Area bassist Michael Bowie celebrates the release of a new album on July 2 at Blues Alley (Photo via Facebook).
DCist’s jazz roundup is moving from a weekly to a monthly schedule. Here are July’s highlights of jazz and international music’s goings-on in and around the District.
July 2
Michael Bowie is one of D.C.’s most prominent jazz artists. The world class bassist leads several of his own groups and appears regularly with the DMV’s finest while also touring as a hired gun. His latest album, Never Die, mixes elements of jazz, funk, and spoken word in a way that reflects Bowie’s own varied musical experience. Bowie and his new ensemble will celebrate the recording’s release with 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $24 plus minimum and surcharge.
July 3
Area trombonist, vocalist, and bandleader Eric Felten leads his jazz orchestra on Thursday in 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. The band will take a nostalgic look at the big band classics that were popular during World War II. Tickets $27.50 plus minimum and surcharge.
July 5
The Feedel Band combines jazz, funk, and traditional Ethiopian music to create a truly groovy sound. The band continues its monthly residency at Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 9:30 p.m., $10 at the door.
July 6
Drummer Quincy Philips broke onto the local scene over 20 years ago, playing with The Young Lions and has since toured the world with trumpeter Roy Hargrove. He leads his own band, Jumbo Shrimp, at Sotto. 8 p.m. to midnight. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
John Lamkin II was for many years the director of the music department at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The dedicated educator and trumpeter brings his Favorites Jazz Quintet to Twins Jazz on July 6th and 7th to play the music of classic jazz quintets from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. 9 and 11 p.m. sets. $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
Victor Provost has taken the steel pan to new heights, using the instrument to its maximum harmonic and melodic range. He is often on the road, but will play a show for his home base at Jojo’s. 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover.
July 7
Hailing from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, RAM incorporates traditional Vodou lyrics and instruments into a modern context. The band plays Tropicalia along with MatizWave, a local band that explores a variety of Latin American sounds. 8 p.m. $18 in advance/$20 at the door.
Sharón Clark plays The Alex from 8 to 11 p.m. $20 minimum, reservations recommended.
The Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company hosts its annual festival of South Asian arts at the Atlas. 7:30 p.m. on July 7, 5 p.m. on July 8. $20-$35.
July 8
Che Chen and David Watson use amplified strings, reeds, electronics, and bagpipes to explore the sonic boundaries of the experimental spaces in which they play. The duo headlines a matinee bill at Rhizome. 2:30 p.m. $10.
EMBODY is a series in Baltimore dedicated to presenting the world’s diverse vocal music. Rhizome is teaming up with the venture to present a vocal concert each Sunday in July. 8 p.m. $10 at the door.
Veteran local drummer Howard “Kingfish” Franklin brings a band to Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
July 11
Thad Wilson has been one of the area’s busiest trumpeters for over two decades. His band plays Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society from 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
The Tedeschi-Trucks Band draws heavily from soul, blues, and American roots music; however, all of its members are fluent in jazz and other genres. The group brings this unique blend to Wolf Trap with openers Drive By Truckers and The Marcus King Band. 7 p.m. $35-$80.
The members of the Xalam Duo—multi-instrumentalist Brandon Terzic and percussionist Dan Kurfirst—have spent considerable time traveling North Africa and the Middle East, absorbing the music of those regions. They explore these sounds at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 8 p.m. $10 at the door. Orchester Praževica brings its monthly gypsy soul party to the club immediately afterwards. No cover.
July 12
Cecily Bumbray has been on a steep and fast rise among the area’s vocalists. The D.C. native brings her group to Sotto. 8 p.m. to midnight. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
July 13
The Prince Georges Cultural Arts Foundation and the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival host a night of smooth jazz at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club that features saxophonists Eric Darius and Marcus Anderson, violinist Karen Briggs, Jazz In Pink, and more. All -white attire is suggested for this summer celebration. 7:30 p.m. $40-$65. The Lake Arbor Jazz Festival will host additional events at the club throughout the weekend.
We don’t hide the fact that Akua Allrich is our favorite local jazz vocalist here at DCist. Head over to Sotto for two sets of joy. 8 p.m. to midnight. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
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 July 13 and 14 for 9 and 11 p.m. sets. $15 plus minimum and surcharge.
July 16
Award winning trombonist Shannon Gunn leads The Bullettes, the DMV’s only all-female big band. The jazz orchestra plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $20 plus minimum and surcharge.
July 18
Lena Seikaly, one of the area’s top vocalists, performs an outdoor show at Strathmore‘s Live From The Lawn series. 7 p.m. FREE
July 19
Poncho Sanchez is a Latin jazz legend who has been running his own band for over three decades, releasing over two dozen albums over that time. The percussionist brings his band to Blues Alley to kick off a four-night run of 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $50-$55 plus minimum and surcharge.
July 20
Woodwind artist Chip Shelton brings his band to Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
The local jazz community got a huge boost when bassist Tarus Mateen decided to call this area his home. He has played with jazz greats such as Jason Moran and Betty Carter, as well as with popular artists like Outkast, Christina Aguilera, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and a host of others. Mateen brings a band to Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover.
July 21
The Lucini Brothers, Alejandro (drums), Bruno (percussion), and Leonardo (bass), form the core of Origem, one of the region’s finest Latin jazz outfits. The band comes to Sotto for two sets. 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
July 24
Violinist Arun Ramamurthy was trained in Carnatic music, South India’s classical genre. He has formed a trio to put this sound into new contexts, incorporating jazz and western classical harmonies. The group comes to the Millennium Stage for a 6 p.m. performance. FREE
July 25
The District of Raga, a monthly showcase for international musicians that area violinist Nistha Raj organizes, returns to the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
July 27
Busy area vocalist Aaron Myers leads his band at Mr. Henry’s. 8 to 11 p.m. Two item per person minimum.
July 28
The Petworth Jazz Project presents a scaled down version of saxophonist Elijah Balbed‘s JoGo Project, which combines jazz harmonies with the infectious grooves of D.C.’s homegrown funk. Baba Ras D opens. 6 p.m. FREE
Chopteeth‘s music is rooted in Afrobeat, scattered with a heavy dose of funk and jazzy improvisation, making the band an area mainstay for over a decade. The group performs an 8 p.m. set at The Hamilton. $20-$25.
Matvei Sigalov moved to the U.S. from Russia, deciding to settle in the D.C. area. He has since become a sought after violinist and guitarist, combining technical proficiency with fluency in genres ranging from bebop to Latin to Eastern European folk styles. He’ll bring a group to Sotto to play from 8 to 11 p.m. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
July 29
Vocalist Karen Grey plays Alice’s Jazz & Cultural Society. 6 to 9 p.m. $10 at the door.
Saffron, a group featuring trombonist Shannon Gunn, guitarist Garret Gleason, and bassist Mikel Combs plays the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. 8:30 p.m. No cover. (Disclosure: The author will be playing drums at this performance).
