5 D.C. jazz picks for July 2025
The dog days of summer are here, as is evident by the heat waves sweeping our region. The best way to beat the heat beyond hydrating is sticking indoors to where the AC is on and the air is cool. A great way of doing that is checking out live jazz, with solid offerings in and around D.C. throughout the month.
For those who want to eschew the loud spectacle of this year’s Fourth of July celebrations, Westminster Presbyterian Church is offering a strong alternative with trombonist Greg Boyer, a funk specialist with longtime membership in Parliament-Funkadelic and Prince’s backing band. On July 18, Westminster then hosts D.C. jazz elder bassist Cheyney Thomas for a tribute to Buck Hill featuring Antonio Parker.
July will also showcase a collection of shows from some of the District’s best vocalists. Guitarist Steve Herberman and Lena Seikaly, a vocal-accompanist duo with wonderful chemistry, perform at Tabard Inn on July 14. Akua Allrich celebrates her birthday at Takoma Station on July 17, as Jazz Kitchen Productions continues to expand programming beyond weekends at the historic spot (Disclosure: Allrich is a CB board member). And Alison Crockett returns to Blues Alley, performing on July 23 with her family-rooted project, My Father’s Record Collection.
Two additional shows that we think will be worth your time: Dream Feeder’s cool, hypnotic sounds return to Rhizome on July 8, and E.U.’s legendary frontman Sugar Bear returns to the Bethesda Theater, alongside his foundational go-go group, to celebrate his birthday on July 25.
If you can venture outside this month, it might be worth it to see Trombone Shorty’s celebration of New Orleans music at Wolf Trap on July 24.
For all other jazz needs, consult the revamped and full D.C. jazz calendar.
NATE WOOLEY’S FOLK MUSIC
Tuesday, July 1, 7 p.m.
Rhizome (tickets)
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There are few musicians who have created such a distinct approach and style as Nate Wooley. A peerless trumpet player, his music contains stark dualities, as difficult to stomach as it can be spiritually tantalizing.
One of Wooley’s great qualities is his focus on community, drawing together forces within the world of creative music. Here, he convenes a group of fellow creative lions: percussionist and slide clarinetist Chris Corsano and percussionist Ches Smith. Both also play electronics in this group Wooley created to focus on the purity of the creative improvisation process.
Opening is Weed Tree, the powerful duo of creative D.C. musicians Amanda Huron and Layne Garrett.
TIM GREENE
Saturday July 12, 7 p.m.
Takoma Station (tickets)
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Alto saxophonist Tim Green grew up in Baltimore alongside the likes of Kris Funn, Quincy Phillips and Warren Wolf. Like other members of that Charm City crew, Green is a strong player. He can make the horn soar in rapid bursts or swing with bright bounce. He leads his own bands, often in a mid-century hard bop style, and plays in a variety of contemporary settings led by the likes of Wolf, Orrin Evans (in the Captain Black Big Band), Dontae Winslow and Kris Funn (as an occasional fourth member of the pyrotechnic trio Corner Store).
Here, he leads a special set breaking down some of hip-hop’s most iconic jazz samples.
CYRUS CHESTNUT
Saturday July 12, 7 and 9:30 p.m., and Sunday July 13, 5:30 and 8 p.m.
Blues Alley (tickets)
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Cyrus Chestnut is one of the rare modern jazz pianists to channel the resonating, chiming harmonies and whimsical but lyrical melodic style of pianists like Ray Bryant and Vince Guaraldi. While Chestnut — who also holds a teaching post in the Howard University music program — is fluent in a number of piano styles including stride, boogie-woogie and gospel, the core of his sound lies in that sweet spot of chromatic lyricism and lush melodies.
He celebrates the release of his new album, Rhythm, Melody and Harmony.
ADI MEYERSON’S DARK MATTER QUARTET FEAT. BRANDON WOODY
Saturday July 19, 3:00 p.m.
Kreeger Museum (tickets)
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American-Israeli bassist Adi Meyerson writes music that can be soft and delicate with classic jazz balladry or fiery and furious, drawing on the more zero-gravity moments of Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet and the fire music of Archie Shepp.
Her Dark Matter quartet is an acoustic, chordless combo. The music is lean and athletic, conjuring the elastic sounds of Sonny Rollins’ East Broadway Rundown thanks to regular features from fellow New York-based collaborators like saxophonists Caroline Davis or Christopher McBride. Here, Baltimore’s own Brandon Woody joins Meyerson to add to the Dark Matter.
HEIDI MARTIN ATTUNEMENT RECORDING RELEASE
Tuesday July 22, 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.
Blues Alley (tickets)
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Vocalist Heidi Martin is one of D.C.’s treasures. She emits messages complex but clear, with an essence of mourning and resilience that hints at Billie Holiday and a quavering force not unlike Joni Mitchell’s. She’s most closely linked to Abbey Lincoln, that vocalist and composer whose ear was always turned toward the acridity of injustice — not just its effects, but the ways in which we push it aside by turning a blind eye.
She celebrates the release of her new album, Attunement.
Some text based on previous calendar listings by Jamie Sandel and Giovanni Russonello.
