Akua Allrich pays tribute to Miriam Makeba and Nina Simone on Sunday at the Atlas.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
Saxophonist Luis Faife leads a quartet at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Named Jazz Artist of the Year and Best Composer of 2014 by the Washington City Paper, pianist Mark G. Meadows is one of the area’s brightest young stars. His band plays the Mansion at Strathmore at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $17.
Christian McBride is among the finest bassists of his generation. He is at home playing the most soulful straight-ahead jazz or rocking out on the electric bass. His band plays an 8 p.m. show at AMP. Tickets 40-$50.
The Barns of Wolf Trap kicks off its fall/winter season tonight with a performance from celebrated vocalist and three time Grammy winner, Dee Dee Bridgewater. 8 p.m. Tickets $42-$48.
Area pianist Joe Vetter plays Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Herb Scott is a great example of a musician who climbs up the ladder through a mix of talent, perseverance, and a strong work ethic. He will make his Blues Alley debut, leading a group of local all-stars. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
Rachelle Ferrell is as dynamic a vocalist as you will find anywhere, and she is capable of holding her own in any style. Ferrell comes to Blues Alley on Thursday to begin a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $65-$70 plus minimum and surcharge.
The Twins Jazz Orchestra plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at the club. $5 at the door.
The Feedel Band combines jazz, funk, and traditional Ethiopian music to create a truly groovy sound. They play the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 9:30 p.m. $10 at the door.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 7
Six By Five is an ensemble of local veterans that includes saxophonists Peter Fraize and Paul Carr, as well as guitarist Joshua Bayer. The band will perform at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
The Kennedy Center kicks off its ’16-’17 jazz season with a performance from saxophonist Gary Bartz, whose band will feature pianist Barney McAll, bassist James King, and drummer Greg Bandy. Bartz broke into the jazz world by playing with Miles Davis in the 1970s, and though he is recognized by many as a true master, he remains under-appreciated.
Dial 251 For Jazz plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
CapitalBop is presenting an excellent bill at Rhizome. The headliner is Dave Rempis’ Gunwale, which has been making waves in Chicago’s experimental scene. Two D.C. elders, saxophonists Fred Foss and Aaron Martin, will also perform as a duo. 8:30 p.m. $10 at the door.
Brazilian guitarist Rogério Souza plays 9 and 11 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
Gary Bartz kicks off the Kennedy Center’s jazz season on Friday.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
Harold López-Nussa is considered one of Cuba’s top young pianists, and thanks to the warming of relations between the U.S. and that island nation, many of its artists have an opportunity to earn a broader audience. The Kennedy Center will present López-Nussa as part of its Discovery Series. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $20-$30.
Few musicians have created as much buzz over the last couple years as has Joey Alexander. The 13-year-old prodigy is not just a technical wizard on the piano, but he plays with the maturity and emotion of someone with many more years of experience. Alexander and his trio will be at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club in support of his latest album, Countdown. 7 and 9:15 p.m. sets on Saturday, plus one 7:30 p.m. set on Sunday. Tickets $45-$60.
Jason Marsalis is the youngest of the celebrated Marsalis brothers, which also include Branford and Wynton. He may also be the most gifted. An excellent drummer, he also leads ensembles as a vibraphonist, which is exactly what he will do at AMP. 8 p.m. Tickets $30-$40.
Batida Diferente plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Vocalist Tacha Coleman Parr plays Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
A highlight of D.C.’s summer calendar was the performance Akua Allrich would give every August at Bohemian Caverns in tribute to the great vocalists Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba. That legendary venue shuttered in March (sniff), but Allrich is now taking her concert to the Atlas. Allrich and her band will play 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $20-$25.
C’est Si Bon Jazz Quartet is a D.C./Baltimore-based jazz collective specializing in trad jazz, torch songs, French jazz, blues, bossa nova, and Cole Porter. The group will be at Bossa on Sunday. 7 p.m. $10 at the door.
Drummer William Hooker is one of the New York experimental scene’s mainstays. He has been working continuously for 40 years at a very high level and shows no signs of slowing down. His band will play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz on Sunday. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11
Guitarist Eric Ulreich plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
