Local composer/bandleader Sam Prather celebrates his birthday on Friday with a show at AJAX (Photo via Facebook).
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9
The Corina Bartra Sextet is an Afro-Peruvian and pan-American jazz group comprised of voice, piano, drums, sax, Peruvian cajon, and bass. The band plays a 6 p.m. show on the Millennium Stage. FREE
Matuto brings its cross cultural musicality to Strathmore‘s Live From The Lawn series. 7:30 p.m. FREE
Three Man Soul Machine plays Quarter + Glory. 8 p.m. FREE
Veteran local bassist Jon Steele celebrates the release of his new album with 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $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 are at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
Vocalist Akua Allrich and bassist Tarus Mateen team up as part of the noon concert series at Franklin Square (14th and K Streets NW). FREE
Saxophonist Craig Alston was a member of the regionally loved band, Fertile Ground. That band split up some time ago, but Alston continues to forge his own path with his own group, which comes to the Carlyle Club. 8 p.m. $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
Pianist, vocalist, and area native Christopher Linman celebrates the release of his new album with 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 plus minimum and surcharge.
Pianist Pascal Le Boeuf and saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf co-lead a band as The Le Boeuf Brothers. The twin brothers stop at Twins Jazz in support of their latest project, which is a hybrid between jazz and classical music. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Los Gaiteros de SanGuashington is a band whose members came together to showcase the richness and diversity of Colombian music. The group plays the Bossa Bistro & Lounge at 9:30 p.m. $5 at the door.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
Zili plays Jazz In The Garden. 5 to 8:30 p.m. FREE
Sharel Cassity has made an astounding seven consecutive appearances on Downbeat magazine’s “Rising Star” list of alto saxophonists. She brings her latest project, Elektra, to the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. FREE
Vocalist and Washington native Lavenia Nesmith leads an excellent collection of local talent at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Sam Prather is an in-demand composer and multi-instrumentalist who, for the past several years, has been leading his own band, the Groove Orchestra. His genre-defying compositions draw heavily from jazz, the neo-soul of the 1990s, and a number of other musical streams. Prather celebrates his birthday with a Groove Orchestra performance at AJAX, the event space located at 1101 4th Street NW. 7:30 p.m. $15.
Beginning with the legendary Duke, three generations of the Ellington family have led the famous Duke Ellington Orchestra for over 90 years. The big band will bring its timeless music to the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Friday. 8 p.m. $40 plus minimum and surcharge.
Youssou N’Dour is the most internationally-renowned musician to come out of Senegal. Taking that country’s mbalax style of music and mixing it with funk and reggae, he has created a truly global sound. N’Dour and his band play the Lisner Auditorium. 8 p.m. $55-$75.
Lea Delaria was the first openly gay comic to break the late-night talk-show barrier when she performed on Arsenio Hall’s program in 1993. She is also a singer and will bring her cabaret act to Blues Alley to kick off a three night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $50 plus minimum and surcharge.
Trumpeter Kevin Cordt plays Mr. Henry’s from 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Durty Dub brings its danceable brand of improvisational music to Twins Jazz for 9 and 11 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday. $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
Akua Allrich has a second performance this week with an 8 p.m. set at Mr. Henry’s. Two item per person minimum.
Vocalist Irene Jalenti plays The Alex from 8 to 11 p.m. $20 minimum, reservations recommended.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
Up-and-coming area vocalist Danielle Wertz, who reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Monk Competition in 2015, leads her group at the Carlyle Club. 7:30 p.m. $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
Carol Morgan is a critically acclaimed trumpeter who is an in-demand voice within New York’s crowded jazz scene. She teams up with a group of NYC and D.C. musicians, which includes area saxophonist Brad Linde, for 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Three Man Soul Machine plays Bossa at 9:30 p.m. FREE
MONDAY, AUGUST 14
Blue Monday Blues hosts the Melvin Taylor Blues Band. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Smooth jazz saxophonist Kevin Levi plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15
Trombonist Reginald Cyntje leads a group of A-List local talent to present The Rise Of The Protester on the Millennium Stage. The music he composed is his artistic reaction to the troubled politics that is the subject of so many headlines. 6 p.m. FREE
