Weekend in Jazz | Clubs showcasing an array of talent: Lee Konitz, Corey Harris and more -

Weekend in Jazz | Clubs showcasing an array of talent: Lee Konitz, Corey Harris and more

By CapitalBop · February 3, 2012

Lee Konitz performs at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday. Courtesy Evert-Jan

by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

The clubs are jammed with talent this Friday and Saturday: Cool jazz innovator Lee Konitz is at Bohemian Caverns, Mark Elf brings his zinging guitar to Twins Jazz, and Corey Harris’s blues eclecticism makes its way to Blues Alley. Find details on these performances and many more in this week’s edition of “Weekend in Jazz,” a listing of every D.C. jazz show on our radar. Our favorites have a label, and as always, you can read CapitalBop’s full listings directly at our D.C. jazz calendar, if you’d rather. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

cb picks:

Chris Vadala Trio, Strathmore Mansion, 11 a.m.
Maurice Lyles Sextet, Westminster Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
Aaron Diehl, Kennedy Center, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
Lee Konitz Quintet, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Mark Elf Trio, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Chris Vadala Trio, Strathmore Mansion, 11 a.m. | In the inaugural event of Strathmore’s month-long Discover Ellington festival, the Chris Vadala Trio will explore the music of Duke Ellington, D.C.’s foremost jazz ambassador. The director of the University of Maryland Jazz Studies program, Vadala has a history of playing bop, Latin and fusion, as well as classical. He’s a woodwind master who developed some fame while playing with Chuck Mangione in the 1970s. He’s joined here by guitarist Rick Whitehead and bassist John Previti. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Strathmore website

Maurice Lyles Sextet, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | Maurice Lyles leads an expert straight-ahead sextet in this Black History Month celebration of Black American Music. The band includes Lyle Link and Carl Cornwell on saxophones, Peter Edelman on piano and Steve Novosel on bass, plus special guests. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website

Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 7 p.m. | The Jolley Brothers, Noble on keyboard and Nate on drums, play thrice a weekend at B. Smith’s, the upscale soul-food restaurant in Union Station’s massive East Hall. The Jolleys, who perform with a bassist, comprise one of D.C.’s most exciting and auspicious acts. With roots in gospel, soul and the modal bop of the 1960s, the brothers (who also compose prolifically) bring some of the most creative elements in the African-American music canon forward into the 21st century, all while stamping it with their own distinctive flavoring. But B. Smith’s is a restaurant first, and the music remains in the background – no matter how expertly played. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | B. Smith’s 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

Potomac Jazz Project, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | The Potomac Jazz Project is a jazz combo led by bassist Stan Hamrick that takes on modern and classic jazz tunes with a showmanly flair, as well as skill. The cast of supporting musicians tends to rotate. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Night & Day Trio, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | The Yamomanem Jazz Band plays a faithful take on New Orleans jazz, conjuring the days of King Oliver and early Louis Armstrong with its lush brass section. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Aaron Diehl, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | Aaron Diehl, an acolyte and confidante of Wynton Marsalis, maintains a direct connection to the music of his idols, like Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. The young pianist has a light and cogent touch, which he’ll display solo here at the Kennedy Center Jazz Club. Two separate sets at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $16 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | KC Jazz Club profile

Corey Harris, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Corey Harris plays the Delta blues with depth and credibility. He’s also a dedicated eclectic, exploring genres from reggae to Malian popular music. During this weekend run, he turns his attention to the Caribbean, performing a program he calls the “Rasta Blues Experience.” Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Sara Jones Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Sara Jones sings jazz standards sweetly; her top-notch band here includes Chris Grasso on piano, Zack Pride on bass and Todd Harrison on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website

Lee Konitz Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Lee Konitz went from being a sideman in the nonet that recorded Miles Davis and Gil Evans’ famous “Birth of the Cool” album, to leading his own cool ensembles and eventually embracing the avant-garde. His music nowadays is a singular brand of post-bop: slippery, lyrical and extremely nimble (in spite of his octogenarian status). He performs here with a former saxophone student of his, D.C.’s Brad Linde, as well as the star New York City pianist Dan Tepfer, bassist Tom Baldwin and drummer Tony Martucci. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $25 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Jazz Messengers, GMU Center for the Arts, 8 p.m. | Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés is known as the “dean of Latin jazz.” His father, Bebo, was a famous musician, as is his son, Chuchito. Valdés has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea and many others, and has won three Grammy Awards. In short, this guy is the real deal. He performs at George Mason University with his rhythmically ambassadorial outfit, the Afro-Cuban Messengers. The band includes Valdés’s sister, vocalist Mayra Caridad Valdés; bassist Lázaro Rivero Alarcón; drummer Juan Carlos Rojas Castro; percussionist Yaroldy Abreu Robles; batá drummer and vocalist Dreiser Durruthy Bambolé; tenor saxophonist Carlos Manuel Miyares Hernandez; and trumpeter Reinaldo Melián Álvarez. Ticket prices vary ($23 to $46), no minimum View event on calendar | GMU website

Sin Miedo, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Sin Miedo is an energetic, nine-piece Salsa band that plays highly danceable Afro-Cuban jazz, Mambo and Samba. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Mark Elf Trio, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Guitarist Mark Elf usually records with the best of New York; tonight, he’ll play with the best of D.C. He’s in a trio, accompanied by bassist James King and award-winning drummer Harold Summey. Elf’s got a distinctive, side-slinging guitar tone, and a caustic swing. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m. | Arguably the city’s best jazz trumpeter, Donvonte McCoy plays every Friday and Saturday at the hip 18th St. Lounge. He likes to mix in some funk as well during the lounge gig, and he’s liable to inflect a touch of Chuck Brown-esque groove into his combo’s treatment of classic bop tunes by the likes of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. After all, the setting is that of a dance club, not a jazz joint – no tables and chairs or hushed applause after every solo. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. View event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile

DeAndrey Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m. | Trumpeter DeAndre Howard’s regular engagements at Utopia bring hordes to the restaurant and bar. He and his small group, Collector’s Edition, play standards with a friendly, inviting touch, and they add to the positive vibes already flowing throughout the room — especially when Howard tosses aside the trumpet to sing a spontaneous blues. no cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

cb picks:

Gregory Porter, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
Corey Harris, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
Lee Konitz Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Mark Elf Trio, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 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

Charles Woods, Johnny’s Half Shell, 6 p.m. | Saxophonist Charles Woods plays and has recorded in both free and straight-ahead jazz styles, but for his regular gig at Johnny’s Half Shell he keeps things within the traditional bop realm. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar| Johnny’s Half Shell website

District Jazz Trio, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m. | A self-described “cool swinging jazz trio,” the District Jazz Trio is saxophonist Seth Popkin, pianist Dan Nathan and bassist Roger Rosa. The group plays jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai 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

Full Ascent, 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

Gregory Porter, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | Gregory Porter’s voice is limpid when it needs to be, straining and barbed at other times. He’s a deep songwriter, too, and knows how to take a chilling turn on “Skylark.” Two separate sets at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $16 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | KC Jazz Club profile

Nancy Scimone, Henley Park Hotel, 7:30 p.m. | Nancy Scimone reaches into the jazz and popular American songbooks during this weekly gig at the Henley Park Hotel in downtown D.C., where she’s accompanied by a pianist. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Henley Park’s website

Lena Seikaly Trio, Extra Virgin Restaurant, 7:30 p.m. | Vocalist Lena Seikaly sings jazz standards with a confident and playful demeanor, displaying a haziness reminiscent of Esperanza Spalding and a fulsome power that approaches Sarah Vaughan’s. Here she leads her own drumless trio, joined by guitar and bass. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Extra Virgin’s website

Bonnie Harris, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Straight-ahead jazz vocalist Bonnie Harris leads a very talented quartet. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website

Lydia Lewis Trio, Tasting Room, 8 p.m. | Tasteful drummer and composer Lydia Lewis leads her trio in background fare at the Tasting Room, a wine bar in Friendship Heights. She’s consistently joined by expert side musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Tasting Room website

Ajay Parham Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Ajay Parham is a smooth, deep-voiced vocalist who sings R&B with inflections of jazz. But on the bandstand at HR-57, where he’s long been a stalwart performer, Parham often tries his hand at jazz standards. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website

Palanke Music Company, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Led by vocalist and guitarist Jaime Andrés Salazar, a.k.a. Gato, Palanke Music Company is tropicalia meets electro meets Samba meets Afro-Cuban jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Jeron White, Black Fox Lounge, 9:15 p.m. | Bassist Jeron White leads a straight-ahead jazz combo. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile

The Hang, Bohemian Caverns, midnight | Bohemian Caverns’ late-night jam, The Hang, is hosted by a different band every week of the month. The kitchen remains open until 1 a.m., so there’s a chance to get a late bite without having to traipse to Ben’s Chili Bowl. $7 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

cb pick:

Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.

Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Marshall Keys’ saxophone can sing the blues or swing to the rhythms of bebop with a laid-back sense of cool; the native Washingtonian is a fluid, graceful player. He plays every Sunday brunch at Acadiana, usually with a group consisting of the city’s top jazz scene veterans: Federico Peña on piano, Tarus Mateen on bass and either Lenny Robinson or Mark Prince on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website

Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 12 p.m. | The Jolley Brothers, Noble on keyboard and Nate on drums, play thrice a weekend at B. Smith’s, the upscale soul-food restaurant in Union Station’s massive East Hall. The Jolleys, who perform with a bassist, comprise one of D.C.’s most exciting and auspicious acts. With roots in gospel, soul and the modal bop of the 1960s, the brothers (who also compose prolifically) bring some of the most creative elements in the African-American music canon forward into the 21st century, all while stamping it with their own distinctive flavoring. B. Smith’s is a restaurant first, and the music remains in the background – no matter how expertly played. But as far as jazz brunch goes, it’s hard to top the Jolleys’ music. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | B. Smith’s 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

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

Jazz Jam, Dahlak, 6:30 p.m.| This jazz jam presents a friendly, relaxed environment where professionals and amateurs can play together. No cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | View Dahlak profile

DC Choro, Grill from Ipanema, 7:30 p.m.| DC Choro is a sextet that plays Brazilian music drawing on European folk traditions. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Grill from Ipanema 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

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

Cheryl Jones Trio, Utopia, 9 p.m. | Singer Cheryl Jones has a weekly engagement every Sunday at Utopia, where she sings with depth, force and clarity. Jones is equally likely to sing jazz standards, pop tunes or gospel classics. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile