With the arrival of summer’s dog days, temperatures rise, but the local jazz and international music calendar cools off a bit as people head out of town on vacations and artists get ready for the busier fall season. This August is in keeping with this trend, but there is still plenty of great music happening this month.

If you only see one show this month:

CLARINET SUMMIT: We’ve mentioned Baltimore bass clarinetist Todd Marcus a number of times, but his upcoming performance at Jazz Night in Southwest is particularly noteworthy. Marcus will team up with up-and-coming Canadian jazz clarinetist Virginia MacDonald along with Lena Seikaly, one of the area’s busiest vocalists. The rhythm section players — bassist Kris Funn, pianist Xavier Davis, and drummer Eric Kennedy — are as good as the D.C. region has to offer. (August 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church; 6 to 9 p.m.; $10)

If you want to see local talent:

SEE BOTH SIDES: Integriti Reeves is one of the area’s best vocalists, a singer who combines a finely honed technical proficiency with a real soulfulness. Reeves pays tribute to the many facets of Joni Mitchell’s songbook with a fine band that includes keyboardist Federico Gonzalez Peña and guitarist/violinist Matvei Sigalov. (August 8 at Blues Alley; 8 and 10 p.m. sets; $25 + minimum/surcharge)

JAZZ TRUMPET: Veteran area trumpeter Joe Brotherton has served in military bands and has accompanied artists ranging from New Orleans funk legend Gregory Porter to jazz pianist Eric Lewis. He regularly leads his own groups in local clubs and brings one to Capitol Hill this month. (August 13 at Mr. Henry’s; 8-11 p.m.; $20)

SCHOOL DAZE: Reginald Cyntje has long been one of the area’s first call trombonists as well as a prolific bandleader and composer. He is also playing an important role in cultivating the next generation of jazz talent, having assumed the role as Director of Jazz Studies at Duke Ellington School of the Arts after Davey Yarborough‘s retirement. See him lead a quartet at Takoma Station. (August 27 at Takoma Station; 7-10 p.m.; $15 in advance/$20 at the door).

CULTURE CAUCUS: The Culture Caucus is a group of a couple dozen local individuals and small organizations who work with the Kennedy Center’s social impact programs to produce events at the center. The Caucus is curating a summer festival through August, utilizing a variety of performance spaces on the campus to host events such as a performance by global music star Kiran Ahluwalia Aug. 5, as well as music film screenings, DJ sets and others. (Through September 3 at the Kennedy Center; FREE)

If you want to catch acts coming through town:

GUITAR LEGEND: George Benson is known for pop hits such as his cover of “On Broadway” or “Give Me The Night,” but he is also a formidable guitarist whose chops should not be overlooked. His sets these days draw from both sides of his musical personality, showcasing his jazz roots and his crossover sound. (August 13 at The Howard Theatre; 7 p.m.; $72.50)

D.C. JAZZ FEST PRE-REQ: We’ll have more for you about this year’s iteration of the DC Jazz Festival, which has officially made the move from being scheduled around Father’s Day weekend to around Labor Day weekend after two years of pandemic-related shifts. This year’s opening concert features vocalist Kurt Elling, who doesn’t have a virtuosic voice, but his sound is resonant and inviting nonetheless. Talented local singer Christie Dashiell opens with her ensemble. (August 31 at The Howard Theatre; 8 p.m.; $39-$79)

If you want to get out of your comfort zone:

BROOKLYN MEETS D.C.: Kalia Vandever is a Brooklyn-based trombonist whose second album, Regrowth, was released this past May to critical acclaim. She brings her quartet down to D.C. to share a bill with Zara, a band under the direction of area saxophonist Sarah Hughes. Zara includes many of the best artists from D.C.’s creative music scene, including violinist Jamie Sandel, french hornist Abram Wolfe Mamet, and drummer Nate Scheible. (August 13 at Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $15-$25)

TIME IS FIRE: Time is Fire is a band whose founders came up through the D.C. punk scene but then grew to embrace a wide range of influences. The group’s sound draws from Latin, Middle Eastern, and other traditions to create a sound that is international, but still maintains the DIY ethos and energy of the ensemble’s punk roots. Time is Fire shares the bill with Knifing Around, a self-described dance-punk group out of Richmond. (August 27 at Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $10-$20)

If you’re in search of global sounds:

BOLLYWOOD LOVE: A.R. Rahman is one of the most successful composers in Bollywood, India’s expansive film industry, and his songs have been part of South Asian pop culture since the mid-’90s. Like Hans Zimmer, whose film work crosses over into the mainstream, Rahman also takes his music on the road for live concerts and is currently touring North America with a stop in Northern Virginia. (August 13 at Wolf Trap;  8 p.m.; $47-$67)

GIRL POWER: La Marvela is an all-female ensemble that explores indigenous and Afro-Colombian ancestral music from the woman’s perspective. The group was formed not only to perform music, but also to create a learning space for an overlooked element of South American culture. (August 13 at Bossa Bistro + Lounge, 7:30 p.m.; $10 at the door)

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO: Renowned vocal ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo gained an international following after its collaboration with Paul Simon on the hit album Graceland. The group has gone through leadership changes after the passing of its founder, but continues to perform around the world, bringing its rich harmonies and exuberant performances to the delight of audiences everywhere. (August 21 at The Hamilton; 8 p.m.; $30-$65)