CB’s guide to the 2025 DC Jazz Festival
Every year CapitalBop presents a “guide” to the DC Jazz Festival. This guide is not a comprehensive list of every show — which can be found on the D.C. Jazz Calendar — but various staffers’ recommendations of what shows we think are most worth your attention.
While staggered set lists mean you can try to catch everything — or at least fractions of everything — we want to highlight some sets that rise above and are deserving of your full attention.
In recent years, rather than solely relying on the taste and priorities of CapitalBop’s editorial staff, we have been asking D.C. jazz musicians who are themselves playing at the festival to pick, or at least highlight, one show they want to see during the festival as a fan themselves. So, for this 21st iteration of the DCJF, we asked five DMV-based jazz artists — all of whom will lead their own groups during the festival — to “pick” the shows they most want to see.
–Don’t miss CB’s history of the DC Jazz Festival’s first 20 years –
These testimonials, attributed below, all come from phone conversations with the artists and have been edited for length and clarity.
LALAH HATHAWAY / MATTHEW WHITAKER
Friday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m.
The Anthem (tickets)
[view on calendar]
“I was supposed to play with Akua Allrich’s group as well, but our times conflicted. So, I might go see the beginning of that. I definitely want to check out some of our local friends like Langston Hughes II and the String Queens. Hiruy Tirfe is doing a great show, too. This year is kind of stacked.
“But that Lalah Hathaway and Matthew Whitaker show is one I’m going to have to go to — if I could pick one. First, Matthew Whitaker: I’ve worked with him before and he’s a true creative force, meaning that he blends a lot of different things into one show. Lalah because she’s one of my favorite vocalists as an instrument. She uses it in any way that she wants to. And I also like The Anthem. The Anthem is a great venue to see music.
“I look forward to seeing all of my friends. D.C. Jazz Fest turned into a family reunion!” – Brent Birckhead
Brent Birckhead performs with his band BIRCKHEAD at the Wharf’s Transit Pier at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30.
CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT
Thursday, Aug. 28, 7:30 p.m.
Arena Stage (tickets)
[view on calendar]
“I would actually like to see the String Queens and Cecile McLorin Salvant — all the women.
“Cecile has this amazing instrument. The spirit she carries with her delivery is palpable and its intentional and I love that. I feel like seeing her, I would get that vibe automatically. Her vibe is like — her vibrations are high, even through a video. And her instrument is freakin’ magnificent.
“I’ve never seen her before! I’ve only seen her on videos, and on video it’s flawless and expressive. It’s like all the things you want in art, and approachable all at the same time.” – Akua Allrich (disclosure: Allrich is a CB board member.)
Akua Allrich performs with her band the Tribe at Union Stage at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30.
RON CARTER QUARTET
Sunday, Aug. 31, 8:15 p.m.
Arena Stage (tickets)
[view on calendar]
“I would really love to see – but it’s not possible – Eddie Palmieri. That was a guy I never watched live. Super legend.
“There are so many shows that are going to be super cool. I really want to watch Ron Carter. I love Ron. He is super amazing. I just had the opportunity to watch him twice live but not with his band.
“I think the last time I watched Ron was a crazy moment, because he was playing with somebody at Smalls. I went by myself – I went actually because George Cables was in the band and then I saw there was Ron and I was like, ‘Woah!’ It was Al Foster on drums, Ron, George Cables. I watched so close and it was like, ‘Oh man.’
“Ron was in so many amazing records. It’s just seeing a master do the thing in front of you, you know?” – José Luiz Martins
José Luiz Martins performs as part of the D.C. JazzPrix Finals at Union Stage at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30
CHARLES COVINGTON / ALLYN JOHNSON ORGAN SUMMIT
Friday, Aug. 29, 6 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church ($10 at the door, Free for kids 16 and under)
[view on calendar]
“Really, it’s got to be the B3 thing at Westminster. It’s not that there isn’t everybody great coming into the Wharf over the weekend, but we have equal talent here in D.C. too, you know? And Charles Covington and Allyn Johnson are both world class players.
“Allyn was just out with Christie Dashiell in a whole bunch of places. I feel like Covington is the best kept secret in town. He’s kind of a musician’s musician. I’m not sure how much the general public knows about him, so this is an opportunity for people to hear him; and then hear him and Allyn together; and to hear two B3s! How often does one get to hear two B3 players on one concert?” – Leigh Pilzer
Leigh Pilzer performs with her quartet at the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28
GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP
Sunday, Aug. 31, 6:45 p.m.
The Wharf (tickets)
[view on calendar]
“Gary Bartz is a longtime hero and inspiration of mine. On a musical level he is an earlier influence for me. Once I started listening to Miles and Trane and got deep into McCoy Tyner and then heard Gary Bartz on some of McCoy’s albums — that was really pivotal. Of course, I got to see Gary Bartz play a little bit in Baltimore – this would have been late ’90s, when he was still playing a bit at Caton Castle.
“From those early times hearing him, it was such an impact on me. His playing, his sound, that tone, the way he growls when he gets into certain notes at the top end of the horn, that’s something I think I do because of him. I fell in love with his playing. Then, knowing he was from Baltimore was really significant. At a lot of levels, his music and his playing and he have been really special to me.” – Todd Marcus
Todd Marcus leads a group with Lyle Link at Pearl Street Warehouse at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30
