5.2-5.4: Funk Parade, avant-garde sounds in high and low places, and more -

Saturday’s all-day, all-night Funk Parade is a highlight this weekend. CapitalBop’s responsible for booking the jazz stage at this street fair cum music festival; we’ve got Quincy Phillips and Donvonte McCoy performing energizing music outdoors throughout the day, free of charge, at U and 15th Streets. (You’ll note that Tony Martucci’s first set at Twins on Saturday is also free, thanks to the Funk Parade’s U St. takeover.)

That day’s activities are going to be popular; on the other nights, you can escape to something a little more recondite. On Friday at the Back Alley Theater (a subterranean but mythic space north of Petworth), Tatsuya Nakatani leads his minimalist Gong Orchestra; at the more high-brow Hamilton on Sunday, check out the tonal guitar hypnotist Nels Cline. Okay, okay, looking for the satisfying, straight-ahead stuff? Find it at Bohemian Caverns, the KC Jazz Club or, if you crave the perfect cocktail along with it, in the lobby of the Loews Madison Hotel. You can also find our full listings at CapitalBop’s D.C. jazz calendar.

All our favorite shows below have a label. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, MAY 2

cb picks:

Justin Kauflin, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra, Back Alley Theater, 8 p.m.
Christie Dashiell, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m.
Tedd Baker, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
U St. Jazz Jam, Dukem, 11 p.m.

Sandra Johnson, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | What began as an experiment over a decade ago continues today as one of Washington’s greatest weekly traditions: Westminster Presbyterian Church’s “Jazz Night.” Every Friday night, the house of God becomes a hub for fish frying, communing and jamming on straight-ahead jazz. What began as an experiment over a decade ago continues today as one of Washington’s greatest weekly traditions: Westminster Presbyterian Church’s “Jazz Night.” Every Friday night, the house of God becomes a hub for fish frying, communing and jamming on straight-ahead jazz. This week Sandra Johnson sings straight-ahead jazz with the incorrigibly fabulous Lyle Link on saxophone, Vince Evans on piano, Wes Biles on bass and Jeffrey Neal on drums. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website

Charles Rahmat Woods Duo, Firelake Grill, 7 p.m. | The saxophonist Charles Woods plays in both free and straight-ahead jazz styles, but for his regular gig leading a low-key duo at Firelake Grill, he keeps things within the traditional, swinging realm. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Firelake Grill 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

Yamomanem, 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

Jacqui Simmons & Friends, Sala Thai (Petworth), 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

Justin Kauflin, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | The pianist and composer Justin Kauflin performs as part of the Kennedy Center’s Discovery Series. His compositions reflect a broad range of themes, as he weaves flowing rhythmic passages around constructivist harmonies. Raised in Silver Spring, Kauflin became blind at age 11 but did not let that stop him from mastering block-chord harmonic movement and developing an uncanny command of rhythm. Tickets $20, two separate sets at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., no minimum. [words by Allen Jones] View event on calendar | KC Jazz Club profile

John Pizzarelli Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Nostalgia is supposed to come with heartache and hurt, right? Not in John Pizzarelli’s musical universe, a cleanly defined realm where popular songs are wholesome and potable, and the jazz chops always serve an air of refinement. The son of Bucky Pizzarelli has developed an international reputation for his guitar work and crooning vocals; in both cases, panache is his stock in trade. He performs here with a quartet. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $2.50 surcharge, $12 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Tony Martucci, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | A frequent sideman and bandleader in the D.C. area, the drummer Tony Martucci plays comfortable bop with a lightly dabbed, clarion swing on the ride cymbal. He is joined here by Tom Baldwin on bass, John Lee on guitar and the saxophonists Luís Hernandez (on Friday), Lyle Link (on Saturday), and Jeff Antoniuk (all weekend). Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Christie Dashiell, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m. | A former member of Howard University’s Afro Blue jazz choir and erstwhile star of NBC’s The Sing-Off, Christie Dashiell is one of D.C.’s most beloved young jazz personas. She has a riveting voice, range and sensitivity and understated attention to detail. Whether singing a re-harmonized Stevie Wonder tune, a jazz standard or an original, Dashiell almost always sounds like she’s smiling. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Loews website

Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra, Back Alley Theatre, 8 p.m. Tatsuya Nakatani, a globally influenced percussionist, presents his Gong Orchestra, featuring 11 performers. His stage is set up so that the gongs will vibrate with each other in patterns, an exploration of acoustic resonance. Nakatani will also perform a solo percussion set as a preamble. tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door. [words by Allen Jones] View event on calendar | Back Alley Tumblr

Tedd Baker, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | A D.C. saxophonist with an impressive résumé (in addition to playing in the Airmen of Note, the swinging saxophonist has recorded a strong, JazzTimes-reviewed album), Tedd Baker is possessed of a burly tone and taut rhythmic approach. Here he appears with a combo. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $20 cover in advance, $25 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns 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

Aaron Myers, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | The vocalist Aaron Myers leads a combo that tugs jazz standards down into a cozy, neo-soul groove. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox Lounge profile

Donvonte McCoy Quintet, 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

U St. Jazz Jam, Dukem, 11 p.m. | The U Street Jazz Jam, which began at Ulah Bistro last year and quickly became the weekend’s most happening area hang, is now at Dukem. The session offers a spark-plug atmosphere, and attracts cameos from some of the city’s top improvisers. A rotation of bands handles house duties every week. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Ulah website

SATURDAY, MAY 3

cb picks:

Quincy Phillips & Donvonte McCoy, Funk Parade, 12 p.m.
Elijah Jamal Balbed Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Quincy Phillips & Donvonte McCoy, Funk Parade, 12 p.m. | The Funk Parade, an all-day and all-night street fair and music festival on U Street, is highlighting music from all over the Black Diaspora, with a special focus on D.C.’s perspective. CapitalBop is responsible for programming the jazz stage, at the historic M.A. Winter Building’s parking lot. We’re presenting Quincy Phillips, the drummer in Roy Hargrove’s quintet, as well as the Donvonte McCoy Group — both acts inflect funk and buoyant delight into their modern jazz. Food and drink will be available near the stage, adn all along the U St. strip. Free. View event on calendar | Funk Parade 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

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

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

Tony Martucci, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | A frequent sideman and bandleader in the D.C. area, the drummer Tony Martucci plays comfortable bop with a lightly dabbed, clarion swing on the ride cymbal. He is joined here by Tom Baldwin on bass, John Lee on guitar and the saxophonists Luís Hernandez (on Friday), Lyle Link (on Saturday), and Jeff Antoniuk (all weekend). Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. First set free (part of the Funk Parade), second set $16 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

John Pizzarelli, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Nostalgia is supposed to come with heartache and hurt, right? Not in John Pizzarelli’s musical universe, a cleanly defined realm where popular songs are wholesome and potable, and the jazz chops always serve an air of refinement. The son of Bucky Pizzarelli has developed an international reputation for his guitar work and crooning vocals; in both cases, panache is his stock in trade. He performs here with a quartet. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $40 cover, $2.50 surcharge, $12 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Paige Wroble Martin, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m. | Lead vocalist in the U.S. Air Force’s Airmen of Note big band, Paige Wroble Martin has a sharp and strong style, which she applies to a range of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Loews website

Elijah Jamal Balbed Quintet, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | The young saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed, one of D.C.’s brightest rising stars, has a hard-driving and sparely metallic sound. It’s redolent of Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins, for you old-school buffs, but he refracts their lessons through the Young Lions of the 1990s, and speaks in the lingua franca of present-day post-bop. He performs at Dukem for the first time with an expert quintet, including Alex Norris on trumpet, Samir Moulay on guitar, Kris Funn on bass, Mark Meadows on piano and Corey Fonville on drums. $15 cover in advance, $20 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns 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. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

WEA Trio, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | The WEA trio consists of Will Stephens on drums, Ed Hrybyk on bass and Allyn Johnson on piano. The group plays in a range of jazz styles. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

cb picks:

Marlena Shaw, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 6 p.m.
Carolyn Malachi, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Nels Cline, The Hamilton, 7:30 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

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

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

Nguyen Nguyen, Ulah Bistro, 12 p.m. | Nguyen Nguyen plays jazz piano and sings in a scruffy, boyish tone. At Ulah Bistro’s weekly brunch, he mixes jaunty covers of jazz standards with his own compositions, and his combo stays at a background level. No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Ulah Bistro

DC Jazz Singers Jam, Black Fox Lounge, 5 p.m. | The DC Jazz Singers Jam is a new endeavor, organized by the local show presenter and jam session enthusiast Jeff Stacey and hosted by the pianist Mark Meadows. In the Black Fox Lounge’s basement performance area, it offers singers an early-evening opportunity to commune and compete. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox profile

Marlena Shaw, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. | The vocalist Marlena Shaw is presented here as part of Blue Note’s 75th anniversary. She has won awards from DownBeat and Record World magazines for her contributions to the label. She is a warm-voiced, warm-hearted performer who wears soul on her sleeve and has a sound all her own. Joining her will be the pianist Andrew Adair, the bassist James King, and the drummer Lenny Robinson. Free. [words by Allen Jones] View event on calendar | Kennedy Center website

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

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

Victor Dvoskin Duo, Tabard Inn, 7 p.m. | The bassist Victor Dvoskin leads a straight-ahead jazz duo every Sunday evening at the Tabard Inn restaurant. No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Tabard Inn website

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

Carolyn Malachi, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m. | Carolyn Malachi blends her soulful, jazz-savvy singing voice with the influences of hip-hop and spoken word. The granddaughter of the famed pianist John Malachi considers herself a poet above all, but she was nominated for a Best Urban/Alternative Performance Grammy in 2010, and her recorded music demands to be considered alongside Janelle Monae, Thundercat and other experimental R&B musicians. At regular live shows in her hometown, Malachi typically draws on expert jazz players. Two separate sets at 7 & 9 p.m. $18 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Nels Cline, The Hamilton, 7:30 p.m. | Nels Cline plays guitar in the iconic indie rock band Wilco, where his battery of effects pedals and musical ephemera contributes to the band’s jangling, otherworldly mystique. In his solo work, Cline has always pulled even further into sleek, abstracted territory, mixing downtown New York City post-rock, circa 1987; minimalism; and jazz. Tickets $16-$20. View event on calendar | The Hamilton 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