November 1
Charlie Parker with Strings is the name given to recordings by the bebop pioneer in which lush arrangements supported Parker’s virtuosic lines. Local saxophonist Vaughn Ambrose has assembled an 18-piece ensemble to recreate these arrangements at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Django Reinhardt died in 1953, but there are many guitarists that carry the torch he lit during the “hot jazz” days in Paris. His Django Festival All-Stars come to the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets.
The Bad Plus is one of the most influential piano trios of the 21st century. Nearly two years ago, Orrin Evans replaced founding pianist Ethan Iverson, but the group never missed a beat and continues to play adventurous and highly interactive music. The band plays City Winery at 8 p.m. $35-$45.
Local vocalist and songwriter Cissa Paz brings her Brazilian sounds to the Bossa Bistro + Lounge. 8 p.m. $10 at the door.
The Manginyar Seduction is an entrancing musical production that brings together more than 40 instrumentalists and vocalists from Indian state of Rajasthan. The Kennedy Center staged the production several years ago during a festival celebrating Indian arts, and now it returns to the venue’s Eisenhower Theater for a two-night run. $19-$69. 8 p.m. tonight, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow.
The Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans institution whose roots stretch back to 1983. The Grammy-winning ensemble comes to The Hamilton for two nights of music. 8 p.m. tonight, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. sets tomorrow. $35-$45.
Trombonist Shannon Gunn brings a band to Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No cover.
Rene Marie is a jazz singer’s jazz singer, and she begins a three night run of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $35 + minimum/surcharge.
November 2
Keyboardist/songwriter Aaron “Ab” Abernathy blurs the line between soul and jazz with 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets at Sotto. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
Area vocalist Imani Grace takes the stage at Marvin from 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover.
Brazilian jazz ensemble Batida Diferente plays Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.
November 3
Saxophonist Bob Schwartz brings a quartet to Twins Jazz for 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + minimum/surcharge.
November 4
Roots guitarist Dave Chappell plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 5
Ami Dang is a classically trained sitarist who transposes the instruments Indian tonalities into an ambient and electronic setting. She headlines a bill at Rhizome that includes Aaron Leitko and Thorn Collaborative. 7:30 p.m. $10.
November 6
Habitat is a project comprised of longtime collaborators Ian Rashkin (bass) and Todd Harper (piano), along with rising local saxophonist Sarah Hughes. The band joins Unseen Rain and the returning Thorn Collaborative for an evening of experimental sounds. 7 p.m. $10.
Cheikh Hamala Diabate, who is often seen playing Tuesday nights at the Bossa Bistro + Lounge, will mix it up and perform at Wild Days on the rooftop of Eaton DC from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.
Guitarist Perry Smith leads a quartet at Twins Jazz. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + minimum/surcharge.
Organist Delvon Lamarr brings a trio to Blues Alley for 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + minimum/surcharge.
November 7
Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Dante Pope brings his After Five Experience, Marvin’s take on the juke joints of yesteryear, every Thursday this month, with the exception of Thanksgiving. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.
Pianist and composer Arturo O’Farrill is cut from the same cloth as his late father, Chico O’Farrill, whose compositions and arrangements were formative to Latin jazz. The younger O’Farrill carries on the tradition through his non-profit, the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, while also pushing the music forward through his own work. His band plays AMP at 8 p.m. $27-$47.
The Feedel Band is a local ensemble that plays a style of jazz-funk that came out of Ethiopia in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The band performs at the Bossa Bistro + Lounge at 9:30 p.m. $10 at the door.
Lisa Fischer has performed as a backing vocalist with the links of The Rolling Stones and Sting, earning her a spotlight in the award-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom. She kicks off a four-night run of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley with her band, Grand Baton. $60 + minimum/surcharge.
November 8
Veteran area pianist Larry Brown leads a quintet at Jazz Night in Southwest with guest vocalist Lisa Rich. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Stefon Harris rose through the jazz ranks in the mid- to late-’90s and is probably the most visible jazz mallet percussionist of the past 20 years. Harris comes to MilkBoy ArtHouse with his long-running band, Blackout, for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets. $25-$30.
The Blackbyrds came together more than 40 years ago as students of trumpet great Donald Byrd while going through Howard University’s acclaimed music program. The band behind hits such as “Walking In Rhythm” and “Rock Creek Park” comes to the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 8 p.m. $35 + minimum/surcharge.
Percussionist Asher Herzog leads Bowhunter, an experimental sextet, at Rhizome. The band headlines a bill that includes Dances with Winds, a duo comprized of Italian cellist Irina Solinas and Palestinian oudist Huda Asfour, who bring their respective classical traditions to bear for an entirely new sound. 8 p.m. $10.
Innovative area saxophonist Brian Settles plays Jojo’s with his band, beginning at 9:30 p.m. No cover.
Dial 251 For Jazz plays 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. sets tonight and tomorrow at Twins Jazz. $15 + minimum/surcharge.
November 9
The Bandwagon, a trio comprised of the Kennedy Center’s Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran, along with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The ensemble is marking the occasion with a series of concerts beginning with tonight’s performance in the Kennedy Center’s Family Theater, which features guest saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock. The setlist draws from Black Stars, the band’s 2001 recording. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets. $29-$49.
Saxophonist Luis Faife leads the DC Cuban All Stars with vocalist Juan del Risco at Sotto. 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
Cassandra Wilson is one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists of her generation, beginning with her early experimental work as part of the M-BASE collective and through her more recent material, which incorporates roots influences into her aesthetic. Wilson comes to the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club for an 8 p.m. performance. $65-$75 + minimum/surcharge.
Area drummer Eddie Anderson brings his band to Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.
Verroneau brings its blend of Brazilian, gypsy jazz, and classic swing sounds to Jojo’s at 9:30 p.m. No cover.
November 10
Arianna Neikrug, winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, plays the Millennium Stage in support of her debut album, Changes. 6 p.m. FREE
November 11
Marcus Miller rose to prominence while playing with Miles Davis in the 1980s and is the songwriter behind the go-go classic, “Da Butt.” A legend among electric bassists, he brings his latest ensemble to The Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $69.50.
Michael Bowie is one of the area’s finest bass players and he spent his formative professional years under the tutelage of master jazz singers Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter. He teams up with vocalists Shacara Rogers and Akua Allrich at Blues Alley in tribute to his mentors. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 12
Violinist Liz Meredith brings together classical chamber and electronic ambient music as part of an avant-garde bill at Rhizome that includes tape manipulator Timothy Wisniewski and multimedia act, The Ambient Eye. 8 p.m. $10.
November 13
Kris Funn, one of the area’s most in-demand bass players, leads his band, Cornerstore, at Wild Days on the Eaton DC rooftop. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.
Gypsy jazz violinist Daisy Castro plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 14
Helen Sung won the Kennedy Center’s prestigious Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition in 2007 and her career has been steadily on the rise every since. She currently serves as the 2019 artist-in-residence at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute. For tonight’s appearance at Blues Alley, Sung brought together a group of musicians who are either based in or came up through the D.C./Baltimore jazz scene. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + minimum/surcharge.
November 15
Saxophonist Elijah Balbed takes the stage at Jazz Night in Southwest with a group of younger musicians who have risen to prominence in the local scene over the past decade. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Debora Galan is originally from Spain and began her career as a jazz vocalist in D.C. before settling on the West Coast. She returns to the area to play Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.
James King has been one of the area’s first-call bassists for decades and he steps out front to lead a band at Jojo’s. 9:30 p.m. No cover.
The Silkroad Ensemble, minus its founder Yo Yo Ma, comes to the Barns of Wolf Trap for two nights of 8 p.m. concerts. $62.
Latin jazz legend Arturo Sandoval comes to Blues Alley for a four-night stand of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $65-$70 + minimum/surcharge.
Respected saxophonist and music educator Jeff Antoniuk leads the Jazz Update tonight and tomorrow through 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $15 + minimum/surcharge.
November 16
Cecily, a Wammy-winning area vocalist, presents a musical love letter to her hometown of Washington, D.C., through 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets at the Atlas. The set includes songs from her latest album, Songs of Love and Freedom. $20-$30.
Brothers Leonardo, Alejandro, and Bruno Lucini, who respectively play bass, percussion, and drums, come together to co-lead Origem, a long running local Latin jazz outfit. The band plays 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets at Sotto. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
Kojo Odu Roney is a drumming prodigy still in his teens. He makes his Kennedy Center debut, performing in the River Pavilion at The REACH, with a band that includes his father, acclaimed saxophonist Antoine Roney. 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. sets. $26.
Amjad Ali Khan is a master of the sarod, a stringed instrument that is used mainly in India’s Hindustani classical style. Khan comes to Sixth & I Synagogue along with his two sons—world class musicians in their own right—for an 8 p.m. performance. $40.
Bassist Michael Formanek has been a staple of New York’s improvised music scene for many years and also once taught at the Peabody Conservatory. He teams up with his son, woodwind artist Peter Formanek, for a duo performance at Rhizome. The opener is More Than A Drum, a D.C.-based ensemble that brings together music, dance, and spoken word. 8 p.m. $10.
Vocalist Landon Paddock plays Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover.
November 17
Avant-garde quintet Simulacra headlines an evening of cutting edge improvisation at Rhizome. 7 p.m. $10.
Saxophonist Frostina Dixon plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 + minimum/surcharge.
November 18
Local saxophonist Brad Linde leads Team Players, a quartet that wraps 12-tone compositional concepts and a multitude of stylistic influences around a sports theme. Recent albums have revolved around football, baseball, bowling, and golf. Tonight’s performance at Blues Alley draws from these recordings as well as future albums centered on individual sports and billiards. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 19
Swing Shift, a local big band, plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 20
Drummer Tyler Leak leads Freeform at Wild Days on the Eaton DC rooftop. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.
Trumpeter Brian Newman plays classic jazz and early rock n’ roll standards that evoke New York in the 1950s and ‘60s. His band comes to the Barns of Wolf Trap at 8 p.m. $24.
Pianist/vocalist Christopher Linman plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 21
Bria Skonberg specializes in the “hot jazz” sound of pre-WWII France and also draws influence from her hero, Louis Armstrong. The NYC-based trumpeter and vocalist tours constantly, bringing her classic style to audiences across the country. She comes to the District for an 8 p.m. set at City Winery. $25-$35.
Smooth jazz saxophonist Steve Cole plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $25 + minimum/surcharge.
November 22
Up-and-coming saxophonists Ephraim and Ebban Dorsey lead a band at Jazz Night in Southwest with a rhythm section of area mainstays. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Venezuelan percussionist Fran Vielma leads a quartet through 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets at Sotto. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
Chris Botti made a living as a working jazz trumpeter before a stint with Sting and a couple of well-received PBS specials turned him into a crossover star. Botti comes to The Birchmere tonight and tomorrow for 7:30 p.m. concerts. $110.
The city government is considering a proposal to declare go-go the official music of D.C. Those not in the know should get a primer with the Chuck Brown Band, which plays the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club at 8 p.m. $30 + minimum/surcharge.
Trumpeter Joe Herrera returns to Marvin with his electronic-acoustic hybrid project, Remix, beginning at 9 p.m. No cover.
Steel pannist Victor Provost comes to Jojo’s for multiple sets beginning at 9:30 p.m. No cover.
American Idol winner Ruben Studdard plays three nights of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $65 + minimum/surcharge.
November 23
Noah Haidu is making waves in New York’s crowded jazz scene with a sound that creates atmosphere without shying away from formidable compositional and improvisational technique. The pianist plays CapitalBop’s Traveling Loft, with venue and ticket information TBD. Drumming giant Billy Hart joins Haidu’s band for the show, and area bassist Kris Monson’s band opens the evening with a band to present his Charlottesvile Suite.
Mousey Thompson, longtime drummer for James Brown, leads other veterans of Brown’s through faithful interpretations of songs made famous by the Godfather of Soul at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. 8 p.m. $35 + minimum/surcharge.
John Lamkin II was the longtime music department director at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He continues to perform in retirement and leads a band at Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.
Vocalist George V. Johnson comes to Jojo’s. 9:30 p.m. No cover.
November 24
Colla Parte is a quartet that exists at the intersection of classical music and jazz, and is made of area veterans including woodwind player Perry Contichhio, bassist Daniel Barbiero, vibraphonist Rich O’Meara, and drummer Kevin O’Meara. The band plays Rhizome at 8 p.m. $20.
November 25
Smooth jazz saxophonist Boney James plays The Birchmere at 7:30 p.m. $79.50.
Established area saxophonists Paul Carr and Marshall Keys team up to co-lead the delightfully named Carr-Keys Quintet at Blues Alley. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets.
November 26
The String Queens bring their wide repertoire, ranging from Baroque classical to pop hits, to Blues Alley. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $22 + minimum/surcharge.
November 27
Russell Malone sits firmly in the jazz guitar tradition, but he is willing to mix up his straight-ahead approach with the occasional funk or pop tune. Malone leads a quartet through 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $35 + minimum/surcharge.
November 29
Trombonist Bobby Felder directs his big band at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.
Cellist Janel Leppin has long been at the forefront of D.C.’s experimental music scene. Her ensemble, Volcanic Ash, is the featured artist for CapitalBop’s monthly spotlight residency, which takes place tonight and tomorrow at Local 16. 7 p.m. $5.
Herb Scott, local saxophonist and arts activist, plays Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.
Baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer plays Jojo’s with her band. 9:30 p.m. No cover.
Smooth jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon comes to Blues Alley to start a three night run. $30-$35 + minimum/surcharge.
November 30
Wes Felton is a local mainstay and musical polymath who has collaborated with the links of Meshell Ndegeocello, Raheem DeVaughn, and Mos Def. He celebrates the release of his new album, Year of Return, with 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets at Sotto. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
“Lil’” John Roberts trained as a jazz drummer, but has made his name playing with a who’s who of R&B and hip-hop. His credits include Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Musiq Soulchild, and many more. He has also kept one foot in the jazz world, performing with luminaries such as George Duke, Herbie Hancock, and George Benson. Roberts also leads his own band on occasion, and the group comes to City Winery. 8 p.m. $22-$28.
Vocalist and area favorite Akua Allrich brings her band to Marvin from 9 p.m to midnight. No cover.
Ubiquitous area vocalist Aaron Myers comes to Jojo’s. 9:30 p.m. No cover.
