In 2010, Luke Stewart and Giovanni Russonello noticed something troubling: Night after night, the venues of Washington, D.C., were full of world-class musicians, but most of the people living here didn’t seem to know that they were in the midst of one of the world’s greatest jazz scenes. Young audiences often seemed especially hard to come by. Through a mix of web journalism, video features and live “jazz loft” shows, Luke and Gio decided to do something about it.

When CapitalBop went online, its first focus was on providing a comprehensive calendar of local jazz shows and publishing thoughtful editorial content — previews, artist interviews, reviews and critical essays —- that would drive readers to engage with D.C.’s live jazz scene. The calendar quickly became indispensable to musicians and audiences alike, as it is to this day. Through the years, the website has become a reliable source of quality media coverage for D.C.’s artists and venues, featuring work by professional writers, scholars and musicians who chronicled the life of D.C.’s jazz community.

Alongside its editorial mission, CapitalBop began the DC Jazz Loft, a DIY concert series that drew together musicians from across the avant-garde and straight-ahead traditions. The series offered a platform for artists to experiment, and for audiences to discover new sounds in intimate settings. From 2010 to 2020, the loft would make its home in DIY spaces from Red Door (aka Gold Leaf Studios) to Union Arts and Rhizome DC, rebuilding each time after gentrification displaced it.

As CapitalBop has grown, so have its ambitions and its staff. The organization began curating an annual series at the DC JazzFest and partnering with local venues to create dynamic shows that attracted fresh, young audiences while also serving traditional jazz fans. The annual Jazz & Freedom Festival, launched in 2015, became a powerful platform for local activism, raising thousands of dollars for grassroots organizations combating gentrification and displacement.

Education became another pillar of CapitalBop’s work. Through a partnership with The MusicianShip, CapitalBop brought jazz into D.C. public schools with monthly live performances and artist-led discussions.

In 2020, the pandemic struck and CapitalBop pivoted again. As the world stayed home, CapitalBop focused on creating digital support resources for out-of-work musicians, and online offerings like the Freedom Summer Sessions and a documentary series on shuttered venues. The organization also began laying groundwork for larger projects, including NEXTfest — a community music festival that brought thousands to Malcolm X Park in 2021 and 2022 — and the Home Rule Music Festival, which has taken place annually since 2022 at The Parks at Historic Walter Reed.

In the midst of a changing city, CapitalBop has faced challenges and learned lessons. Leadership turnover and the complexities of nonprofit management have underscored the need for sustainable systems and financial planning — especially as CB builds toward its long-term goal of opening a year-round home for jazz/#BAM/creative music in Washington, D.C.

In 2025, CapitalBop has established a new level of internal structure and stability, and is deep in a new phase of exciting programmatic growth. Donations from individual supporters and grants from local and national foundations are essential to sustaining our mission, as well as building our community. Get involved today, and help us keep the music growing strong in the nation’s capital.