Sounds of Kolachi, a fusion ensemble hailing from Pakistan, plays Tropicalia on Friday and the Millennium Stage on Saturday (photo via Facebook).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
Veteran area bassist Cheyney Thomas leads his band at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Quarter + Glory, the cocktail bar located on 14th Street NW, is launching a jazz night on Wednesdays, beginning with saxophonist Tedd Baker and his trio. 7 to 10 p.m. No cover.
Bassist Ethan Foote is this month’s artist-in-residence at Strathmore. Equally at home in jazz, folk, and classical settings, his music draws from all these influences. Foote plays a concert at the venue’s historic mansion. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $17.
Rhizome presenst a night of improvisation with Philadelphia’s Elliott Levin (reeds, vocals) and Scott Verrastro (percussion) joining locals Anthony Pirog (guitar), Luke Stewart (bass), and Aaron Martin (alto sax). Opening the bill is a duo comprised of locals Nate Scheible (percussion) and Sarah Hughes (saxophone). 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation.
Eldar was just 17-years-old when he signed his first record deal. Now an established pianist, he leads a trio tonight at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
Saxophonist Bobby Muncy leads a number of different of ensembles. He plays Twins Jazz tonight along with Gene D’Andrea (piano), Sam Prather (drums), and Nathan Kawaller (bass). 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
THURSDAY, MARCH 23
Guitarist Kevin Eubanks is best known for his long-running stint as Jay Leno’s bandleader. He brings a band to Blues Alley for a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Marvin “Smitty” Smith, the drumming phenom who also played in The Tonight Show Band, will be a featured guest. Tickets $30-$35 plus minimum and surcharge.
FRIDAY, MARCH 24
A respected area vocalist and music educator, Lori Williams plays Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Since forming in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind, the Blind Boys of Alabama have won five Grammy Awards, performed for Presidents and have collaborated with artists as varied as Prince and Peter Gabriel. The long-running vocal ensemble brings its latest iteration to The Howard Theatre for an 8 p.m. performance. Tickets $35-$70.
Area vocalist Aaron Myers leads his band at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
The NSO Pops pay tribute to the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, on Friday and Saturday at the Kennedy Center. This year marks her centenary, and vocalists Sy Smith, Capathia Jenkins, and Montego Glover will sing songs that Fitzgerald turned into jazz classics. 8 p.m. Tickets $24-$104.
Spring time marks the Hindu festival of Holi, which is in part celebrated by masses of people throwing colored powder at each other. Red Baraat has embarked on its annual Festival of Colors tour to add to the joy, and will bring it’s bhangra-meets-brass band sound to The Hamilton on Friday and Saturday with different openers on each night. 8 p.m. Tickets $20-$25.
Rhizome hosts a multi-media performance featuring f.org, Jax Deluca & Patrick Cain, and cebec. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation.
Sounds of Kolachi is a new 10-piece group of vocalists and instrumentalists from Karachi, Pakistan that incorporates South Asian instrumentation and styles with a rock rhythm section. The band is touring as part of a cultural exchange involving the State Department in partnership with public and private arts organization. The band plays an 8 p.m. show at Tropicalia. Tickets $15. The band also plays a free 6 p.m. show the following evening on the Millennium Stage.
Kenny Rittenhouse (trumpet) and Herman Burney (bass) are mainstays within the local jazz community. The two will co-lead the newly formed R&B Jazz Quintet on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
John Lee debuts his new organ trio on Sunday at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society (photo by Erika Victoria Horn).
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
Avital Meets Avital is a collaboration between mandolinist Avi Avital and bassist/oud player Omer Avital. The two co-lead a quartet whose music infuses jazz with influences from North Africa and the Middle East. The band plays Sixth & I Synagogue on Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets $30.
Flutist Elsa Nilsson leads her ensemble at at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26
One of the area’s most in-demand guitarists, John Lee debuts his new organ trio, featuring Mark G. Meadows on Hammond B3, on Sunday at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Sotê, a locally based guitarist who hails from Brazil, performs 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. Tickets $10 plus food and drink minimum.
Three Man Soul Machine plays a 9:30 p.m. set at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. No cover.
MONDAY, MARCH 27
Violinist Dave Kline and his band play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley, drawing from global rhythms and melodies. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, MARCH 28
Roy Hargrove is rightfully regarded as one of the finest trumpeters of his generation. He begins a week-long residency at Blues Alley that concludes on Sunday. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets $40-$45 plus minimum and surcharge.
Trombonist Shannon Gunn returns to Columbia Station with her group to perform the classic album, Sonny Side Up in its entirety. 8 to 11 p.m. No cover.
