The long running fusion outfit, The Yellowjackets, comes to Blues Alley this weekend (Photo courtesy The Yellowjackets).
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Saxophonist Lionel Lyles leads a quartet at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
The Bossa Bistro & Lounge does more than any other club in the city as far as trying to expose visitors to international music traditions. Violinist Nistha Raj started a monthly showcase of Indian music earlier this year, and now oud player Huda Asfour is doing the same for Arabic music. The monthly Mashriq Maghrib Music Jam Session launches tonight at 7 p.m. FREE
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy‘s appearance in the 1996 film, Swingers, along with Heather Graham’s dance moves, led to a brief jump-swing revival that lasted through the late ’90s. The band is still touring furiously, putting out new music, and comes to The Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $49.50.
Detroit saxophonist De’Sean Jones and his band, Knomadik, play Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Veronneau, the 2013 WAMMY winners for Best Jazz Group, moves effortlessly from samba to gypsy jazz. The band plays songs from its forthcoming release, Love & Surrender, at Blues Alley. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $22 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. FREE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Monk Dreams, Hallucinations, and Nightmares is large ensemble recording from Frank Carlberg that draws inspiration from Thelonious Monk, the iconic pianist whose centenary is this year. Carlberg joins the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at the Levine School of Music to perform music from the album. 7 p.m. $10.
The Meters is one of the most iconic bands to come out of the rich musical gumbo that is New Orleans. The quartet of musicians rarely performs in its original lineup, but two or three members will often get together to perform the classics. Organist Art Neville and bassist George Porter, Jr. from The Meters form half of the The Funky Meters, which comes to The Hamilton for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets $32/$45.
Bob Baldwin is a pianist and composer with over 20 albums to his credit. His latest, The Brazilian-American Soundtrack, traces the connections between samba, bossa nova, and jazz. Baldwin plays the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club with area vocalist Lori Williams as a featured guest. 8 p.m. $30 plus minimum and surcharge.
Legendary fusion outfit The Yellowjackets first formed back in 1977. While the lineup has changed many times over the years, the group continues to put out high quality music that lives up to its long history. The band begins a four-night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Thursday night at Blues Alley. Tickets $30-$35 plus minimum and surcharge.
Guitarist Nelson Dougherty plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 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, SEPTEMBER 15
New York-based jazz trio, Sound Underground, plays a 6 p.m. show at the Millennium Stage. FREE
Organist Greg Lamont leads a quintet at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra bring the classic big band elegance of the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s to the Carlyle Club. 8 p.m. Tickets $35 plus minimum and surcharge.
Saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed leads group at Mr. Henry’s. 8:30 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Multiflora Productions, under the direction of local music promoter Jim Thomson, is in the process of finalizing a multicultural music festival that will take place at various venues through the month of October. Tropicalia hosts the official launch party with a performance from Underground System, an afrobeat group out of Brooklyn. 8:30 p.m. $10.
Vocalist Eugenie Jones plays 9 and 11 p.m. sets along with her band at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. Tickets $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
NextNOW Fest is an annual event that takes place at The Clarice, located on the University of Maryland’s campus. The festival, which takes place Friday evening and all day Saturday, features free music, theater, and dance performances, including a concert from the music department’s jazz faculty. Visit the website for the full schedule. FREE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Julia Nixon was one of the principals in the celebrated Broadway production of Dreamgirls. Her music straddles the line between jazz and R&B, and the WAMMIE and Helen Hayes award winner will perform an intimate show at Mr. Henry’s. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $14 to $19 with a $15 food and beverage minimum.
Vocalist Lena Seikaly plays The Alex from 8 to 11 p.m. $20 minimum, reservations recommended.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Corcoran Holt is a D.C. native who made the move to New York over a decade ago, becoming an in-demand sideman to some of the best in jazz. His band plays the Millennium Stage in support of Holt’s latest album, The Mecca, which traces his journey from D.C. to the jazz mecca of New York. 6 p.m. FREE
Vocalist Maija Rejman plays Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
Pianist Levon Mikaelian will brings his globally inspired jazz to Twins Jazz, leading a trio. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $15 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 p.m. $5 at the door.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman performs songs from the Great American Songbook on the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. FREE
Violinist Dave Kline and his band play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley, drawing from global rhythms and melodies. He will be celebrating the release of his latest album, Shifting Borders. $22 plus minimum and surcharge.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Seun Kuti is the youngest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. His band comes to The Hamilton with opener Sahel. 7:30 p.m. $17.25/$22.25.
Violinist Mia Zabelka and local guitarist Andras Fekete headline an evening of ambient and avant-garde sounds at Rhizome. The bill also includes Rootless and Jon Camp. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation.
Peter Cincotti is a pianist and vocalist who blurs the line between jazz and a more traditional singer-songwriter approach to music. He plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $40 plus minimum and surcharge.
