straight-ahead jazz, to the electronic avant-garde with Bruford Levin Upper Extremities, to top 40 pop with Sting. He has settled into a smoother sound now, and a couple of well-received PBS specials have crossed over to widespread popularity. Botti will perform on Saturday at the Kennedy Center in a performance presented by the Washington Performing Arts Society. 8 p.m. Tickets $50-$100.
>> The Jazz & Cultural Society hosts the Craig Briscoe Trio on Sunday. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
>> Formed in Chicago by percussionist Kahil El’Zabar, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble has undergone many lineup changes, but has nonetheless been performing in some form for 40 years. On Sunday, trumpeter Corey Wilkes and saxophonist Ernest Kahbeer Dawkins will join El’Zabar to celebrate Black History Month at Bohemian Caverns. Part of the Sundays @ 7 concert series. 7 and 8:30 p.m. sets. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
>> Saxophonist Jordan Dixon leads his band through 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Sunday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Oud player Huda Asfour and percussionist Kamyar Arsani will perform compositions and improvisations drawing from Middle Eastern traditions on Sunday at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. Multi-instrumentalist Omar Pitras Waqar will open as part of a duo with vocalist Ilana Alazzeh. 9:30 p.m. No cover.
>> Cristian Perez is an acoustic guitarist who plays jazz that is infused with all manner of international influences, most notably those of Latin America. The former Strathmore artist-in-residence will play 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Monday at Blues Alley to celebrate the release of his new album, Anima Mundi. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
>> Blues legend Robert Cray performs at The Birchmere on Tuesday. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $55.
>> Veronneau, the 2013 WAMMY winners for Best Jazz Group, moves effortlessly from samba to gypsy jazz. The group is built around the vocalist Lynn Veronneau, whose dexterity allows her to sound authentic in a number of styles. Veronneau will be at Blues Alley on Tuesday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
