by Giovanni Russonello

Welcome to this week’s installation of “Weekend in Jazz,” our as-complete-as-possible list of D.C. jazz shows. This New Year’s weekend is rife with exciting music, none more so than Larry Willis, Jon Faddis and Monty Alexander’s gigs at Twins Jazz, the Kennedy Center and Blues Alley, respectively. Those shows and the rest of our favorites have a label. As always, you can read CapitalBop’s full listings directly at our monthly calendar, if you prefer. Happy hunting!

FRIDAY, DEC. 31

cb picks:

• Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 6:30 & 10 p.m.
• John Faddis Jazz Orchestra & Nnenna Freelon, Kennedy Center, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
• Larry Willis Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Earl Wilson’s Early Old Lang Syne Party, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m. | This week’s installment of Westminster Presbyterian Church’s famous “Jazz Night” takes place a little earlier than usual, prior to all the New Year’s Eve festivities. The night’s soul-jazz band includes Earl Wilson on guitar and vocals, Craig Alston on saxophone, Bill Clark on piano, Emory Diggs on bass and DeAndre Howard on drums. Show up for music, fish frying, communing and jamming on straight-ahead jazz. $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church website

Monty Alexander, Blues Alley, 6:30 & 10 p.m. | Longtime pianist Monty Alexander plays multicultural, world music-steeped jazz. In collaborations with the likes of Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, his Caribbean roots shine through. Two separate shows at 6:30 & 10 p.m. Tickets sold in special packages for New Year’s Eve show, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

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

Anita’s Jazz Hat, Sala Thai (Bethesda), 6:30 p.m. | Anita’s Jazz Hat is a vocals-guitar-bass trio that plays gentle standards and bossa nova tunes. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Potomac Jazz Project, Sala Thai (U St.), 6:30 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

Triple Double Jazz Band, Sala Thai (Petworth), 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

Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra & Nnenna Freelon, Kennedy Center, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. | Trumpeter Jon Faddis, a disciple of Dizzy Gillespie, returns to the Kennedy Center with his Jazz Orchestra to swing on classic jazz. They’re joined by Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon. Two separate sets at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Cover varies ($65-$75), no minimum. View event on calendar | Kennedy Center website

Sharón Clark, Dick Smith & Nicki Parrott, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 9 p.m. | Vocalists Sharón Clark and Dick Smith join with some of the area’s greatest jazz musicians for a New Year’s celebration. Nicki Parrott, a renowned singer and bassist, joins them. The group includes Lyle Link on saxophone, Chris Grasso on piano and Lenny Robinson on drums. The special event includes hors d’oeuvres, dessert and champagne, and costs $240 per couple for premium seating or $190 for secondary reserved seating. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website

Larry Willis Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 p.m. | In this special New Year’s Eve event, famous jazz pianist Larry Willis performs with his combo. Willis has a soulful sophistication, and he has played with groups from Jackie McLean’s band to Blood, Sweat & Tears. The special, obligatory prix fix menu includes a bottle of champagne and a three-course meal for $85. No cover. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Brulee, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m. | Brulee is a jazz and alt-pop fusion quartet featuring vocalist Aura Kanegis. No cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station 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. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. View event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile

DeAndre Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m. | Trumpeter DeAndre Howard’s weekly engagement at Utopia brings hordes to the restaurant and bar every Friday night. 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, JAN. 1

cb picks:

• Larry Willis Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
• Elijah Jamal Experience, Utopia, 11 p.m.

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

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

Kirk Winters, Sala Thai (U St.), 7 p.m. | No description available. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

Lena Seikaly & Potomac Jazz Project, 7 p.m., Extra Virgin Restaurant | 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

YahZarah, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Neosoul singer YahZarah is a classically trained Duke Ellington High School graduate who has performed with the Roots, Erykah Badu and numerous other stars. In music laden with a heavy backbeat, she projects shimmering and earnest vocals. Two separate shows at 8 & 10 p.m. $25 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Mark Deffenbaugh, Columbia Station, 8:30 p.m. | Pianist Mark Deffenbaugh plays smooth and funky jazz with a small group. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

Larry Willis Quartet, Twins Jazz, 9 p.m. | Famous jazz pianist Larry Willis performs with his combo. Willis has a soulful sophistication, and he has played with groups from Jackie McLean’s band to Blood, Sweat & Tears. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz 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. Cover varies ($5-10), no minimum. Vie?w event on calendar | 18th St. Lounge profile

Elijah Jamal Experience, Utopia, 11 p.m. | Young powerhouse tenor saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed heads up one of the swingin’est shows on U Street every Saturday night. The lineup of musicians on this late-night gig varies from week to week, but it’s consistently outstanding. Plus, with the Washington City Paper‘s 2010 Best New D.C. Jazz Musician award under his belt, the 20-year-old Balbed can always be expected always to deliver the goods on sax. This week he’s joined by Alex Brown on piano, Zach Brown on bass and, on drums, hometown hero Quincy Philips of the Young Lions (who will just have finished up a gig at Bohemian Caverns with the Lions). No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile

SUNDAY, JAN. 2

cb pick:

• Jolley Brothers, B. Smith’s, 12 p.m.

Kevin Pace Trio, Chef Geoff’s, 11 a.m. | Kevin Pace has a strong command on the bass and an intuitive ear as a composer. He puts both on display at the restaurant Chef Geoff’s, where he performs every week during Sunday brunch. This is background music, but that’s because of the environment, not the performance — which is anything but second-rate. (To hear Pace stretch out a bit more, catch him at Utopia with the Bobby Muncy Quartet, every Wednesday except the third of the month.) No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Chef Geoff’s 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

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 | Dahlak 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

Seeber/Aleinikoff Quintet, Twins Jazz, 8 p.m. | Drummer Aaron Seeber is just 17 years old, but he’s already carving out a name for himself as a straight-ahead jazz player. A senior at Walt Whitman High School in Maryland, he’s a member of local groups the Jazz Project Quintet and 3JAzzTrio. Eli Aleinikoff is a saxophonist and a senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. The pair will team up with three other local musicians for a night of bop. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event? on calendar| Twins Jazz profile

Peter Edelman Trio, Columbia Station, 8:30 p.m. | The stalwart D.C. piano player every Sunday night leads a rotating cast of musicians that often outgrows the title “trio.” No cover, 1-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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