The Sun Ra Arkestra comes to Fringe HQ on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Vocalist Queen Aisha plays Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Guitarist Nelson Dougherty plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17
The DC Jazz Festival will host a happy hour at The Pub & The People with bar proceeds benefiting its education program. 5 to 7 p.m.
Blues-based singer-songwriter Samuel James comes to the Mansion at Strathmore for an intimate 7:30 p.m. set. In addition to being a fine musician, James is also an accomplished storyteller who has appeared on The Moth. Tickets $30.
Trumpeter Doc Severinson was seen and heard by millions as he directed the band for Johnny Carson’s show. Severinson continues to perform with his big band and will do so at The Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. Tickets $35-$99.
Blues men Memphis Gold and Charlie Sayles team up at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
A native of Italy, Roberta Gambarini is a jazz chanteuse in the most classic and timeless sense. She begins a four-night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. Tickets $25-$30 plus minimum and surcharge.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Pianist Vince Evans leads a quintet at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Larry Brown has been among the area’s most respected pianists for decades. His critically-acclaimed quintet will be at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 8 p.m. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
Smooth jazz vocalist Kayla Waters celebrates the release of her new album, Apogee, at Mr. Henry’s. 8 p.m. Tickets $18-$20.
Veteran area saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk leads his band, The Jazz Update, on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. Saxophonist Russ Nolan will be a featured guest. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Vocalist Akua Allrich will give a free 2 p.m. performance at the Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Library.
Tia Fuller landed one of the most sought-after gigs in music when she was tapped to become part of Beyoncé’s touring band. Returning to her first love, jazz, she has formed a formidable quartet that includes John Patitucci on piccolo bass, Fuller’s sister Shamie Royston on piano, and her brother-in-law Rudy Royston on drums. The band will play 7 and 9 p.m. sets at the Kennedy Center. Tickets $30-$39.
Sun Ra was an enigma on so many levels. The jazz iconoclast, who claimed to be a native of the planet Saturn, was among the most visible members of the afrofuturist movement and had a life that no one could have predicted given his humble beginnings in the Jim Crow south. He passed in 1993, but his music lives on with his Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of 92-year old saxophonist Marshall Allen. Costumes and general merrymaking will no doubt be welcome as the Arkestra holds court on Saturday. The Logan Fringe Arts Space is the place. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20.
Vocalist Maija Rejman plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Area vocalist Lavenia Nesmith takes the stage at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Elijah Balbed‘s JoGo Project, which brings together jazz and go-go, plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Monday at Blues Alley. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Rhizome hosts a totally improvised jam session the fourth Tuesday of each month. The gathering is open to players of all backgrounds and levels of experience and dedicated to “non-idiomatic/pan-idiomatic/’free’ playing.” 7 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Swing Shift, a local big band, performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
