The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF), now in its 15th year, is among the most ambitious local music events in the area and runs this month from June 6-16. This month’s roundup focuses on the event, with additional notable performances outside of the festival that you should not miss. As usual, our festival picks reflect a broad range of music and price points, as well as options for seeing the best local talent the area has to offer.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
The Phillips Collection hosts its annual, pre-DCJF Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days. The weekend features live jazz performed throughout the museum, musicians improvising to artwork on display, an instrument petting zoo, and more. Bands under the direction of area all-stars include ensembles from bassist Herman Burney, trumpeter Donvonte McCoy, drummer Nasar Abadey, trombonist Reginald Cyntje, vocalist Heidi Martin, bass clarinetist Todd Marcus, and saxophonist Brad Linde. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, noon-7 p.m. on Sunday. FREE
Carlos Hernandez, who is normally seen playing bass for Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, leads a nonet at Sixth & I Synagogue, playing compositions that the great Dizzy Gillespie made famous. 8 p.m. $35.
Thursday, June 6
The DC JazzFest’s official opening ceremony takes place at The Residence of the Ambassador of Denmark and features vibraphonist Stefon Harris and his band Blackout with an opening set from area chanteuse Sharón Clark. 6:30 p.m. $100.
Area saxophonists Paul Carr and Marshall Keys team up to co-lead a band at The Phillips Collection for a JazzFest edition of its Phillips After 5 series. 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. FREE
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Nat King Cole’s birth, and the jazz community is giving the groundbreaking entertainer his due. Acclaimed acoustic guitarist John Pizzarelli pays homage with four nights of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $40-$45 + minimum/surcharge.
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Virtuoso woodwind artist Anat Cohen weaves together blazing technique with wide-ranging musical influences that range from vintage New Orleans jazz to Brazilian samba to Israeli folk music. Her quartet plays The Hamilton with opener Ultrafaux, a gypsy jazz group out of Baltimore. 8 p.m. $29.75-$64.75.
The DCJF makes an effort to spread itself out over all four quadrants of the District, often partnering with East River Jazz to bring acts to Wards 7 and 8. Tonight, bassist Kent Miller brings his quartet to the Anacostia Busboys & Poets to pay tribute to jazz icon Charlie Parker. 6 p.m. $20.
Though the Godfather of Go-Go passed in 2012, Chuck Brown’s music lives on through the Chuck Brown Band, comprised of musicians that played with the D.C. legend. The ensemble plays the Gateway DC Pavilion at 6 p.m. FREE
Vibraphonist Chris Barrick, an area native who returned to the local scene in 2015, brings a group to Sotto for 7:30 and 9 p.m. sets. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
Trombonist Shannon Gunn leads her ensemble, The Bullettes, at Jazz in the Garden. 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. FREE
Rodrigo y Gabriela bring their distinctive blend of acoustic metal, jazz, and flamenco to Wolf Trap. Justin Townes Earle opens. 8 p.m. $35-$65.
Saturday, June 8
For the ninth year, CapitalBop brings a special edition of its Jazz Loft series to the JazzFest. This year’s event, present::futures, takes place at The Sandlot and is the local DIY outfit’s most ambitious staging yet. West Coast singer/songwriter/emcee Georgia Anne Muldrow co-headlines the concert with drummer Justin Brown’s NYEUSI. Each represents jazz’s cutting edge, where lines between traditional and contemporary music is totally blurred to innovative ends. D.C. natives Brent Birckhead and Jamal Moore add bands to the bill along with guitarist Miles Okazaki. 6:30 p.m. $13-$150.
Vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant and pianist Fred Hersch are among the most highly regarded jazz musicians of their respective generations, with over a dozen Grammy awards and nominations between them. They present an intimate duo performance for the festival at The Hamilton. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $24.75-$67.75.
Guitarist Joe Morris and drummer Tomas Fujiwara are respected voices and New York’s creative music scene. As part of JazzFest, they perform as a duo at Rhizome. 8 p.m. $20.
Area saxophonist and jazz advocate Herb Scott teams up with spoken word artist EL Jay’Em for what’s being a billed as a Bebop/Hip-hop Jam at We Act Radio. The band includes a top notch local rhythm section comprised of keyboardist Colin Chambers, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Terrance Arnett. 7:30 p.m. $5.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Pianist Randy Weston, who passed away last year at age 92, dedicated much of his career to exploring the connections between African American jazz and traditional music from the African continent. Some of today’s top pianists, including Vijay Iyer, Marc Cary, and Rodney Kendrick, join alumni from Weston’s African Rhythms band at the Kennedy Center’s Family Theater to pay tribute to the jazz pioneer at this JazzFest show. 7:30 p.m. $39-$49.
Ethiopian jazz musician Hailu Mergia picked up an accordian while a music student at Howard University in the early 1980s and it became his primary instrument. His latest album, Lala Belu, is Mergia’s first in fifteen years and documents a set of original compositions that draw inspiration from the Ethiopian sounds of his youth. His band performs a JazzFest show at The Hamilton with area saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed opening. 7:30 p.m. $19.75-$39.75.
The Nag Champa Art Ensemble is comprised primarily of area musicians who came out of the experimental jazz and hip-hop communities. For JazzFest, the band plays Eaton DC’s rooftop space Wild Days at 2 p.m. FREE
Poet Terrance Nicholson joins keyboardist Federico Pena, saxophonist Marshall Keys, and drummer Mark Prince at Honfleur Gallery. 7:30 p.m. $10.
MONDAY, JUNE 10
Australian composer Elliot Hughes crossed paths with local saxophonist Brad Linde when they both attended the Banff Centre Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music. Their BIG OL’ Ensemble brings together musicians from D.C., New York, and Toronto. The band plays a JazzFest show at the Atlas to celebrate the release of a live album recorded at the same venue during a previous iteration of the festival. 8 p.m. $13-$25.
Here at DCist, we make no secret of the fact that Akua Allrich is not only one of our favorite local singers, she’s one of our favorite singers, period. She’ll be the featured soloist at this JazzFest show as fellow local mainstay Samuel Prather leads a band at Ivy City Smokehouse. 6 p.m. FREE
Pianist Amy K. Bormet founded the Washington Women in Jazz Festival prior to leaving for the West Coast for a couple years, though she continued to direct the event while away. She recently returned to the area and has picked up right where she left off, performing all over town. She performs at 6 p.m. on the Millennium Stage. FREE
TUESDAY, JUNE 11
Vocalist Trent Cokley comes to the Millennium Stage for a JazzFest show to perform material from his debut EP, Heal Our Hearts. 6 p.m. FREE.
Acclaimed drummer Ari Hoenig leads a trio through 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $25 + minimum/surcharge.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Aron Magner is a founding member of the jam rock band The Disco Biscuits. His side project is SPAGA, a keyboard/bass/drums trio that infuses electronic influences into an improvisational jazz structure for a sound that is lush while retaining a forward momentum. The band comes to City Winery for an 8 p.m. JazzFest set. $25-$30.
Finding Strayhorn is a performance/panel discussion taking place at the Library of Congress that explores the recently acquired papers of Billy Strayhorn, the composer who wrote classic songs like “Take The ‘A’ Train,” “Lush Life,” and “Chelsea Bridge” for Duke Ellington’s Orchestra. Participants include saxophonist Chris Potter, jazz scholars, and Strayhorn’s niece, A. Alyce Claerbaut. 7 p.m. Tickets are not required, seating is first come-first served.
Pianist Noa Fort has taken New York by storm since moving their from Israel in 2013. Her quartet comes to the Millennium Stage to perform material from its critically acclaimed debut, No World Between Us, as well as new compositions. 6 p.m. FREE
Veteran area trumpeter Joe Herrera leads a band at this JazzFest show at Wild Days with special guest James Zimmerman. 5 p.m. FREE
The weekly jam session at Mr. Henry’s is a great way to get introduced to the local jazz community, either as a performer or listener. 8 p.m.-11 p.m. No cover.
THURSDAY, JUNE 13
Etienne Charles draws heavily from his Trinidadian upbringing in his music, with the sounds of Carnival and calypso never too far from the surface. His work has resulted in a Guggenheim Fellowhip, a professorship at Michigan State, and congressional recognition. Charles and his band, Creole Soul, come to City Winery for an 8 p.m. JazzFest show. $28-$38.
Sueños is a band that crosses genres effortlessly, at home at major jazz festivals or collaborating with the likes of Chance the Rapper. The group splits its time between the Bay Area and New York, and makes a stop at Sotto for a DCJF performance. 8 to 11 p.m. No cover.
Drummer Dante Pope leads a band through a lunchtime JazzFest performance at Franklin Park. 12:30 p.m. FREE
Nicole Saphos is becoming a sought after performer throughout the region. The bassist’s trio plays an outdoor performance in the scenic gardens at Tudor Place. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $15-$20.
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Like last year, The District Wharf is home to the jazz festival’s marquee events. The jam-packed weekend kicks off with a performance by the world-renowned, genre-blending collective Snarky Puppy at The Anthem. The band’s leader is bassist Michael League, but there is a rotating cast of as many as 25 players, so every show and tour holds some surprises. 8 p.m. $49-$89 with pricier VIP packages available.
William Hooker is one of the most respected drummers in New York’s avant-garde community. He comes to the area regularly and brings a trio to Rhizome for an 8 p.m. jazz festival show. $15.
Baltimore-based vocalist Micah Smith pays tribute to Nat King Cole at this Millennium Stage JazzFest concert. 6 p.m. FREE
Trombonist Reginald Cyntje celebrates the release of his new album, Rise of the Protester, at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
The District and Transit Piers at The District Wharf will host free outdoor JazzFest concerts all day. Saxophonist Joshua Redman’s quartet headlines the festivities and other notable acts include local pianists Allyn Johnson and Janelle Gill, bassist Tarus Mateen, saxophonist Yannick Rieu, and many more. 2 p.m.-10:30 p.m. FREE
Jon Batiste & Stay Human are best known as the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The band performs regularly outside of that context and its nimble grooves underscore the years its members have spent playing together. The band headlines the night at The Anthem with DCJF regulars The Brass-A-Holics opening. $49-$89 with pricier VIP packages available.
The DCJazzPrix is annual competition that the DCJF sponsors, with winners receiving career development services, high profile performances, and additional publicity. This year’s finalists are AmyAna, the Ernest Turner Tio, and MIXCLA + 1. The finals take place at Pearl Street Warehouse. 2 p.m. FREE with RSVP.
The Washington City Paper recognized Mark G. Meadows’ 2016 release To The People as one of the best local jazz recordings of that year. The pianist/vocalist and his band The Movement come to a JazzFest show at the Atlas to play original materials as well as covers by artists ranging from Jelly Roll Morton to Steely Dan. 8 p.m. $13-$25.
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
The Wharf hosts a second day of free DCJF concerts at its piers and at Pearl Street Warehouse with pianist and prodigy Joey Alexander headlining. Celebrated drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, trumpeter Sean Jones, and 2018 DCJazzPrix winner Kris Funn also lead bands. 2:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. FREE
The 2019 DC Jazz Festival comes to a close with an all-star bash at the Kennedy Center. Nick Cannon hosts a concert celebrating the legacies of composer/producer Quincy Jones, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and vocalist Nancy Wilson. Performers include vocalist Patti Austin, members of Roy Hargrove’s big band, saxophonists Kenny Garrett and Joshua Redman, and many more festival participants. 8 p.m. $29-$59.
Vocalist and D.C. native Chad Carter performs at Sotto from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
Saxophonist Bobby Muncy brings his excellent Radiohead Jazz Project to Sotto. As you might guess, the band recontextualizes hits and deep cuts from the art rock group. 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 in advance/$20 at the door.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Trumpeter and Miles Davis protégé Wallace Roney leads a quintet for two nights at Blues Alley. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $35 + minimum/surcharge.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Jessica Boykin-Settles, who has served on the faculty of Howard University’s acclaimed jazz program since 2006, performs at Jojo’s. 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Saxophonist Lionel Lyles and trumpeter Mike Fitzhugh pay tribute to the great trumpeter Lee Morgan at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer leads a band at Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover.
