Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra will play holiday arrangements popularized by Ella Fitzgerald this weekend at the Kennedy Center.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14
Today marks the 43rd anniversary performance of MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS! Founded by Harvey Phillips, hundreds of tuba, sousaphone, and euphonium players from around Washington, D.C. gather to play traditional Christmas music. This year’s concert takes place at the Kennedy Center‘s Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free.
Saxophonist Ron Pender leads a band at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
The DC Music Salon kicks off its new season with a session focusing on The Nighthawks, the legendary blues outfit that has been on-going in various forms since 1974. Nighthawks on the Blue Highway, a new documentary from director, Johnny Cash biographer, and D.C. native Michael Streissguth will be screened with a discussion to follow. The salon takes place at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library. 7 p.m. Free.
Local jazz mainstay and percussionist Chuck Redd leads a band through a set of holiday classics at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 8 p.m. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
Trombonist Eric Felten brings his big band to Blues Alley for its annual performance of Duke Ellington’s arrangement of The Nutcracker Suite. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $30 plus minimum and surcharge.
Pianist Keigo Hirasawa earned a graduate degree in music from the prestigious New England Conservatory. Realizing he needed a “real job,” he then attended Cornell for a Ph.D. in engineering, and now serves as a computer engineering professor at the University of Dayton. He still plays music regularly and is on a jaunt to the East Coast with his trio, which will play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz tonight. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Baltimore’s Orchester Praževica plays high energy music that comes from the traditions of Eastern European Czardas and Gypsy Swing, accompanied by a heavy dose of jazz and blues. They will be at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge tonight. 9 p.m. No cover.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15
Vocalist Akua Allrich leads a band in the Smithsonian American Art Museum‘s Kogod Courtyard as part of the museum’s Take 5! series. The group will pay tribute to the American folk traditions through jazz interpretations of classic songs by Oscar Brown Jr., Leonard Cohen, Elizabeth Cotton, Joni Mitchell, Lead Belly, and others. 5 to 8 p.m. Free.
NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis and vocalist/guitarist John Pizzarelli will pay tribute to the great Nat King Cole at the Music Center at Strathmore. The setlist will feature seasonal favorites along with arrangements that Cole made famous, including “Route 66”, “Mona Lisa”, and “Unforgettable.” 8 p.m. Tickets $40-$95.
Dionne Farris came to the public’s attention as a vocalist with the groundbreaking hip-hop group, Arrested Development. She has since branched out, most recently releasing a live jazz recording. Farris comes to the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets $35 plus minimum and surcharge.
Pianist/vocalist Freddy Cole lived for many years under the shadow of his legendary brother, Nat King Cole. In his later years, however, the broader public has become aware of his talents and his career has seen a major resurgence over the past decade or so. Cole will begin a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday at Blues Alley, marking his annual holiday residency at the club. Tickets $30 to $35 plus minimum and surcharge.
Formed by its multilingual vocalist and band leader, Jean-Francis Varre, Sahel interprets musical genres influenced by African culture around the world. The band plays the Bossa Bistro & Lounge at 9:30 p.m. $10 at the door.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16
Trumpeter Thad Wilson has assembled a quintet of D.C.’s finest to pay tribute to Miles Davis at Jazz Night in Southwest. The band includes saxophonist Brian Settles, pianist Allyn Johnson, bassist Herman Burney, and drummer Lenny Robinson. This is a must see for fans of the local scene. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door. On Saturday, Wilson will conduct a free lecture and discussion in the same venue on Davis’s iconic career. 1 to 3 p.m. Free.
Drummer Sherrie Maricle leads her all female big band, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, on Friday and Saturday at the Kennedy Center. The ensemble will play selections from Ella Fitzgerald’s holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, along with other seasonal favorites. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. Tickets $26-$39.
Rhizome hosts a triple bill with headliner Mia Zabelka, an experimental sound artist, violinist, and vocalist from Vienna, Austria. Also on the bill is Boat Burning, D.C.’s “audio brutalist” guitar collective, and Literals, a duo comprised of Rebecca Mills and former DCist editor-in-chief Matt Cohen. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation.
Saxophonist Herb Scott leads his band at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
A highly respected performer and music educator, Tony Martucci has spent decades as a first call drummer for many of the region’s top jazz bandleaders. He steps out on his own this Friday and Saturday to lead a group through 9 and 11 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
Trumpeter Thad Wilson leads a quintet of top-notch locals in tribute to Miles Davis on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17
The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage hosts the U.S. Coast Guard’s Dixieland Jazz Band. 6 p.m. Free.
Area vocalist Lori Williams will lead a trio through an intimate performance at The Alex as part of its Speakeasy Jazz Nights series. 8 to 11 p.m. Reservations required.
Vocalist Maija Rejman leads her band at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
Aspiring jazz vocalists should head to Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society where pianist Chris Grasso and vocalist Connaitre Miller will lead a workshop from 12:30 to 5 p.m. $10 at the door.
Saxophonist Bruce Williams brings a group to Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Kurt Elling is arguably the most celebrated jazz vocalist of the past two decades. Every one of his nine albums has received a Grammy nomination. He will be at The Hamilton along with special guest trumpeter Till Bronner to play selections from his holiday release, The Beautiful Day. Local pianist Mark Meadows will open. 6:30 p.m. Tickets $27.75-$59.75.
Nicole Saphos, an up-and-coming local bassist and vocalist, leads her group through 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Subcontinental Groove is a loose group of veteran South Asian musicians from the local music community that assemble periodically for an evening of improvised jams. The collective will convene at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on Sunday. 8:30 p.m. No cover. (Disclosure: I’ll be playing drums at this show).
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19
Trumpeter Dave Detweiler leads his band, Prelude, through 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20
The Capitol Bones, a local all-brass big band that features a number of current and former service band members, plays its annual holiday show at The Carlyle Club. The ensemble will play Stan Kenton’s arrangements of seasonal favorites with guest vocalist Lena Seikaly. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
Area keyboardist Benjie Porecki hosts a “holiday hang” at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
