Jessica Boykin-Settles, shown at the D.C. Jazz Loft, performs twice on Sunday as part of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival. Jesse Allen/CapitalBop
by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board
This weekend, the Washington Women in Jazz Festival hits its stride with four shows across the District. On Friday, trombonist Shannon Gunn brings her big band, the Bullettes, to Southwest’s Westminster Presbyterian Church; on Saturday, a couple tap dancers hold a “Rhythm Summit” at BloomBars in Columbia Heights; and on Sunday, two separate shows spotlight top vocal talent from around D.C. Find details on those performances and many more 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, MARCH 23
cb picks:
- Shannon Gunn & the Bullettes, Westminster Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
- Warren Wolf, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Kevin Eubanks, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
Shannon Gunn & the Bullettes (Washington Women in Jazz Festival), Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | Led by Shannon Gunn, a talented trombonist and teacher who plays in the beloved Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, this all-women big band has already recorded a well-received EP. The band includes pianist Amy K. Bormet, drummer Lydia Lewis and other major players on the D.C. scene. Here they perform as part of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival at Westminster Presbyterian Church’s weekly “Jazz Night.” $5 cover for adults, no cover for attendees under 16, no minimum. View event on calendar | Westminster Presbyterian Church 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
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
Triple Double Jazz Band, Sala Thai (U St.), 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
Night & Day Trio, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | The Night & Day Trio plays traditional, swing-oriented jazz, featuring Renée Tannenbaum on vocals, Mike Suser on piano and vocals and Dennis Johnson on saxophone. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Kevin Eubanks, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | You probably know Kevin Eubanks from his stint as the musical director on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, but you might not be aware of his history as a well-respected jazz guitarist on the scene, stretching back to the 1980s. When he dials things down and focuses on touch, he can sound strikingly like Wes Montgomery. But often, as on his recent album Zen Food, Eubanks opts for electric-piano backing and a swelling, sparkly aesthetic. Eubanks pushes bright, glossy guitar lines over his band’s rock grooves and full-force electric zoom. He performs at Blues Alley with a band that includes Marvin “Smitty” Smith, the highly talented drummer from Eubanks’s Tonight Show band. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $30 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Bob Schwartz Quartet, Melody Tavern, 8 p.m. | Saxophonist Bob Schwartz leads a quartet in lighthearted, straight-ahead renditions of jazz classics. $5 cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Melody Tavern website
Annie Sellick Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Annie Sellick has smoky but stalwart pipes, with personality to boot. She often ventures outside the jazz-standard canon, but hardly ever sounds as if she’s overstepped her comfort zone. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Warren Wolf, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Warren Wolf has an unassuming personality but a bold style on the vibraphone, reapplying Milt Jackson’s minor blues tonalities in an energized, post-bop setting. The Baltimore resident is a linchpin of bassist Christian McBride’s band, Inside Straight, and is an in-demand sideman on the national scene. He’s joined here by a combo. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $18 cover, 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
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 profile
Salim Washington & the Harlem Arts Ensemble, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Salim Washington is a consummate saxophonist, flautist and oboist who blends funk with jazz’s avant-garde in his Harlem Arts Ensemble. It’s a captivating mix. Two separate sets at 9 & 11 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Antonio Parker Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Alto saxophonist Antonio Parker’s playing is swingin’ and soulful, with 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 to Kenny Garrett’s. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Maureen Mullaney, Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m. | Maureen Mullaney sings jazz and blues songs with a light ensemble. 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 DeAndrey 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, MARCH 24
cb picks:
- Kevin Eubanks, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m.
- Washington Women in Jazz Fest Rhythm Summit, BloomBars, 8 p.m.
- Warren Wolf, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 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
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
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
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., where she’s accompanied by a pianist. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Henley Park’s website
Lena Seikaly Trio, 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 and a fulsome power that approaches Sarah Vaughan’s. Here she leads her own drumless trio, joined by guitar and bass. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Extra Virgin’s website
Kevin Eubanks, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | You probably know Kevin Eubanks from his stint as the musical director on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, but you might not be aware of his history as a well-respected jazz guitarist on the scene, stretching back to the 1980s. When he dials things down and focuses on touch, he can sound strikingly like Wes Montgomery. But often, as on his recent album Zen Food, Eubanks opts for electric-piano backing and a swelling, sparkly aesthetic. Eubanks pushes bright, glossy guitar lines over his band’s rock grooves and full-force electric zoom. He performs at Blues Alley with a band that includes Marvin “Smitty” Smith, the highly talented drummer from Eubanks’s Tonight Show band. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $30 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Annie Sellick Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Annie Sellick has smoky but stalwart pipes, with personality to boot. She often ventures outside the jazz-standard canon, but hardly ever sounds as if she’s overstepped her comfort zone. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Lydia Lewis Trio, Tasting Room, 8 p.m. | Tasteful drummer and composer Lydia Lewis leads her trio in background fare at the Tasting Room, a wine bar in Friendship Heights. She’s consistently joined by expert side musicians. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Tasting Room website
Washington Women in Jazz Festival Rhythm Summit, BloomBars, 8 p.m. | In this evening’s installation of the week-long Washington Women in Jazz Festival, formidable drummer Lydia Lewis and her trio are joined by two tap dancers, Melissa Frakman and Quynn Johnson. $10 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | BloomBars website
Warren Wolf, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Warren Wolf has an unassuming personality but a bold style on the vibraphone, reapplying Milt Jackson’s minor blues tonalities in an energized, post-bop setting. The Baltimore resident is a linchpin of bassist Christian McBride’s band, Inside Straight, and is an in-demand sideman on the national scene. He’s joined here by a combo. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $18 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
Peter Fraize Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Tenor saxophonist Peter Fraize, a longtime member of the local jazz scene, has experience in fusion and straight-ahead, but with his quartet he sticks to swinging jazz. His sound is bright and metallic, and he shows the influence of Dexter Gordon. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Salim Washington & the Harlem Arts Ensemble, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Salim Washington is a consummate saxophonist, flautist and oboist who blends funk with jazz’s avant-garde in his Harlem Arts Ensemble. It’s a captivating mix. Two separate sets at 9 & 11 p.m. $15 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Bill “Magic Lavender” Bey, Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m. | Bassist Bill “Magic Lavender” Bey leads a combo in straightforward renditions 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
SUNDAY, MARCH 25
cb pick:
- Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.
- Jessica Boykin-Settles, Anacostia Community Museum, 2 p.m.
- Black Notes, Bohemian Caverns, 7 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
Jessica Boykin-Settles Quartet (Washington Women in Jazz Festival), Anacostia Community Museum, 2 p.m. | Jessica Boykin-Settles is a widely respected vocalist and teacher at Howard University. She has a delicate, adaptive approach, and she’s an expert improviser. Here she’ll perform a program of Abbey Lincoln tunes, some of which she debuted to enthusiastic reception at the March D.C. Jazz Loft. Free. View event on calendar | Anacostia Museum 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 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. $15 cover, 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
Washington Women in Jazz Vocal Showcase feat. Howard U. Alumnae, The Hamilton, 8 p.m. | At state-of-the-ar
Kevin Eubanks, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | You probably know Kevin Eubanks from his stint as the musical director on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, but you might not be aware of his history as a well-respected jazz guitarist on the scene, stretching back to the 1980s. When he dials things down and focuses on touch, he can sound strikingly like Wes Montgomery. But often, as on his recent album Zen Food, Eubanks opts for electric-piano backing and a swelling, sparkly aesthetic. Eubanks pushes bright, glossy guitar lines over his band’s rock grooves and full-force electric zoom. He performs at Blues Alley with a band that includes Marvin “Smitty” Smith, the highly talented drummer from Eubanks’s Tonight Show band. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $30 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
SwagFunk, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | No description available. 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
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 
Join the Conversation →