15th DC Jazz Festival Has Perhaps Strongest Lineup Yet

 Jon Batiste

This is a preview of this year's DC Jazz Festival that I wrote up for the May-June 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 383). The Festival has its prelude next week with free programs at the Phillips Collection Museum on Saturday and Sunday June 1 and 2. Since I wrote this there has been additional information on acts performing and the cheduloe for clubs and more. As I state at the bottom of this preview, I recommend you check their wonderful website (dcjazzfest.org).

Celebrating its 15th year in the District of Columbia, the Dc Jazz Festival will present hundreds of Jazz artists at venues throughout the District of Columbia including The Wharf in Southwest DC, the Kennedy Center, Hamilton Live, City Winery, the Phillips Collection, clubs, and theaters. The Festival runs from June 9 to June 16.

Jose James

Among the signature events of the Festival will be "DC JazzFest at The Wharf" presented by Events DC (June 14-16) featuring four main stages. Artists appearing will include: Snarky Puppy, Lean on Me: Jose James Celebrates Bill Withers, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Brass-A-Holics, Michael Franks, Joshua Redman Quartet with Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Gregory Hutchinson, Joey Alexander Trio, Ralph Peterson & GenNext Big Band (honoring the Art Blakey Centennial), 2018 DCJazzPrix winning band Cornerstore, Tarus Mateen, and an International Jazz Stage featuring saxophonist Evan Harris (Australia), El Violin Latino (Luxembourg), Witness Matlou Trio (South Africa), with much more. The performances by Snarky Puppy and Jose James are a ticketed event at the Anthem on Friday, June 14 and the performances by Jon Batiste & Stay Human, and The Brassaholics is another ticketed event at The Anthem on Saturday, June 15. The other performances on stages at The Wharf are free.

Snarky Puppy

The Kennedy Center will be hosting several events at this year's Festival. The free Millennium Stage performances during the Festival June 9-16 will celebrate the centennial of Nat King Cole and feature singing piano players in the Cole tradition. On June 9 the Festival will present "Celebrating Randy Weston" at the Kennedy Center. It will feature pianists Marc Cary, and Rodney Kendrick joined by three members of Weston’s acclaimed African Rhythms band: bassist Alex Blake, saxophonist TK Blue, and African percussionist Neil Clarke. Festival Musical Director Willard Jenkins stated "“I had the distinct honor of co-writing Randy Weston’s autobiography, African Rhythms, and can guarantee the evening will be a joyous celebration of his rich, peerless artistry." On June 16, the Festival presents "Great Masters of Jazz, the final party of the 15th Anniversary DC JazzFest presented by Events DC. It will be a musical celebration of the life and work of the iconic legend Quincy Jones; the highly influential song stylist Nancy Wilson; the trailblazing trumpeter-bandleader Roy Hargrove, and DC’s own peerless pianist-vocalist Shirley Horn, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Featured performers and presenters include the Roy Hargrove Big Band, Patti Austin, Justin Kauflin, Adam Clayton Powell III, Congressman John Lewis, Angela Stribling, Sharón Clark, and a raft of very special guests to be announced.

Sharón Clark

Among clubs presenting performances during the Festival, The Hamilton Live kicks off the first weekend with the Anat Cohen Quartet (Friday, June 7); and the celebrated Ethiopian pianist-accordionist-bandleader Hailu Mergia (Sunday, June 9), serving up African Jazz meets Afro-Pop. City Winery kicks off their DC JazzFest dates with the compelling crossover sounds of SPAGA (Wednesday, June 12), the latest project from the fertile mind of pianist Aron Magner. Trinidadian trumpeter, Etienne Charles Creole Soul brings his striking, island-proud, big fun-inspiring sounds on Thursday, June 13.

Anat Cohen

These venues are part of the annual "Jazz in the ‘Hoods Presented by Events DC" (June 6-16) where jazz takes over the district in 20+ neighborhoods with presentations curated by Jazz in The Hoods partners. Artists and schedule will be on the Festival website. DC JazzFest presents renowned artists in settings throughout the capital city. The artsy H Street NE community hosts performances in the Atlas Performing Arts Center and Gallery O/H with Mr. Henry's nearby on Capitol Hill offering jazz and good neighborhood conversation. In Southeast's historic and artsy Anacostia, performances are offered through the East River JAZZFest including Anacostia's Busboys and Poets and Anacostia Playhouse; and Ivy City, a tiny Northeast enclave experiencing a renaissance, includes City Winery and Ivy City Smokehouse on the schedule. Lively, diverse and laid-back, Northwest DC is home to the Takoma, Dupont Circle, Downtown, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Van Ness, and U Street neighborhoods with a plethora of diverse venues including The Hamilton Live, Ben's Next Door, Ashbury United Methodist Church, Kreeger Museum, Brixton, Eaton Workshop, Sotto, Twins Jazz, UDC, Acadia Foods and Wine, Franklin Park, and Rhizome.

Ralph Peterson & GenNext Big Band

A prelude to the Festival, "Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days" (Prelude Weekend, June 1-2) is held in partnership with The Phillips Collection, this celebrates jazz and the visual arts with performances by more than a dozen regional artists and rising star ensembles.

The DC Jazz Festival presents world-renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz; unify diverse communities and enable connections between artists and audiences; advance jazz and music education with exciting, adventurous and diverse musical experiences for all ages and backgrounds; shine the spotlight on DC-based jazz musicians; and highlight DC as a premier cultural destination. Its signature programs are the annual DC JazzFest, now in its 15th year with 150 performances in 40 venues including Jazz in the Hoods and DC JazzFest at The Wharf; the year-round DCJF Music Education Program in partnership with DC public and charter schools; the Charlies Fishman Artist Embassy Series; and DCJazzPrix, and an international band competition. The DC Jazz Festival won the 2018 DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence on Creative Industries. In 2015, The New York Times named DC JazzFest one of “50 Essential Summer Festivals.”

For more information including more on performers and schedules, and visitors information visit dcjazzfest.org. One can follow the Festival on social media. Keep up with the DCJF: Twitter: @dcjazzfest; Facebook: facebook.com/dcjazzfest; Instagram: @dcjazzfest.