The SFJazz Collective pays tribute to Miles Davis this weekend at Blues Alley (photo courtesy SFJazz).
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5
Flutist Bill Haymon leads a band at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Eric Arn and J.R. Bohannon have totally different approaches to playing the guitar, and each performs solo at Rhizome. Heart of the Ghost, a trio of the area’s finest free jazz improvisors, opens the bill. 8 p.m. $10 at the door.
Meklit Hadero blends music from her Ethiopian roots with influences from her experience in the Bay Area’s diverse music scene to create a sound that is all her own. Her band comes to Blues Alley for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
Guitarist Deon CleanCutt plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6
Thundering taiko drumming meets traditional Japanese dance as nearly 30 drummers and dancers from Tamagawa University and Taiko Group take to the Millennium Stage for a 6 p.m. performance. FREE
Marcus Miller is a groundbreaking bassist, composer, and producer who has worked with the likes of Miles Davis, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. He always surrounds himself with world class talent and his latest band comes to The Birchmere for a 7:30 p.m. set. $69.50.
Brazilian jazz pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias performs a 7:30 p.m. show at The Hamilton. $30-$60.
The Twins Jazz Orchestra plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at the U Street venue. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Gregoire Maret has taken jazz harmonica in new directions. Christie Dashiell, one of D.C.’s best singers, is a featured guest as his band plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
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, APRIL 7
Lena Seikaly, one of D.C.’s finest vocalists, has assembled a group of local all-stars to join her at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Urban Bush Women is a dance ensemble founded in 1984 that operates under Artistic Director Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. The group comes to the Kennedy Center on Friday and Saturday to present Walking with ‘Trane, a multidisciplinary work inspired by the musical life and spiritual journey of jazz legend John Coltrane. The show is sold out, but it’s worth contacting the box office for last minute availability.
Rhizome hosts a multimedia showcase of experimental groups that includes Minibeast, Super! Silver! Haze!, and Insect Factory. 8 p.m. $10 at the door.
Dial 251 for Jazz plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
The SFJAZZ Collective is a group of all-stars that convenes every year in San Francisco for a period of intense rehearsals. They pick an iconic artist, arrange material, and then tour behind the new songs. The band will be at Blues Alley from Friday through Sunday to play original arrangements of songs made popular by jazz icon Miles Davis. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $40-$45 plus minimum and surcharge.
Bobby Muncy is one of the area’s first-call saxophonists and he leads a number of different ensembles. His Radiohead Jazz Ensemble, featuring guitarist Anthony Pirog, takes the songbook of the alt-rock icons and interprets it for a jazz context. The band plays 9 and 11 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz. $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
Anoushka Shankar comes to the historic Sixth & I Synagogue on Saturday for an evening of classical Indian music (photo via Facebook).
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
Sitarist Anoushka Shankar was trained in the classical Indian style of her renowned father, Ravi Shankar. She has spent the past several years on projects that fuse her core style with other international genres. Shankar returns to her classical roots as her ensemble plays 7 and 9 p.m. sets at the historic Sixth & I Synagogue. $40.
Keiko Matsui has long explored more ethereal sounds, creating music that straddles smooth jazz and new age. She brings her rich soundscapes to The Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $45.
Two of the local jazz scene’s brightest talents, vocalist Rochelle Rice and pianist Mark G. Meadows, team up at The Lemon Bowl for an intimate performance. 7 to 9 p.m. $25.
Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Ethel Waters were strong-willed women who laid much of the foundation for what it means to be a blues singer. Jazz at Lincoln Center comes to the Music Center at Strathmore to present Ladies Sing The Blues, a tribute to these divas featuring vocalists Catherine Russell, Brianna Thomas, and Charenee Wade. 8 p.m. $35-$75.
Earth Tongues and multi-instrumentalist Jamal Moore are two of the acts playing an evening of avant-garde music at Rhizome. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation.
Vocalist Kim Scudera joins Batida Diferente for an evening of Brazilian jazz at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Cécile McLorin Salvant won the prestigious Monk Competition in 2010 and has since produced a number of excellent recordings that have has established her as one of the top vocalists in jazz. She looked inward for inspiration to write material for her latest album, For One to Love. Salvant teams up with pianist Aaron Diehl for an 8 p.m. show at the Barns of Wolf Trap. $35-$45.
SUNDAY, APRIL 9
Paul Carr is not only one of the area’s top saxophonists, he is also a dedicated music educator that has mentored many of the DMV’s best young musicians. His All In quartet plays Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society from 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Vocalist Julie Mack joins the Encantada Trio for an early set of Brazilian vibes at Bossa. 7 p.m. $10 at the door.
Tatsuya Nakatani is an acoustic sound artists who uses a multitude of instruments to create vibrant textures and moods. He comes to the Anacostia Arts Center to perform solo and along with Ancestral Duo, a local act comprised of multi-instrumentalists Jamal Moore and Luke Stewart. 8 p.m. $10 in advance/$15 at the door.
Pianist Levon Mikaelian will brings his globally inspired jazz to Twins Jazz, leading a trio. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
MONDAY, APRIL 10
Danny Blew & the Blues Crew plays Blues Monday Blues. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
TUESDAY, APRIL 11
Saxophonist Tedd Baker leads his trio at Jojo’s from 7:30 to 11 p.m. FREE
