Every so often, we encounter an act who has a solid reputation among musicians and has played high profile gigs in the past, yet does not receive deserved recognition at present. Karen Briggs is such an artist. Her violin playing is immaculate, she is a talented composer/arranger and her featured playing on New Age artist Yanni‘s multi-platinum Live at the Acropolis exposed her abilities to millions. While Briggs led her skilled band through sets at the Kennedy Center‘s KC Jazz Club this past Friday, we can only hope that the next time around, she will be featured in the Concert Hall.

Edmar CastanedaThere’s just something about Latin jazz that can put a grin on the most dour face. Even in the potentially staid setting of the Kennedy Center, the joyous and infectious rhythms can have feet tapping, heads bobbing, and the audience cheering. That was the atmosphere during Edmar Castaneda’s early set on Friday night at the KC Jazz Club. The fresh faced Colombian prodigy, still in his 20s, made a recent area appearance at…

Those present on Saturday night to see ace drummer Terri Lyne Carrington (pictured left) witnessed a performance that showcased a strong tension that exists in today’s jazz scene. On the one hand, those who celebrate musicianship, free-flowing improvisation, and a dedication to craft would have appreciated the high level of artistry that was on display during Saturday night’s first set at the KC Jazz Club. On the other, those of us who value the emotional…

Many artists have claimed to merge jazz with hip-hop and R&B, but most often this music ends up being little more than an MC rapping over a drum machine layered with sampled acoustic bass and horn lines (think Us3’s “Cantaloop”, or “Rebirth of Slick” by Digable Planets). While these efforts maintain the solid groove of hip-hop, they ignore the improvisational elements and harmonic sophistication that is the essence of jazz. However, there seems to be…

Any experienced musician knows that it takes a great deal of skill and control to pull off a quiet and subtle performance that retains a sense of passion. During Friday night’s first set at the Kennedy Center’s KC Jazz Club, bassist extraordinaire John Patitucci (pictured) remarked, “You guys are so quiet tonight!” Indeed, there was pin drop silence within the crowd, but it was not due to boredom or a lack of appreciation. Rather, the…

>> Those who want to hear smooth sounds with global influences should head down to Blues Alley this week as guitarist Jonathan Butler comes to town for a 3-night stand beginning Thursday. Tickets to the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets are available here. $43 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge. >> Mavis “Swan” Poole, an up-and-coming young vocalist who is an alum of the prestigious Betty Carter Straight Ahead Jazz Workshop will perform at Twins Jazz on…

To call pianist Tigran Hamasyan an “up-and-comer” is a misnomer, because even though he is still quite young, this talented artist, by any measure, has already arrived. In addition to winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition in 2006, the 20-year-old has been a finalist in numerous international competitions and has performed at clubs and festivals all over the world. Hamasyan will bring his latest sounds to the Kennedy Center’s KC Jazz Club on Friday…

>> Rachelle Farell, one of the few vocalists who successfully straddles the line between jazz, R&B and pop, will be playing at Blues Alley tonight, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Sets are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The rather outrageously priced tickets are available here. $60 + $10 food/drink minimum. >> Two local ladies of jazz come to Twins Jazz tonight for our first must see. Trombonist Jen Krupa, a member of the Navy Commodores…

While the “nature v. nurture” argument may rage for years to come, two respected musical patriarchs showed that regardless of which is the more important, nature and nurture in tandem are a most formidable combination. Oliver Lake (pictured right), a trailblazing elder statesman of jazz, and Ravi Shankar (pictured below), the most celebrated Indian classical musician in the world, each performed at the Kennedy Center this past weekend with gifted progeny in tow. The result…