Hudson, a jazz supergroup, performs at The Hamilton on Tuesday (Photo via Facebook).
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Bassist Kent Miller leads his group at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
An area native now trying to make his way through New York’s competitive jazz scene, drummer Aaron Seeber returns to the District to lead a band at The Hill Center. 7 p.m. $18.
Saxophonist Bob Schwartz leads his group through 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
Organist Larry Goldings, guitarist Peter Bernstein, and drummer Bill Stewart are all mainstays of the New York scene. They have also performed as a trio for 25 years with the musical chemistry to show for it. The group comes to Blues Alley for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $25 plus minimum and surcharge.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
The Feedel Band combines jazz, funk, and traditional Ethiopian music to create a truly groovy sound. They’ll play the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 9:30 p.m. $10 at the door.
Joe Vetter leads a piano trio at Twins Jazz. 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10 plus minimum and surcharge.
The Chick Corea-Steve Gadd Band begins a four night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $$115-$125 plus minimum and surcharge. Check out our full preview.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6
It’s father/son night at Jazz Night in Southwest as bassist Kris Funn and his dad, trombonist Charles Funn, join veteran trumpeter John Lamkin and his drummer son for a night of straight-ahead jazz. 6 to 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
MilkBoy Arthouse is a creative venture between MilkBoy Philadelphia and The Clarice. The venue, located in College Park, hosts La Manta, and eclectic band out of Mexico. 8 p.m. $10-$30.
Group Doueh from the western Sahara is at Tropicalia. The band specializes in raw and unfiltered Saharawi music from the former colonial Spanish outpost of the Western Sahara that’s as much Jimi Hendrix as it is traditional. 9 p.m. $15/$20. Part of the Multiflora Music Festival.
Saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Brazilian saxophonist Michel Nirenberg is touring the U.S. and will play 9 and 11 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. His band will include fellow Brazilians Leonardo Lucini on bass and Fernando Saci on percussion, with Argentine guitarist Dani Cortaza. Nirenberg will be playing material from his recent album, Retrato/Portrait. Tickets $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
Organized by local musicians Herb Scott and Aaron Myers, the first annual Hill Fest takes place in Garfield Park (2nd & F Streets SE) from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m, featuring a host of local performers. Frank McComb headlines and the bill features bands under the direction of the Jolley Brothers & Ben Williams, Sam Prather, Shannon Gunn, and Bobby Felder. FREE
Blue House Studios has recorded many of the area’s top artists. The recording company hosts a daylong festival on its Kensington soundstage featuring bands from Kris Funn, Akua Allrich, Mark G. Meadows, and Nicole Saphos. 1 to 5 p.m. $20.
The Petworth Jazz Project returns to the lawn of 8th and Taylor streets NW. Baba Ras D performs a set for the kids at 5 p.m. and the 6 p.m. headliner is JaneliaSoul, a world music ensemble out of Baltimore. FREE
Lotus is a production that brings together six award-winning tap dancers to celebrate the form’s roots along with live jazz accompaniment. The show takes place in the Kennedy Center‘s Terrace Theater. 7:30 p.m. $29-$49.
The Ambassador Baptist Church is launching a jazz concert series with a performance from Brian Settles, one of D.C.’s best saxophonists. His wife, vocalist Jessica Boykin-Settles, is also on the bill as the opening act and we wouldn’t be at all surprised of the two decided to share the stage at some point during the night. 6 to 8:30 p.m. $35.
Drummer John Colpitts performs as as Man Forever and is one of the most acclaimed percussionists in New York’s underground scene. He headlines a bill at Rhizome that includes Ballister, a cello/sax/drums jazz trio. 8 p.m. $10.
Michael Feinstein is considered one of the foremost authorities and interpreters of the Great American Songbook. He comes to AMP to honor the great crooners of yesteryear, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Sammy Davis, Jr. This concert marks the start to a year-long collaboration between Feinstein and AMP that will celebrate classic American music. 8 p.m. $125-$175.
Tacha Coleman Parr plays Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
Vocalist Elin plays The Alex from 8 to 11 p.m. $20 minimum, reservations recommended.
NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron joins Jason Moran on Sunday at the Kennedy Center in paying tribute to Thelonious Monk (Photo by Philippe Levy-Stab).
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
Saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed leads his group at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
A highlight of D.C.’s summer calendar was the performance Akua Allrich would give every August at Bohemian Caverns in tribute to the great vocalists Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba. That legendary venue shuttered in March 2016 (sniff), but Allrich has taken the concert to the Atlas. 7 p.m. $20-$32.
Rhizome hosts an evening of experimental music with Bill Nace, Twig Harper, and Nappy Nappa. 8 p.m. $10.
The Kennedy Center‘s Artistic Director for Jazz, Jason Moran, teams up with NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron at the venue’s Concert Hall to celebrate Thelonious Monk’s legacy and the 100th anniversary of the jazz icon’s birth. 8 p.m. $20-$59.
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.
Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band and Bushmeat Sound System share a bill at Bossa. 9 p.m. $5. Part of the Multiflora Music Festival.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9
Simone Baron expands the possibilities of the accordion as she leads the Arco Belo Ensemble at Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10
Karuna is a duo comprised of percussionists Adam Rudolph and Hamid Drake. The two have been performing together on and off for over 40 years, backing the likes of Don Cherry and Pharaoh Sanders. Karuna headlines an 8 p.m. show at Rhizome. 8 p.m. $15/$20.
Hudson is a jazz supergroup comprised of guitarist John Scofield, drummer Jack DeJohnette, organist John Medeski, and bassist Larry Grenadier. DeJohnette and Scofield have achieved elder statesman status while Medeski is best known for his work with Medeski Martin & Wood, and Grenadier’s credit list reads like a “Who’s Who” of jazz. All four live in the Hudson River Valley and recorded an album inspired by its landscape and the musicians associated with it, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and others. Hudson plays an 8 p.m. set at The Hamilton. $29.75-$73.25.
By day, Loide is an attorney fighting for immigrants’ rights. She is also an accomplished jazz vocalist who draws from her Mozambican and Guinea-Bissauan heritage to create a rich, international sound. Loide often draws from the cream of the local crop in choosing bandmates, and is sure to do so for her 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 plus minimum and surcharge.
