3.14-3.16: Miles Davis tribute, young gun Kush Abadey & Wash. Women in Jazz -

All this weekend Blues Alley features a cross-generational tribute band to Miles Davis, offering the rare opportunity to see a star fusion guitarist like Mike Stern needle NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb, a bebop and hard-bop clinician — and vise versa. On U Street, Bohemian Caverns presents two exciting local acts, Siné Qua Non and Integriti Reeves, and the precocious young drummer Kush Abadey leads a fabulous young band at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday.

Reeves’ show marks the beginning of the fourth annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival, a weeklong showcase that has grown impressively since its start in 2011. The festival also presents a free concert on Sunday that’s very much worth your time: Jessica Boykin-Settles’ tribute to Shirley Horn at the Anacostia Community Museum. 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, MARCH 14

cb picks:

Charles Covington, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m.
Kush Abadey Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
4 Generations of Miles, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
Johnathan Parker, The Dunes, 8 p.m.
Siné Qua Non, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Jazz Jam, Ulah Bistro, 11 p.m.
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Charles Covington, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | Charles Covington, a faculty member in the Howard University music department, is an elder statesman on the D.C. jazz scene. A melodic improviser on both the organ and piano, Covington plays with a swinging savvy and bluesy sensibility. Joining him in the quartet is Charlie Young on saxophone Nasar Abadey on drums, and James King on Bass. $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

Jacqui Simmons & Friends, Sala Thai (U St.), 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

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

4 Generations of Miles, Blues Alley, 7 & 10 p.m. | This supergroup brings together four musicians with first-hand experience playing alongside Miles Davis. The jazz elders Buster Williams (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) share the stage with the saxophonist Sonny Fortune and the guitarist Mike Stern, both of whom played with Davis during his electric years. This tribute show highlights Miles’ work from the 1950s. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $35 cover, $10 minimum. [words by Allen Jones] View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Johnathan Parker’s Under the Counter, The Dunes, 8 p.m. | The area alto saxophonist Jonathan Parker bounces and bobs through his improvisations, always affable and sometimes witty. He’s also a wily composer, and apparently quite the ideas man: For the past few months, he’s organized “Under the Counter,” a cross-pollination device for the local performing arts scene that pulls together jazz and rock musicians, comedians, and whatever else fits. Here his octet shares the bill with Linsay Deming, a talented indie and alt-country vocalist, plus a lineup of four local comics. $8 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | The Dunes Website

Kush Abadey Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The young drummer and D.C. native Kush Abadey knows how to light a fire inside his audience. He has been doing so for the past two years on the New York City scene, performing regularly in the Wallace Roney Quintet and with Frank Lacy’s Legacy Band. Abadey’s playing displays a deep historical understanding, and he uses a modern sensibility to carry forward the lessons of great drummers past. This weekend at Twins, Abadey performs with the saxophonist Braxton Cook (also a fast-rising star on the national scene, who currently tours with Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah), plus Allyn Johnson on piano and Zach Brown on bass. Two separate sets at 8 and 10 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. [words by Allen Jones] View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Sharón Clark, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m. | The vocalist Sharón Clark sings with fervor and soul, plus impressive precision. She’s one of D.C.’s top jazz singers. Here she appears with spare, piano-bass backing. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Loews website

Siné Qua Non, Bohemian Caverns, 8 & 10:30 p.m. | Michael Bowie, a veteran of bands led by stars like Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter and Michel Camilo, is one of the most articulate bass players in D.C. Now he’s got his own powerhouse ensemble, called Siné Qua Non, which released a dynamic CD last year. The group accomplishes an effortless coalescence of West African rhythms, Western classical techniques, straight-ahead jazz and 1980s pop sensibility. The expert ensemble includes Victor Provost on steel pan, Mark Prince on drums, Lyle Link on saxophone and flute, and Sam Turner on percussion. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $20 cover online, $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

Antonio Parker Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | The alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is doggedly swinging, soulful and colored by a bright, aggressive tone. He casually sprinkles neo-soul and R&B influences into his otherwise straight-ahead bop, and his improvisation shows a redolence of Kenny Garrett. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 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 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, Ulah Bistro, 11 p.m. | U Street restaurant Ulah Bistro has stepped up to fill the void that Utopia left open last year, when it closed to make way for the construction of a new condos complex. That restaurant housed the block’s most reliable, convivial jam sessions. Ulah gives a taste of that energy once a week, late on Friday nights. This week, Todd Simon takes the lead. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Ulah website

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

cb picks:

Lena Seikaly, Loews Madison, 8 p.m.
4 Generations of Miles, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
Kush Abadey Quartet, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m.
Integriti Reeves, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Donvonte McCoy, 18th St. 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

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 (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

Lena Seikaly, Loews Madison Hotel, 8 p.m. | The precocious young vocalist Lena Seikaly performs jazz standards and her own relatively straight-ahead originals with a confident and playful demeanor. Here she’s joined by a small combo. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Loews website

Integriti Reeves, Bohemian Caverns, 8 & 10:30 p.m. | In the opening performance of this year’s jam-packed Washington Women in Jazz Festival, the rising area vocalist Integriti Reeves has another thing to celebrate: the release of her debut EP, “Stairway to the Stars.” An alum of Baltimore’s Peabody Institute and Howard University’s graduate program in Jazz Studies, Reeves is enamored with the work of classic jazz vocalists like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. It’s Billie Holiday that Reeves emulates the most, singing ballads with a sibilant, brooding tone. Here she’s backed by a strong band: Matvei Sigalov on guitar, Elijah Balbed on saxophone, Eliot Seppa on bass and John Lamkin on drums. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $20 cover online, $25 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Cesar Orozco and Kamarata Jazz, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Cesar Orozco is a Cuban pianist who plays latin jazz with inflections of drifting harmonic structures. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 profile

SUNDAY, MARCH 16

cb pick:

4 Generations of Miles, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 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

Karen Lovejoy, Francis Gregory Neighborhood Library, 2 p.m. | The vocalist Karen Lovejoy presents a special educational program titled “Women in Jazz,” in which she’ll sing the songs and tell the stories of some of the music’s leading ladies — from Carmen McRae to Abby Lincoln to Melba Liston. Her accompanist is the pianist Sammy Munquia. Free. View event on calendar | Columbia Station profile

Jessica Boykin-Settles, Anacostia Community Museum, 2 p.m. | Jessica Boykin-Settles is a widely respected vocalist, and a teacher at Howard University who has mentored a handful of the city’s fine young singers. She’s got a firm delicateness to her approach, and she is an expert improviser. At this show – part of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival – she presents a tribute to Shirley Horn. Free. View event on calendar | Anacostia Community Museum 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

Jen Chapin, Bohemian Caverns, 7 & 8:30 p.m. | Jen Chapin sings a hybrid of songwritery folk, ’70s funk and classic rock. Here she appears with the guitarist Jamie Fox and the bassist Stephan Crump. The show is presented as a partnership between the Washington Women in Jazz Festival and Transparent Productions. Two separate sets at 7 & 8:30 PM. $15 cover in advance, $20 at the door, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns 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

4 Generations of Miles, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | This supergroup brings together four musicians with first-hand experience playing alongside Miles Davis. The jazz elders Buster Williams (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) share the stage with the saxophonist Sonny Fortune and the guitarist Mike Stern, both of whom played with Davis during his electric years. This tribute show highlights Miles’ work from the 1950s. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $35 cover, $10 minimum. [words by Allen Jones] View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Tony Martucci with Amy Shook, 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 Amy Shook on bass and Pat Shook on saxophone. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $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 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

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