by Giovanni Russonello
Editor-in-chief

Almost 30 years ago, after a decade of playing with Donald Byrd’s famous Blackbyrds, Keith Killgo released a self-titled R&B album, chock full of synth-driven grooves and good-lovin’ titles like “I’m Still Yours” and “When the Lights Go Out.” Since then, he’s kept a lower profile, but is a constant presence as a sideman on the D.C. jazz scene. At Twins Jazz this weekend, Killgo leads his own group – a rare occurrence these days. At the Kennedy Center’s KC Jazz Club, soulful jazz stars Benny Green and Russell Malone will be passing through town, and Jacky Terrasson, another Young Lion who’s not so young anymore, plays at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday. You can find details on these performances and many others 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, OCTOBER 21

cb picks:

• Benny Green w/Gary Smulyan, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
• Jacky Terrasson Trio, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Keith Killgo, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Butch Warren, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | Butch Warren, D.C.’s most treasured jazz elder, was a bassist on dozens of classic albums in the ’60s, when he served as Blue Note’s house bassist and toured with Thelonious Monk. (When he left the band, it took Monk years to find a bassist with whom he enjoyed playing as much.) That classic bass line on Joe Henderson’s “Blue Bossa” record? That groove on Herbie Hancock’s original “Watermelon Man”? Yep, that was him. At 71, Warren doesn’t have the same verve as he once did, but his rhythmic playing is still infectiously swingin’. He performs here with Peter Edelman on piano, Ted Efantis and Knud Jensen on saxophones and Bill “Magic Lavender” Bey trading off on bass. The drummer is TBA. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church 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, but it’s usually a very solid lineup. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

L’Tanya Mari Trio, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | Singer L’Tanya Mari is influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, singing jazz with depth and soulful warmth. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai 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

Benny Green w/Gary Smulyan, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | today. An alumnus of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the 48-year-old Green can imitate some of Oscar Peterson’s whirling acrobatics, and has also absorbed the stylings of hard-bop legends like Bobby Timmons. Here he appears with his trio, featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, plus special guest Gary Smulyan, a baritone saxophonist. Two separate shows at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Cover varies ($26-$30), no minimum. View event on calendar | KC Jazz Club profile

Najee, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Flutist and saxophonist Najee is a well-known smooth jazz and urban contemporary performer. Two separate shows at 8 & 10 p.m. $50 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Denise King Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Denise King, based in Philadelphia, sings a strong, lively and heavily interactive blend of blues and jazz. She’s joined by Chris Grasso on piano, Zack Pride on bass and the great Lee Pearson on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website

Jacky Terrasson, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Pianist Jacky Terrasson emerged in the 1990s as a major force in the Young Lions movement, which was responsible for reorienting the national jazz scene’s priorities toward a sense of traditional beauty, and toward its own roots. His touch is sensitive and placid on ballads, and brightly soulful on more uptempo tunes. Terrasson performs here with D.C. native Ben Williams on bass and 20-year-old phenom Justin Faulkner on drums. $22 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

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 Bistro website

Antonio Parker, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is swingin’ and soulful, with a bright, aggressive tone and inclinations that bring neo-soul and R&B influences into his otherwise straight-ahead bebop. Parker often pays tribute to John Coltrane with song dedications and covers, but his style on the horn often nods toward one of his personal favorites, the contemporary master Kenny Garrett. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website

Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 9 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player Peter Edelman every week leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

Keith Killgo, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Drummer Keith Killgo is a hard-swinging bopper with a long history on the D.C. jazz scene. You might recognize him if you’ve ever been to hear the Antonio Parker Quartet on a Friday or Saturday night at HR-57. His illustrious (and dubious, from the straight-ahead jazz purist’s point of view) past includes stints with Joe Henderson and Donald Byrd’s jazz-funk group, the Blackbyrds, plus an R&B album under his own name. Two separate sets at 9 & 11 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Aaron Myers, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Vocalist Aaron Myers leads this straight-ahead jazz quartet, featuring piano, bass and drums, at the new Black Fox Lounge. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar| Black Fox 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, October 22

cb picks:

• Russell Malone, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
• Jacky Terrasson Trio, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m.
• Keith Killgo, 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

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

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

Triple Double Jazz Band, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 7 p.m. | Consisting of Joey Whitney on tenor sax, Ed Gallagher on guitar, Alan Pachter on bass and Tom Reed on drums, the Triple Double Jazz Band plays straightforward, straight-ahead versions of jazz standards. 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

Russell Malone, KC Jazz Club, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | A formidable guitarist who got his start touring with Jimmy Smith in the late 1980s, Russell Malone has come into his own as a leader over the past 10 years. His soulful, breezily swinging style and effortless command have established him as one of the best jazz guitarists around. Two separate shows at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Cover varies ($26-$30), 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. She’s typically joined by a pianist. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Henley Park’s website

Lena Seikaly & Potomac Jazz Project, 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 as well as a deference to traditional greats. 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 | Extra Virgin’s website

Janine Gilbert-Carter Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Denise King, based in Philadelphia, sings a strong, lively and heavily interactive blend of blues and jazz. She’s joined by Chris Grasso on piano, Zack Pride on bass and the great Lee Pearson on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website

Najee, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Flutist and saxophonist Najee is a well-known smooth jazz and urban contemporary performer. Two separate shows at 8 & 10 p.m. $50 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar| Blues Alley profile

Jacky Terrasson Trio, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Pianist Jacky Terrasson emerged in the 1990s as a major force in the Young Lions movement, which was responsible for reorienting the national jazz scene’s priorities toward a sense of traditional beauty, and toward its own roots. His touch is sensitive and placid on ballads, and brightly soulful on more uptempo tunes. Terrasson performs here with D.C. native Ben Williams on bass and 20-year-old phenom Justin Faulkner on drums. $22 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

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

Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Drummer Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson is one of D.C.’s swingin’est drummers, and when he decides to bring the heat, watch out. He has a strong, distinctive shuffle beat, which he perfected during his two decades on the road with soul-jazz master Jimmy Smith. When the spirit moves him, Junebug sometimes steps up to the mic and graces the audience with a song. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website

Keith Killgo, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Drummer Keith Killgo is a hard-swinging bopper with a long history on the D.C. jazz scene. You might recognize him if you’ve ever been to hear the Antonio Parker Quartet on a Friday or Saturday night at HR-57. His illustrious (and dubious, from the straight-ahead jazz purist’s point of view) past includes stints with Joe Henderson and Donald Byrd’s jazz-funk group, the Blackbyrds, plus an R&B album under his own name. Two separate sets at 9 & 11 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar |Twins Jazz profile

Dee Stone, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Dee Stone sings soul, blues, jazz and rock. The first set of every performance is usually comprised of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar| Black Fox 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

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, October 23

cb picks:

• Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.
• Black Notes, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.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

Black Notes, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 9 p.m. | Following in the tradition of era-defining Black bards like GIl Scott-Heron, the Last Poets, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, Black Notes integrates deep grooves and red-blooded messages of revolution and solidarity. The accomplished band includes Reginald Cyntje on trombone and Antonio Parker on alto saxophone. Two separate shows at 7 & 9 p.m. $15 cover in advance, $18 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns 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

Glenn Crytzer & His Syncopators, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | Guitarist Glenn Crytzer leads his big band through classics from the swing era and his own compositions. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Najee, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Flutist and saxophonist Najee is a well-known smooth jazz and urban contemporary performer. Two separate shows at 8 & 10 p.m. $50 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

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

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