DC Jazz Festival Picks for June 6

This is the sixth post I am making to highlight some of the shows associated with this year’s DC Jazz Festival. I am specifically not highlighting the DC JazzLoft Fest since I have posted on this already. I will may also pick a few other shows around the DC Virginia area that should not be overlooked. I am posting this a day ahead of the date of performances.  For more information visit http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/schedule_and_major_events.

Roy Hargrov

The Hamilton features trumpeter Roy Hargrove this evening. Hargrove is among the leading trumpeters and composers to emerge in the past several decades and a DC Jazz Festival favorite.

Bistrot Lepic Wine bar in Georgetown will feature Véronneau. Véronneau is an acoustic, song-based group playing Latin Jazz, Gypsy Swing and much more featuring the marvelous vocals of Lynn Véronneau along with Ken Avis on guitar, vocals and percussion, David Rosenblatt on guitar and percussion and Pete Walby on drums. Their first recording is the wonderul Joy of Living (Véronneau Music) that showcases Ms. Véronneau’s marvelous singing of which I have written, :She simply has a way of touching the listener's heart … .” They have just issued the Jazz Samba Project which celebrates the classic Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd record Jazz Samba that was recorded in Washington 50 years ago.

Lena Seikaly

The Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts both a Master Class and a performance by guitarist Rodney Richardson and vocalist Lena Seikaly. Richardson is among the foremost jazz guitarists (as well as educators) in the area whilst vocalist Seikaly has emerged as among the many fine jazz singers in the region. Of her most recent CD, Lovely Changes, the website CapitalBop.com said, “In just a few years, Seikaly has established herself as a major jazz vocalist and educator in the D.C. area, performing with the cream of the local crop. …The arrangements and musicianship on the album are crafted to serve the songs, leaving space for the vocal to shine front-and-center. That voice, the endlessly inventive arrangements, and the sensitive ensemble musicianship serve to make Lovely Changes a complete delight.”