by Giovanni Russonello
Editorial board

Nasar Abadey, long one of D.C.’s luminaries, leads his top-notch band at Bohemian Caverns this weekend — they can swing hard, but they can also take you back to the roots of the music, or into the realm of a futuristic ideal for jazz. Then there’s Kris Funn & Corner Store’s free show in Petworth on Saturday, and the mighty saxophonist Anthony Nelson at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday. 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, SEPTEMBER 28

cb picks:

• Nasar Abadey & Supernova, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Sunny Jain & Red Baraat, The Hamilton, 8:30 p.m.
• Anthony Nelson, Twins Jazz, 9 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Ron Sutton, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m. | At this week’s installation of Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Jazz Night, a straight-ahead ensemble offers a soulfully swinging tribute to the alto saxophonist Jackie McLean. The band includes Ron Sutton on saxophone, Janelle Gill on piano, Raynel Frazier on trombone, Eric Wheeler on bass and Eric Allen on drums. $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

Triple Double, 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, straight-ahead versions of jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Sala Thai website

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

Lori Williams Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Smooth-voiced singer Lori Williams is a regular member of the local jazz group Saltman-Knowles. Here she steps out, singing standards at the fore of her own quartet. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

Mark O’Connor, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Mark O’Connor plays the jazz violin in a style influenced by his two mentors: the American folk fiddler Benny Thomasson and the French Gipsy jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $45 cover, $12 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Craig Sparks Swingtet, Glen Echo Bumper Car Pavilion, 8:30 p.m. | Craig Sparks Swingtet is a traditional swing dance band that plays a combination of standards and rearranged contemporary pop tunes. The night starts with a 30-minute beginners’ swing dance class at 8:30. Tickets $15. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

Nasar Abadey & Supernova, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Preeminent local drummer Nasar Abadey leads his quintet, Supernova, with aplomb. Heavily influenced by native African rhythms as well as bebop’s golden age, Abadey is tirelessly modern; he prods and pushes on the drums with a contemporary sense of groove. The group includes Joe Ford on saxophone, Allyn Johnson on piano and James King on bass. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 11:30 p.m. $18 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Sunny Jain & Red Baraat, The Hamilton, 8:30 p.m. | Dohl and drum-kit player Sunny Jain leads his Indian brass band, Red Baraat. The group’s show is an exercise in kinetic energy, and blends North Indian bhangra rhythms with funk, soca and improvisatory conducting. Tickets $19. View event on calendar | Hamilton website

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

Alfredo Mojica, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Alfredo Mojica, who sang at Bossa for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Anthony Nelson, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | The multi-talented woodwind player Anthony Nelson, who typically sticks to the tenor saxophone, has a burnished, stout sound and a lightning-quick improvisational attack. He sometimes performs with a strolling trio (only bass and drums), and his brawny tenor tone is remarkably proficient at filling in the extra space. But here he will leads a full quartet – one that features prodigious talents: Paul Odeh on piano, Herman Burney on bass and Lee Pearson II on drums. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. $16 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

Robbie Wancowicz Ensemble w/Jenny George, Black Fox Lounge, 9:30 p.m. | Jenny George can’t yet drink legally at Black Fox Lounge, but she’s a prescient young vocalist who takes on jazz standards with strength and sensitivity. Here she appears with the Robbie Wancowicz 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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

cb picks:

• Akua Allrich, Bohemian Caverns, 3 p.m.
• Kris Funn & Corner Store, Petworth Jazz Project, 6 p.m.
• Nasar Abadey & Supernova, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.
• Anthony Nelson, Twins Jazz, 9 p.m.
• Steve Synk Trio, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m.
• Donvonte McCoy, 18th Street Lounge, 10:30 p.m.

Akua Allrich, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba are two strong influences that bubble up in Akua Allrich’s Afrobeat- and jazz-infused music. The Howard University graduate, who composes many of her own tunes, is a strong and effervescent singer who wields a signature sense of earthbound optimism. Here she celebrates the release of her new CD, Uniquely Standard; admission also buys you a digital download of the album. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. $15 cover in advance, $20 at the door, 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

Kris Funn & Corner Store, Petworth Jazz Project, 6 p.m. | The bassist Kris Funn, a member of the famed trumpeter Christian Scott’s quintet, performs here with his own group, Corner Store. Its kinetic, crackling music centers on Funn’s blues-battered bass lines, rocking originals, and dance-inducing revisions of everything from John Coltrane to Sam Cooke. The show is part of a summer concert series at Petworth Playground, and blankets are provided. Free. View event on calendar | Petworth Jazz Project 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, 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 Quartet, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 8 p.m. | Vocalist Lena Seikaly sings jazz standards with a confident and playful demeanor, displaying a haziness reminiscent of Esperanza Spalding, but also nodding to traditional greats. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

Roomful of Blues, Glen Echo Bumper Car Pavilion, 8:30 p.m. | Roomful of Blues has toured the world and recorded a handful of albums; it’s a tight, enticing act that channels the jump blues of the 1940s. The night starts with a 30-minute beginners’ swing dance class at 8:30. Tickets $18. View event on calendar | Mandarin Oriental website

Mark O’Connor, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Mark O’Connor plays the jazz violin in a style influenced by his two mentors: the American folk fiddler Benny Thomasson and the French Gipsy jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $45 cover, $12 minimum. View event on calendar | Blues Alley profile

Nasar Abadey & Supernova, Bohemian Caverns, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. | Preeminent local drummer Nasar Abadey leads his quintet, Supernova, with aplomb. Heavily influenced by native African rhythms as well as bebop’s golden age, Abadey is tirelessly modern; he prods and pushes on the drums with a contemporary sense of groove. The group includes Joe Ford on saxophone, Allyn Johnson on piano and James King on bass. Two separate sets at 8:30 & 11:30 p.m. $18 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | Bohemian Caverns profile

Anthony Nelson, Twins Jazz, 9 & 11 p.m. | The multi-talented woodwind player Anthony Nelson, who typically sticks to the tenor saxophone, has a burnished, stout sound and a lightning-quick improvisational attack. He sometimes performs with a strolling trio (only bass and drums), and his brawny tenor tone is remarkably proficient at filling in the extra space. But here he will leads a full quartet – one that features prodigious talents: Paul Odeh on piano, Herman Burney on bass and Lee Pearson II on drums. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. $16 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

TBA, HR-57, 9 p.m. | No description available. $15 cover, no minimum. View event on calendar | HR-57 website

Cubista, Bossa Bistro, 9 p.m. | Cubista is a salsa band that plays at Bossa every Saturday. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Bossa profile

Steve Synk Trio, Columbia Station, 9:30 p.m. | Lyrical bassist Steve Synk, a music major at the University of Maryland, leads a young trio that explores music ranging from standards to originals, groove-based contemporary jazz to swinging bop. 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. 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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

cb picks:

• Jazz Brunch: Reginald Cyntje, Twins Jazz, 11 a.m.
• Black Notes, Bohemian Caverns, 7 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

Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Direct, Acadiana, 11 a.m. | Mike Flaherty’s Dixieland Direct focuses on traditional, New Orleans-style jazz. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Acadiana website

Jazz Brunch: Reginald Cyntje, Twins Jazz, 11 a.m. | Twins Jazz’s new Sunday Jazz Brunch initiative revolves around the magnetic powers of Reginald Cyntje’s trombone. Last year, he released his debut CD, “Freedom’s Children: The Celebration,” a glimmeringly hopeful record immersed in the warm, danceable rhythms of Cyntje’s native U.S. Virgin Islands. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Twins profile

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

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

D.C. Jazz Jam, Dahlak, 6 p.m. | This jazz jam presents a friendly, relaxed environment where professionals and amateurs can play together. This session features a new installment of the jam’s Monthly Masters series, with the skilled local drummer Tony Martucci presiding. 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

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

Jason Yeager, Twins Jazz, 8 & 10 p.m. | The pianist Jason Yeager, a young talent based in New York City, doesn’t try to force his way into your brain; he lets his light hand and understated harmonies speak for themselves. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. $10 cover, $10 minimum. View event on calendar | Twins Jazz profile

Bill Heid, Black Fox Lounge, 8 p.m. | Bill Heid plays piano and sings blues songs and jazz standards. No cover, 1-drink minimum. View event on calendar | Black Fox Lounge profile

Mark O’Connor, Blues Alley, 8 & 10 p.m. | Mark O’Connor plays the jazz violin in a style influenced by his two mentors: the American folk fiddler Benny Thomasson and the French Gipsy jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. Two separate sets at 8 & 10 p.m. $45 cover, $12 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

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