Weekend in Jazz | 3.30-4.1: Jazz Appreciation Month begins with a bittersweet goodbye
Editorial board
This weekend’s packed with top-notch shows — bass whiz Ben Williams will be jamming with tap dancers at the American History Museum on Friday, Andrew D’Angelo and Victor Provost are teaming up for a CapitalBop-curated blowout on Saturday, Bill Cole is bringing his Untempered Ensemble to Bohemian Caverns on Sunday. Seems like a wonderful way to usher in April, national Jazz Appreciation Month. But there’s a very un-silvery lining: This weekend will be Utopia’s last before closing for renovations, and according to the club’s owner, it will be at least 14 months before the restaurant is open again. DeAndrey Howard and Cheryl Jones, regulars at the club, will will be playing their last shows there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 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 30
cb picks:
- JAM Tap Fest with DC Tap, American History Museum, 7 p.m.
- Tim Green, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Jeff Antoniuk & Jazz Update w/Ralph Bowen, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
- DeAndrey Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m.
Mavis Waters, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | What began as an experiment over a decade ago continues today as one of Washington’s greatest weekly traditions: Westminster Presbyterian Church’s “Jazz Night.” Every Friday night, the house of God becomes a hub for fish frying, communing and jamming on straight-ahead jazz. This week, singer Mavis Waters leads a quintet in remembering Ellsworth Gibson, the late D.C. pianist who played with an array of jazz luminaries during the course of his life and led a number of beloved bands in the District. $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. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
Hot Club of D.C., Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | Featuring Ben Brooks on violin, Craig Bumgarner on guitar, Stephan on guitar and Rick Netherton on upright bass, the Hot Club of D.C. plays gypsy jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
JAM Tap Fest with DC Tap, American History Museum, 7 p.m. | The National Museum of American History kicks off its series of Jazz Appreciation Month festivities a couple days early, with a collaboration with the DC Tap Festival. Here, renowned bassist Ben Williams – a D.C. native and current New York City denizen – will jam with a fleet of tap dancers, including Emmy Award winner Ted Levy, DC Tap founders Chloe and Maud Arnold and Harold Cromer of the famous vaudeville duo “Stump and Stumpy.” Free. View event on calendar | American History Museum website
Sharón Clark Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Sharón Clark sings with fervor and soul, plus impressive precision. She’s one of D.C.’s top jazz singers. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar |Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Lee Ritenour, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | A talented guitarist who performed early in his career with Lena Horne and Tony Bennett, Lee Ritenour now plays smooth jazz. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $43 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Patti LaBelle, Music Center at Strathmore, 8 p.m. | Patti LaBelle is a soul singer whose roots in jazz and blues emanate from everything she sings. She’s a two-time Grammy winner, and thanks to her slick 1986 album “Winner in You,” she knows what things look like from the top of the Billboard charts. Cover varies ($35-$120), no minimum. View event on calendar | Strathmore website
Elikeh, Mansion at Strathmore, 8 p.m. | Patti LaBelle is a soul singer whose roots in jazz and blues emanate from everything she sings. She’s a two-time Grammy winner, and thanks to her slick 1986 album “Winner in You,” she knows what things look like from the top of the Billboard charts. Cover varies ($35-$120), no minimum. View event on calendar | Strathmore website
Tim Green, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | An alto saxophonist who wails with command and passion, Tim Green is a meditative and cerebral player. He’s informed by gospel and blues, and when he ups the ante on a solo, you can feel the soul virtually dripping from his horn. The young Green was runner-up in the definitive Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, and has recently been performing in the quintet of renowned vibraphonist Warren Wolf. He’ll perform here with a small combo. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30. $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
Jeff Antoniuk & Jazz Update w/Ralph Bowen, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Tenor saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk plays straight-ahead jazz with his sights set on what lies just past the horizon. Antoniuk’s tone is broad, with a constantly swelling life of its own. In his combo, Jazz Update, the D.C.-area musician is joined by the nimble pianist Wade Beach, bassist Tom Baldwin and drummer Tony Martucci. For this weekend engagement at Twins, the quartet is joined by the robust, New York City-based saxophonist Ralph Bowen. Two separate sets at 9 & 11. $20 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
Dupont Jazz Project, Black Fox Lounge, 9 p.m. | The Dupont Jazz Project plays straight-ahead renditions of jazz standards and originals. The trio will appear with an array of guest vocalists throughout the night. 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 31
cb picks:
- Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, Bohemian Caverns, 3 p.m.
- Andrew D’Angelo & Victor Provost, The Dunes, 8:30 p.m.
- Tim Green, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
- Jeff Antoniuk & Jazz Update w/Ralph Bowen, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m.
- Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.
- DeAndrey Howard’s Collector’s Edition, Utopia, 11 p.m.
Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, Bohemian Caverns, 3 p.m. | The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra is one of the District’s most exciting acts. This 17-piece swing big band commands the caves with a repertoire ranging from Count Basie to John Coltrane to Maria Schneider to originals by the band members. A handful of excellent soloists strengthen the big band’s already-nimble arrangements. The ensemble’s Monday night shows are one of D.C.’s best bets for a weeknight out, but here the group performs a special Saturday matinee. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile
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
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
Kirk Winters, Sala Thai (Petworth), 7 p.m. | No description available. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website
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
Lee Ritenour, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | A talented guitarist who performed early in his career with Lena Horne and Tony Bennett, Lee Ritenour now plays smooth jazz. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $43 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Sara Jones Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Sara Jones sings jazz standards sweetly; her top-notch band here includes Chris Grasso on piano, Tommy Cecil on bass and Andrew Hare on drums. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental Hotel website
Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Direct, Melody Tavern, 8 p.m. | Dixieland Direct specializes in traditional New Orleans-style jazz. $5 cover, one-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Melody Tavern 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
Andrew D’Angelo Big Band/Victor Provost Quartet, The Dunes, 8:30 p.m. | The piercing alto saxophonist and bass clarinetist Andrew D’Angelo leads his 17-piece DNA Big Band, a fiery and exciting ensemble that includes a number of the top names on the New York City jazz scene. In this CapitalBop and Search & Restore presentation, the big band double-bills with D.C.’s steel pan master Victor Provost and his quartet. Provost blends his passion for the music of his Caribbean homeland with straight-ahead jazz; what he ends up with is a lyrical, glistening cascade of melody and rhythm. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | The Dunes website
Tim Green, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | An alto saxophonist who wails with command and passion, Tim Green is a meditative and cerebral player. He’s informed by gospel and blues, and when he ups the ante on a solo, you can feel the soul virtually dripping from his horn. The young Green was runner-up in the definitive Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, and has recently been performing in the quintet of renowned vibraphonist Warren Wolf. He’ll perform here with a small combo. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30. $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
Darius Scott Quartet, HR-57, 9 p.m. | Darius Scott is a soulful, savvy straight-ahead pianist. Here he leads his own quartet. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website
Jeff Antoniuk & Jazz Update w/Ralph Bowen, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | Tenor saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk plays straight-ahead jazz with his sights set on what lies just past the horizon. Antoniuk’s tone is broad, with a constantly swelling life of its own. In his combo, Jazz Update, the D.C.-area musician is joined by the nimble pianist Wade Beach, bassist Tom Baldwin and drummer Tony Martucci. For this weekend engagement at Twins, the quartet is joined by the robust, New York City-based saxophonist Ralph Bowen, Two separate sets at 9 & 11. $20 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile
Projeck GP, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Projeck GP plays funky smooth jazz. 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, APRIL 1
cb picks:
- Marshall Keys, Acadiana, 11 a.m.
- Bill Cole’s Untempered Ensemble, Bohemian Caverns, 7 p.m.
- Cheryl Jones, Utopia, 11 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
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
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
Lee Ritenour, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | A talented guitarist who performed early in his career with Lena Horne and Tony Bennett, Lee Ritenour now plays smooth jazz. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $43 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile
Indigo Love, 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. This will be the last performance at Utopia before the club closes for renovations; food will be half-price. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Utopia profile 
Andrew D'Angelo, Ben Williams, Bill Cole, DC, DC jazz, jazz, Jeff Antoniuk, Ralph Bowen, tap dancing, Tim Green, U Street, Utopia, Washington
