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.

22nd Annual Rosslyn Jazz Fest Offsets Late Summer Blues

Rosslyn Jazz Festival provides a whole day of great jazz. This picture is from 2007 Rossyln Jazz Festival

Saturday, September 8, 2012 (a week from when this entry is originally posted), the free 22nd Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival takes place at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Hwy. (at N. Lynn St.), Arlington, VA (2 blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station and near the Key Bridge). The Festival takes place from 1:00PM to 7:00PM and is sponsored by the Rosslyn BID, and co-presented by Arlington Cultural Affairs. The event will be emceed by on-air personalities from jazz station WPFW 89.3 FM, which will broadcast portions of the event live.

This year the Rosslyn Jazz Festival has a truly outstanding line-up that includes the Howard University’s premier vocal jazz ensemble, Afro Blue; the award-winning vocalist Rene Marie; clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and social critic Don Byron; and two-time Grammy nominee, saxophonist Joshua Redman.

The Howard University vocal ensemble Afro Blue at the 2008 Duke Ellington Jazz Festival

Afro Blue. Formed by Professor Connaitre Miller in 2002, the group just released their 3rd CD, The Best Is Yet to Come. Over eight years, Afro Blue has received nine Down Beat Magazine Student Music Awards, including Best Graduate College Vocal Jazz Ensemble for 2009, 2010 and 2011. Afro Blue made the 2011 finals in NBC’s reality show competition, The Sing-Off. Here is a video of them performing.

René Marie, the award-winning, Warrenton, VA-born singer whose style incorporates elements of jazz, soul, blues and gospel, is a heroine to many. Since her debut recording, Renaissance, the singer has evolved into one of the most intriguing vocalists of our time. With her latest release Voice of My Beautiful Country (Motema Music), listeners will hear her trademark vocals but will also be struck by the wide variety of songs that she interprets - from Motown to Tin Pan Alley to “America the Beautiful.” Here is a video of her in performance.

Don Byron has explored widely divergent traditions, while continually striving for what he calls "a sound above genre." The Bronx-native has consistently been voted best clarinetist in the leading international music journals, since being named “Jazz Artist of the Year” by Down Beat in 1992. His latest project, Love, Peace and Soul (his debut recording with the Don Byron New Gospel Quintet), is the result of an ongoing re-awakening of his own faith. With jazz as a springboard, his stellar band mine the historical riches of American Gospel music via the spirit and pioneering songs of founding father Thomas A. Dorsey and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Here is a video of the Don Byron New Gospel Quintet in performance.

Joshua Redman is one of today’s most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists. Born in Berkeley, California, he is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. After graduating from Harvard summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Social Studies, Redman relocated to Brooklyn and immersed himself in the New York jazz scene. In 1993, his first self-titled album earned Redman his first Grammy nomination. In addition to his own projects, Redman has recorded and performed with musicians such as Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, Milt Jackson, B.B. King, Yo Yo Ma, Paul Motian, Dianne Reeves, Clark Terry, and Stevie Wonder. Here is a video of him with an outstanding band.

This is another stunning line-up of jazz for those living in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. There will be some outstanding food options available from regional vendors. For more info, call (703) 228-1850 or visit www.RosslynVA.org or www.arlingtonarts.org. Plenty to enjoy on September 8 and I hope many of you can make it for a terrific afternoon of jazz.

The two photos are © Ron Weinstock