NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis leads his new quintet on Friday and Saturday at The Hamilton.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23
As he does every Wednesday, trumpeter Joe Brotherton leads his quintet at Jojo’s. 7:30 to 11 p.m. FREE
Joe Vetter leads a piano trio at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
Area vocalist Steve Washington plays The Carlyle Club. Backing him is the Dan Lamaestra Trio. 7 p.m. $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
The Twins Jazz Orchestra plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at the U Street venue. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Cyrus Chestnut is one of the finest pianists of his generation, bringing together impeccable technique with the soul of the blues, jazz, and gospel traditions. The local music community received a huge boost when he accepted a teaching position in Howard University’s storied jazz program. Chestnut begins a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $30-$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 Bossa at 9:30 p.m. $10 at the door.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
Local world music ensemble Black Masala brings its infectious grooves to Jazz in the Garden to close out the series’ 2017 season. 5 to 8:30 p.m. FREE
Jessica Boykin-Settles is one of the area’s finest vocalists. Along with her husband, saxophonist Brian Settles, and a number of D.C.’s best jazzers, she pays tribute to the great Carmen McRae at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door. The venue hosts a lecture/discussion on McRae at 1 p.m. on the following day. FREE
Ramsey Lewis is one the great pianists in jazz. His career has spanned over 60 years, including two classic albums recorded at the sadly shuttered Bohemian Caverns, and has earned him the title of NEA Jazz Master. After having played mostly in an acoustic trio for the last fifteen years, Lewis’s latest endeavor has him returning to his electric roots with Henry Johnson on guitar, Tim Gant on keys, Joshua Ramos on bass and Charles Heath on drums. The quintet comes to The Hamilton on Friday and Saturday to play material from across Lewis’s rich catalog. 8 p.m. $29.75 to $74.75.
Busy area vocalist Aaron Myers leads his band at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Bulla en El Barrio is a New York-based ensemble dedicated to performing bullerengue, a Colombian genre from that country’s Atlantic coast that incorporates a significant African influence. The band comes to Tropicalia for an 8:30 p.m. show. $15 in advance/$20 at the door. The band will also perform on the Millennium Stage earlier in the evening. 6 p.m. FREE
Monster trombonist Frank Lacy earned his first notices in the early ’80s as a result of his ability to straddle mainstream and avant-garde musical forms. He has played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey on the one hand, but has also spent time with such free jazz pioneers as Henry Threadgill, Oliver Lake and Julius Hemphill. Lacy brings a group to Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday for 9 and 11 p.m. sets. $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
Kris Johnson is an accomplished trumpeter who serves as an arranger for the Count Basie Orchestra and also as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Utah. Johnson leads an ensemble at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society with vocalist LuLu Fall as a featured guest. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
The Millennium Stage hosts a variety of artists from Kyrgyzstan. 6 p.m. FREE
The Petworth Jazz Project is mixing it up this month with a fusion of classical strings and international sounds. The Washington Bach Consort is teaming up with Sanctuaries for an evening of baroque classics and original compositions. A children’s performance precedes their set. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Stay tuned for a full preview later this week. FREE
Vocalist Maija Rejman plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Vocalist and 2004 Billie Holiday Vocal Competition winner Sara Jones plays The Alex from 8 to 11 p.m. $20 minimum, reservations recommended.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
Allyn Johnson has long been one of D.C.’s best pianists, perhaps even our favorite here at DCist. Johnson leads his group at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
Saxophonist Bob Schwartz leads his group through 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
MONDAY, AUGUST 28
Ben Patterson is the lead trombonist and musical director for the Airmen of Note, the U.S. Air Force’s big band. Patterson has assembled his own 17-piece jazz orchestra, which celebrates the release of its new album at Blues Alley. 8 p.m. $22 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29
Saxophonist Tedd Baker‘s trio plays Jojo’s. 7:30 to 11 p.m. FREE
