December 2

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones defy categorization, blending jazz, bluegrass, rock, and every other genre under the sun. The band also gave rise to a few of the most influential instrumentalists of their generation, including Fleck himself as a banjoist and bassist Victor Wooten. The original quartet, which also included Roy “Futureman” Wooten and pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy, have reunited to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The tour stops at The Music Center at Strathmore for an 8 p.m. performance. $35-$75.

December 3

Winning the Herbie Hancock Institute Competition (formerly the Monk Competition) is the world’s most prestigious prize for young jazz artists. Twelve guitarists are semifinalists in this year’s competition, and three finalists perform this night at the Kennedy Center. The evening concludes with an all-star gala concert honoring trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard. Performers include Hancock himself, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson, and others. 7:30 p.m. $35-$125.

December 4

Saxophonist Brent Birckhead spent several years in D.C. before relocating to New York and playing with the likes of Lauryn Hill and Nas. He returns to the District for an 8 p.m. performance at Wild Days on Eaton DC’s rooftop. No cover.

Area favorite Chaise Lounge comes to Blues Alley for a holiday performance. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + minimum/surcharge.

December 5

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Dante Pope takes the stage at Marvin to present covers of holiday songs as they were recorded on Motown records during the label’s heyday. Pope repeats the performance the following two Thursdays in December. 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.

Stacy Kent is an award-winning vocalist with a catalog of 12 albums, including the Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling Breakfast On The Morning Train (2007). She kicks off a four night run of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $45-$50 + minimum/surcharge.

December 6

Organist Jackie Hairston and pianist Wade Beach team up for a performance at Jazz Night in Southwest. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.

Guitarist Dave Manley leads a band for the late set at Jojo’s, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Bassist Russ Rodgers plays earlier in the evening from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. No cover.

Hairy Sands is an experimental duo out of New York that headlines a bill tonight at Rhizome. 8 p.m. $10.

Smooth jazz keyboardist Anthony Walker leads a holiday celebration at AMP that includes special guests The String Queens and Dr. Karla Scott. 8 p.m. $28-$38

Lyuti Chushki means “hot peppers” in Bulgarian. The local band of the same name performs traditional Bulgarian music and plays Bossa Bistro + Lounge at 8 p.m. $10 at the door.

Trombonist and local mainstay Reginald Cyntje brings a band to Twins Jazz for 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. sets tonight and tomorrow. $15 + minimum/surcharge.

December 7

NPR’s annual A Jazz Piano Christmas returns to the Kennedy Center with performances from George Cables, Rebeca Mauleón, and Joshua White. 7 and 9 p.m. sets. $55-$65.

Cooper-Moore has been a mainstay of New York’s thriving experimental music scene since the ’70s. He has toured and performed with a number of ensembles, but tonight he comes to AllyWorld at Tonal Park Studios in Takoma Park for a solo piano performance. 8 p.m. $20.

Area vocalist Jeff Weintraub plays Mr. Henry’s from 8 to 11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.

Pianist and composer Damien Sneed is at home in the jazz, classical, and gospel traditions. He explores all three genres in a holiday program at Sixth & I Synagogue with help from his working band and guest vocalists. 8 p.m. $35.

Corey Harris was part of an acoustic blues guitar revival in the mid-’90s. His music has since expanded to include precursors to the blues, including sounds from the Caribbean and West Africa. Harris joins forces with fellow axe man Todd Albright for an 8 p.m. show at City Winery. $20.

Vocalist Darcy Cooke plays Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No cover.

December 8

William Hooker is a prolific drummer and composer with over 70 albums as a bandleader that range from straight-ahead jazz to more experimental forms. He will give a solo percussion performance, titled Drum Forms, at Rhizome. 7 p.m. $10.

Dreamville, a local band that presents vintage vocal jazz, plays Twins Jazz. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + minimum/surcharge.

December 9

Blue Monday Blues, the blues counterpart to Jazz Night in Southwest, hosts guitarist/vocalist Patty Reese and her band. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.

Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz has conducted an annual Christmas tour for over two decades. This year’s iteration features special guests Jonathan Butler, Melissa Manchester, and Michael Lington, and comes to The Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $54-$99.

Award winning local trad-jazz ensemble Veronneau presents music from its holiday album, Snow Time, at Blues Alley. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $25 + minimum/surcharge.

December 10

Tonight and tomorrow, Eric Felten leads his big band for its annual Blues Alley holiday performance. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $35 + minimum/surcharge.

December 11

Pianist Colin Chambers plays Wild Days at Eaton DC from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.

Andras Fekete was a pillar of D.C.’s experimental music community before his untimely passing in 2018 at age 62. Rhizome hosts a bill in his honor with headliner Mia Zabelka, a sound artist, violinist, and vocalist from Austria. Members of Fekete’s ensemble, Boat Burning, also perform along with The Literals, an experimental duo that includes former DCist editor in chief Matt Cohen. 8 p.m. $10.

Alison Shearer was a founding member of the PitchBlak Brass band, a ten piece hip-hop jazz ensemble. She formed a fusion quartet in 2015 and the group comes to Twins Jazz for 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + minimum/surcharge.

December 12

After a very successful appearance at Blues Alley The String Queens, a D.C. trio with a goal to bring diversity to the classical world, comes to the Heurich House Museum for a holiday performance. 7 p.m. $15.

João Castro Pinto is an experimental artist from Lisbon who specializes in electro-acoustic composition and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Music at the Catholic University of Portugal. He headlines an evening at Rhizome that includes noise artist Guillermo Pizarro and electronic musician Maslo. 8 p.m. $10.

Freddy Cole is not as well known as his legendary brother, the great Nat King Cole, which is a shame because he deserves wider recognition. However, his career is not lacking in longevity has he still performs regularly at 88-years old. Cole comes to Blues Alley to kick off a four night run of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets, playing seasonal favorites and classic jazz repertoire. $35-$40 + minimum/surcharge.

December 13

Area pianist Janelle Gill leads a quintet of the D.C. area’s finest in tribute to Mary Lou Williams, a pioneer and role model for women in jazz. The performance takes place at Jazz Night in Southwest from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door. Westminster DC, the venue that hosts jazz night, presents a free lecture on Williams the following day from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Chithra Subramanian is a dancer trained in both traditional Indian and contemporary styles. She presents Temple at Joe’s Movement Emporium, which traces her immigrant journey and explores the fraying of public life. 7 p.m. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish, starting at $5.

Area trumpeter Michael Thomas brings his hardbop group to Twins Jazz for two nights of 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. sets. $15 + minimum/surcharge.

December 14

Jojo’s hosts Bill Heid for the evening. The keyboardist plays several sets from 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No cover.

The Art Ensemble of Chicago, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, is known for its cutting-edge experimentalism, immersive performances that include dance and other elements, and colorful costumes worn by those on stage. The collective comes to the Kennedy Center under the direction of NEA Jazz Master Roscoe Mitchell for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets. $30-$40.

Cristian Allexis and Urbanova hails from the Dominican Republic and is one of that country’s most popular bands. They stop at Bossa Bistro + Lounge for a 7:30 p.m. set. $10 at the door.

December 15

CapitalBop stages its monthly Jazz Loft at Rhizome. Trumpeter Charmaine Michelle leads her band alongside ¡FIASCO!, a jazz fusion collective under the direction of guitarist Nelson Dougherty. 7 p.m. $10.

Celebrated indie band BETTY comes to City Winery for a holiday performance. 7:30 p.m. $30-$45.

December 16

Saxophonist Brad Linde and trumpeter Joe Herrera co-founded the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra in 2010 and the big band, comprised of a rotating cast of the area’s finest jazzers, held a Monday night residency at the historic club before its unfortunate closing in 2016. An annual holiday concert was a highlight of the BCJO calendar, and the tradition lives on with this month’s performance at the Atlas. 8 p.m. $15-$35.

Trumpeter Dave Detwiler played in the U.S. Army Band from 1973-2000 and directed musical events at The White House under six presidents. His band plays a Christmas show at Blues Alley. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $22 + minimum/surcharge.

December 17

MC and hip-hop legend Kurtis Blow is the featured guest at The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a performance that augments Tchaikovsky’s classic piece with hip-hop dancers and contemporary instrumentation. The Music Center at Strathmore hosts the 8 p.m. performance for the first of three nights. $33-$68.

Gunhild Carling is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who rose to prominence through her jazz interpretations of contemporary pop songs with Postmodern Jukebox. She plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $25 + minimum/surcharge.

December 18

Trumpeter Etienne Charles, a native of Trinidad, infuses modern jazz with the calypso and Afro-Caribbean rhythms in which he was steeped. His band comes to City Winery to play a holiday concert with a Creole twist. 8 p.m. $32-$42.

Local woodwind artist Seth Kibel has won an astonishing 28 Wammies (Washington Area Music Awards). His band, The Kleztet, blends klezmer music with jazz and swing to create joyful sound that will be on tap at AMP to usher in the Hanukkah season. 8 p.m. $19-$28.

The acoustic guitar is highlighted at Rhizome in a concert featuring Pairdown, Andy McLeod, and Doug Kallmeyer. 8 p.m. $10.

Drummer Tyler Leak and vocalist Imani Grace team up for a holiday performance at Wild Days at Eaton DC. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover.

Jane Monheit is jazz singer in the most timeless and traditional sense, and 20 years into her career she continues to draw audiences all over the world. She plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley, no doubt adding some seasonal fare to her set. $45 + minimum/surcharge.

December 19

Smooth jazz keyboardist and area favorite Marcus Johnson comes to Blues Alley for a four night run of holiday shows. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $30-$35 + minimum/surcharge.

December 20

Violinist/bassist Jamie Sandel and drummer Lenny Robinson bring bands to Jojo’s for 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. sets, respectively. No cover.

Rosa Tatuata is a band featuring vocalist Michela Musolino. The quartet plays folk music and instruments native to Sicily and Southern Italy, which would have been popular among those immigrated to the U.S. from those areas in the early 20th century. Rosa Tatuata comes to Bossa Bistro + Lounge at 7:30 p.m. $10 at the door.

The Caribbean, Eve Maret, and Attorneys General present an evening of avant-garde sounds at Rhizome. 8 p.m. $10.

Trumpeter Joe Herrera leads his acoustic-electronic hybrid band, The Remix, at Marvin. 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. No cover.

December 21

The Estamos Trio is an experimental group that keyboardist Thollem leads. The group shares a bill at Rhizome with keyboardist Jim Ryan’s DC Current, which is making its area debut. 8 p.m. $10.

Keyboardist and vocalist Sam Prather comes to Marvin for a seasonal performance. 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Jessica Boykin-Settles is an area vocalist who deserves much wider recognition. She performs at Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No cover.

De SanGuashington is a local outfit that plays cumbia and other folk styles native to Colombia. The band brings its infectious grooves to Bossa Bistro + Lounge at 10:30 p.m. $10 at the door.

December 22

Saxophonist Mars Williams is most famous as a member of The Psychedelic Furs, but he also has a deep jazz background. He leads a tribute band to Albert Ayler, a pioneering avant-garde saxophonist who passed away in 1970. For the past several years, Williams has brought An Ayler Christmas to cities in Europe and the U.S., in which he presents Ayler’s material as well as seasonal tunes that are given the Ayler treatment. Williams comes to Rhizome to perform with locals Ian McColm (drums), Mark Cisneros (guitar), and Jeron White (bass). 3 p.m. $15.

Saxophonist Brad Linde leads his Therapy Band at Twins Jazz. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $10 + minimum/surcharge.

December 23

Harmonica player and singer Anthony “Swampdog” Clark brings a band to Blue Monday Blues. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 at the door.

The Transcendental Light Orchestra is a group of area musicians under the direction of woodwind player and composer James Bazen. The ensemble incorporates baroque influences as well as more modern jazz and international styles. Bazen’s arrangements of Christmas airs and dances, which were captured on the 2018 recording, Spirit Wind, are the centerpiece to TLO’s 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley. $22 + minimum/surcharge.

December 24

The Beltway Brass plays jazz arrangements of holiday songs on the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. FREE

Local trumpeter Joe Herrera and longtime collaborator Rodney Richardson (guitar) continue their tradition of Christmas Eve jams at Blues Alley. 7 p.m. $22 + minimum/surcharge.

December 25

The Millennium Stage is the only U.S. institution that presents a free concert every day, 365 days a year. For over two decades, an all-star cast of the D.C. area’s finest jazz musicians have gathered on the stage for a Christmas Day jazz jam. Performers include host and vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeters Robert Redd and Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores King Williams. 6 p.m. FREE

December 26

Ben Williams won the prestigious Monk Competition in 2009 and his career has been on an upward trajectory ever since, which is no surprise to those of us who saw the area native when he began his professional career while still in his teens. Now almost 35 years old, the bassist has worked extensively with the likes of Pat Metheny, Stefon Harris, Terence Blanchard, and many other greats. He has also released two albums as a leader. For the past several years, he has come to The Hamilton for an annual holiday/birthday performance. This year’s show takes place tonight at 8 p.m. $20-$45.

Piano great Cyrus Chestnut holds down Blues Alley for five nights in what has become an annual between-Christmas-and-New Year’s tradition at the historic club. $30-$35 + minimum/surcharge.

December 27

Local vocalist Aaron Myers plays Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.

Ron Holloway played saxophone with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Gil Scott-Heron before becoming an in-demand player on the jam band circuit. He returns to his jazz roots, leading a quartet at Jojo’s from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No cover.

Trumpeter and area elder statesman John Lamkin‘s quintet plays Twins Jazz tonight and tomorrow. $15 + minimum/surcharge.

December 28

Vocalist Maija Rejman brings her classic sounds to Mr. Henry’s from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. $15 per person minimum.

Alison Crockett is a dynamic singer with prodigious vocal abilities. She comes to Jojo’s for sets beginning at 9:30 p.m. No cover.

December 29

The Asher Brothers Quartet plays 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets at Twins Jazz. $10 + minimum/surcharge.

December 30

The Legendary Ingramettes is a celebrated gospel group out of Virginia that plays the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m. FREE

December 31

Cyrus Chestnut‘s Blues Alley run culminates with a bash on the 31st with area vocalist Integriti Reeves opening. 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $110-$160.

The Kennedy Center rings in the new year with 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sets with NEA Jazz Master Branford Marsalis. The ticket price includes admission to the Center’s Grand Foyer Party for additional festivities. $75-$89

Westminster DC presents Bobby Felder‘s Blues Brothers for its New Year’s Eve celebration. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $35 admission/$30 dinner.