by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

You’re no longer floating on a chiming cloud of good cheer, Christmas tunes wagging a message of love and togetherness at you like a scold. Breathe. Now we’re ready to turn the annual corner with some upbeat, dance-oriented music — try the young, D.C.-reared bass phenom Ben Williams at Bohemian Caverns, or the veteran star Monty Alexander at Blues Alley. Playing at Twins Jazz is Anthony Nelson, a Baltimore saxophonist whose broad tone tells a bold story. In Bethesda, the great singer-pianist Freddy Cole plays on Saturday night and for Sunday brunch. All our favorite shows below have a label. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

cb picks:

• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
• Peter & Will Alexander, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
• Ben Williams & Sound Effect, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Jazz Jam, Ulah Bistro, 11 p.m.

Arnold Sterling, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | The Baltimorean Arnold Sterling plays bluesy alto saxophone in a style influenced strongly by Sonny Stitt. This week at Westminster Presbyterian’s jazz concert and fish-fry, he’s backed by a strong quintet, plus the tap dancer Johnne Forge. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website

Jacqui Simmons & Friends, Sala Thai (RI Ave.), 7 p.m. | View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Karen Gray Trio, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m. | Commanding vocalist Karen Gray sings laid-back renditions of jazz standards in a drumless trio. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Night & Day Trio, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | The Night & Day Trio plays traditional, swing-oriented jazz, featuring Renée Tannenbaum on vocals, Mike Suser on piano and vocals and Dennis Johnson on saxophone. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Triple Double Jazz Band, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | Consisting of Joey Whitney on tenor sax, Ed Gallagher on guitar, Alan Pachter on bass and Tom Reed on drums, the Triple Double Jazz Band plays straightforward, straight-ahead versions of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Anthony Nelson Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | Anthony Nelson is a multi-talented reeds player, though he typically sticks to the tenor saxophone. He has a burnished, stout sound and a lightning-quick improvisational attack. He sometimes performs with a strolling trio (only bass and drums), and his brawny tenor tone is remarkably well proficient at filling in the extra space. But here he will leads a full quartet, one featuring prodigious talents: Allyn Johnson on piano, Herman Burney on bass and Cecil Brooks III on drums. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. [Note: The Anderson Twins were originally scheduled to play Twins this weekend.] Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | The veteran pianist Monty Alexander uses jazz as a canvas; music from the Caribbean, American cities, and various other cultures around the globe are his colors. In collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, Alexander’s Jamaican roots have always shone through, while his pianism also draws on Oscar Peterson and Horace Silver. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum, $2.50 surcharge. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Todd Googins, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m. | Todd Googins calls himself a “vocal design” artist, meaning he offers voiceovers, jingles and vocal production services. At this show, he’ll be singing standards in front of a jazz combo, but who knows – holler loud enough for the theme from the latest Midas commercial and you just might get it. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Madison website

Ben Williams & Sound Effect, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | The bassist Ben Williams, who grew up in D.C.’s Michigan Park neighborhood and attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, scored wide acclaim with the release of his 2011 debut album, State of Art. His acoustic bass playing is warm, earthy and precise, not to mention richly lyrical. Little wonder he’s a sideman for some of jazz’s top names, including Jacky Terrason and Marcus Strickland. As a bandleader, he’s a crusader for the contemporary, playing cards from throughout the deck of African-American popular music. Here he performs with his working band, Sound Effect. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $20 cover in advance, $25 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian profile

Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 9 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every Friday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

Antonio Parker Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | The alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is swinging and soulful, colored by a bright, aggressive tone. He casually sprinkles neo-soul and R&B influences into his otherwise straight-ahead bop, and his improvisation shows a redolence of Kenny Garrett. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

Alfredo Mojica, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Alfredo Mojica, who sang at Bossa for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

U St. Jazz Jam, Ulah Bistro, 11 p.m. | U Street restaurant Ulah Bistro has stepped up to fill the void that Utopia left open last year, when it closed to make way for the construction of a new condos complex. That restaurant housed the block’s most reliable, convivial jam sessions. Ulah gives a taste of that energy once a week, late on Friday nights. This week the saxophonist Herb Scott helms the proceedings. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Ulah website

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28

cb picks:

• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
• Anthony Nelson Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
• Freddy Cole, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 8 p.m.
• Ben Williams & Sound Effect, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.

Jam Session with Peter Edelman, Columbia Station, 4 p.m. | Pianist Peter Edelman, a constant presence on the D.C. jazz scene for years now, leads an afternoon jam session every Saturday and Sunday. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

George Oakley Two-tet, Firelake Grill, 7 p.m. | The singer and reeds player George Oakley teams up with the guitarist Nick Lipkowski to present low-key jazz takes on classic repertoire, as background fare at the Firelake Grill. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Firelake Grill website

Mark Mosley Trio, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | Baltimore guitarist Mark Mosley plays a slick hand as a smooth jazz guitarist, but he can also hunker down on serious bop. He performs laid-back straight-ahead here with his trio. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Triple Double, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | This jazz band plays in a number of traditional styles, from hard-bop to Dixieland to calypso. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Alan Palmer Group, Sala Thai (RI Ave.), 7 p.m. | Jacqui Simmons sings jazz standards with a heartfelt and elegant presentation. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Bonnie Harris, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m. | The veteran vocalist Bonnie Harris performs with a spare, bass-piano backing. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Madison website

Anthony Nelson Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | Anthony Nelson is a multi-talented reeds player, though he typically sticks to the tenor saxophone. He has a burnished, stout sound and a lightning-quick improvisational attack. He sometimes performs with a strolling trio (only bass and drums), and his brawny tenor tone is remarkably well proficient at filling in the extra space. But here he will leads a full quartet, one featuring prodigious talents: Allyn Johnson on piano, Herman Burney on bass and Cecil Brooks III on drums. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. [Note: The Anderson Twins were originally scheduled to play Twins this weekend.] Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | The veteran pianist Monty Alexander uses jazz as a canvas; music from the Caribbean, American cities, and various other cultures around the globe are his colors. In collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, Alexander’s Jamaican roots have always shone through, while his pianism also draws on Oscar Peterson and Horace Silver. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum, $2.50 surcharge. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Freddy Cole, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 8 p.m. | The singer and pianist Freddy Cole shows plenty of similarities to his brother, the world-famous singer and pianist Nat King Cole, but his croonerism is laden with a gravelly, bluesier texture. While his older brother was a star in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, Freddy Cole enjoyed only middling succes. But since the 1970s, he has recorded a slew of well-received albums. His inflection and pop-jazz approach will remind you of the King, sure, but as he insists in one of his tunes, “I’m Not My Brother, I’m Me.” At Bethesda Blues & Jazz, he performs a Christmas show. $40 cover, $10 minimum for dining-area seating. View event on calendar | Bethesda Blues website

Ben Williams & Sound Effect, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 p.m. | The bassist Ben Williams, who grew up in D.C.’s Michigan Park neighborhood and attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, scored wide acclaim with the release of his 2011 debut album, State of Art. His acoustic bass playing is warm, earthy and precise, not to mention richly lyrical. Little wonder he’s a sideman for some of jazz’s top names, including Jacky Terrason and Marcus Strickland. As a bandleader, he’s a crusader for the contemporary, playing cards from throughout the deck of African-American popular music. Here he performs with his working band, Sound Effect. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $20 cover in advance, $25 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian profile

Cubista, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Cubista is a salsa band that plays at Bossa every Saturday. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Alfredo Mojica, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Alfredo Mojica, who sang for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

cb picks:

• Freddy Cole, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 11 a.m.
• Alan Palmer’s New Soil, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m.
• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.

Gospel Brunch, The Hamilton, 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Every Sunday morning, the Hamilton presents two sets of rafters-raising gospel, along with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Two separate shows at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. $25 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | The Hamilton website

Jazz Brunch, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Performer TBA. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website

George Oakley Group, Redwood Restaurant, 11 a.m. | George Oakley invests all the reeds he plays – saxophone, clarinet and flute – with a whispering coolness. In this weekly brunch gig, he performs with a laid-back trio featuring Scott Giambusso on bass and Nick Lipkowski on guitar. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Redwood website

Freddy Cole, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 11 a.m. | The singer and pianist Freddy Cole shows plenty of similarities to his brother, the world-famous singer and pianist Nat King Cole, but his croonerism is laden with a gravelly, bluesier texture. While his older brother was a star in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, Freddy Cole enjoyed only middling succes. But since the 1970s, he has recorded a slew of well-received albums. His inflection and pop-jazz approach will remind you of the King, sure, but as he insists in one of his tunes, “I’m Not My Brother, I’m Me.” At Bethesda Blues & Jazz today, he performs a brunch show featuring Christmas fare. $50 ticket includes buffet brunch. View event on calendar | Bethesda Blues website

Harlem Gospel Choir, Howard Theatre, 12 p.m. | The talented Harlem Gospel Choir, which has been active since 1986, performs a Sunday brunch show every week at the Howard Theatre. Either an all-you-can-eat buffet or an a la carte menu are available. Doors open at noon, and the music starts at 1:30 p.m. Tickets vary ($35 for all-you-can-eat or $20 for admission and a la carte options in advance, $45 or $30 at the door). View event on calendar | Howard website

Todd Simon, Kellari Taverna, 12 p.m. | The sturdy and swinging pianist Todd Simon performs every Sunday in a duo setting; his accompanists vary from bass to guitar to saxophone, depending on the week. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Kellari Taverna website

Jam Session with Peter Edelman, Columbia Station, 4 p.m. | Pianist Peter Edelman, a constant presence on the D.C. jazz scene for years now, leads an afternoon jam session every Saturday and Sunday. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

D.C. Jazz Jam, Dahlak (with Allyn Johnson), 6:30 p.m. | The D.C. Jazz Jam presents a friendly, relaxed environment where professionals and amateurs can play together. This week, Allyn Johnson takes the piano chair as the jam’s “monthly master.” Johnson spent years mastering his instrument in churches and jazz bands around D.C., and has divined an approach to uniting glide and percussiveness. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Dahlak profile

Potomac Jazz Project, Laporta’s, 6:30 p.m. | The Potomac Jazz Project is a quartet that takes on modern and classic jazz tunes (and even some pop covers) with a showmanly flair, as well as skill. It’s led by bassist Stan Hamrick, and its rotating lineup often features some of D.C.’s best musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Laporta’s website

Alan Palmer’s New Soil, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m. | The pianist and Washington, D.C. native Alan Palmer’s music is rooted in his experience performing with the greats of classic jazz and his commitment to all manner of music across the spectrum of African-American history. New Soil Ship, Palmer’s current group, is cosmopolitan, gritty, fervid, cool, boppish, swinging, go-go-infused, and all-around stirring. Two separate sets at 7 & 8:30 p.m. $15 cover in advance, $20 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Jazz Direct, Zoo Bar Café, 7:30 p.m.| This combo specializes in traditional New Orleans-style jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Zoo Bar website

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | The veteran pianist Monty Alexander uses jazz as a canvas; music from the Caribbean, American cities, and various other cultures around the globe are his colors. In collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, Alexander’s Jamaican roots have always shone through, while his pianism also draws on Oscar Peterson and Horace Silver. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $12 minimum, $2.50 surcharge. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 8:30 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every Sunday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” no cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

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