Jazz in DC: A Living Guide

June 20, 2008 by Paul  Send to a Friend

Jazz has a long and rich history in DC and it is alive and well today, with a vibrant group of local musicians playing regularly and notable talent from all over the world making frequent appearances. There are incredibly rewarding experience to be had, but like most things in the District, you have to seek it out and become familiar with the tapestry of musicians and venues to find them. Here’s your cheat sheet.

DC Jazz Venues:
- Bohemian Caverns (Historic venue, former host to everyone from Duke Ellington, to Billy Holiday, to Miles Davis; new management has brought in a lot of talent and the music is almost always good)
- Blues Alley (DC’s Blue Note. Beware of smooth and comedy acts. Very pricey, but historic; this is where the big names come to play.)
- Colonel Brooks (Local Brookland Bar that has music all week; Dixieland Jazz on Tuesdays)
- Columbia Station (Music most nights; can be hit or miss, but noble for its efforts)
- HR-57 (An institution; they’ve branched out to comedy and the music isn’t always consistent, but the intent remains)
- The Islander (Restaurant that occasionally has good music)
- Jojos (Restaurant, with an intimate space downstairs for music; Jazz on Thursdays)
- Cafe Nema (Music on Thursday through Saturday)
- Tryst (Have brought in some veteran and young talent; Jazz on Tuesdays)
- Twins (Piano bar that brings in a lot of quality musicians; the atmosphere isn’t up to par)
- Utopia (Utopia is the late night post-gig hang for a lot of musicians and as a result the entrance is often packed with a line of musicians waiting for their chance to solo; this should be seen as a great thing and it happens most consistently on Friday nights.)
- Westminster Church (Church in Southwest that hosts Jazz shows on Fridays)

Recommended Weekly Gigs:

Monday: Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra at the Bohemian Caverns:
This band has been playing together, in various incarnations, for 10 years. It isn’t typical, they might play Duke Ellington or Juan Tizol, but for the most part the music is written and improvised on by the musicians. It is a labor of love and the band is a well oiled machine; at times poignant, even haunting, but always entertaining.

Tuesday: Federal Jazz Commission at Colonel Brooks:
Brookland is a neighborhood, kids play in the street, people live in houses, and Colonel Brooks is a neighborhood bar. The Federal Jazz Commission, who have been playing their Dixieland set there for over 25 years is much more than a neighborhood band, but the highlight of their week is to rouse the young hearts of the white-haired crowd, who unabashedly dance the night away and if the mood is just right, wildly wave red bandannas. Sadly, this coming Tuesday, the 24th of June will be their last show at Colonel Brooks.

Wednesday: Butch Warren at Columbia Station:
Butch Warren sat next to me at Tryst last week. He was fidgeting and seemed to fall in and out of sleep. I offered to buy him a drink and he asked for Milk. His large hands swallowed the pint glass and he turned to me and asked me what I wanted him to play, following his offer with “I’m going senile, I don’t remember much.” Humble and unassuming, Butch appears on hundreds Blue Note recordings, having played with everyone from Dexter Gordon to Thelonious Monk. He is living history; his style hasn’t changed in 50 years, but it hasn’t had to; it remains as relevant and entrancing as it did then. When he can make the gig, it’s a treat; musicians make up the crowd and occasionally it all comes together, Eric Allen chasing his drums as they flee from his thundering foot pedal, Lyle Link chasing the melody on his Tenor and Butch, anchoring them all with his steady, hard earned meter.

Thursday: Thad Wilson at Jojos:
There are several stand-out gigs on Thurdsay, Zach Grady at HR-57 is a seasoned veteran that is always a class act, but the one I list is unique and consistently unpredictable. Thad, a veteran trumpet player, has a knack for finding talent. He surrounds himself with great musicianship and with young, energetic up-and-comers, and between his charismatic showmanship and their green ambition something beautiful happens.

Friday: Jazz in Southwest at Westminster Church:
Every Friday, Westminster Church has a fish-fry and packs its ample space with elegant, finger-snapping Jazz lovers. The musicians are consistently top-notch and largely local, often playing music in a theme or in remembrance of another musician. The food and the atmosphere alone are worth the trip, but the music is without a doubt the centerpiece: a rarity.

Saturday & Sunday:
There are any number of gigs on the weekend, but for the most part it is couples night and out of town talent dominate the scene. Antonio Parker, a distant relative of Charlie Parker is a worthwhile stop at HR-57 on Saturdays and occasionally the above groups play at Bohemian Caverns or Twins.

DC Jazz Musicians:

Aside from knowing the venues, the key to finding the music is knowing the musicians; in addition to the musicians mentioned above, here are a few you shouldn’t miss:

- Buck Hill – A local legend, Buck Hill spent years working as a postman before launching his career in the 70s. He’s the genuine article, a master in our own city.

- Andrew White – Best known for transcribing every solo John Coltrane ever played, Andrew White is a phenomenal musician in his own right; effortless and colorful, he rarely plays around town, but never ever disappoints.

-Nasar Abadey – Nasser epitomizes everything that I love about Jazz, his playing is spiritual and infinitely wise, his music is a journey.

-Mike Bowie – While not touring with jazz legend Abbey Lincoln, Mike Bowie graces the local music scene with his tenacious bass playing on rare occasions, mostly sitting in on gigs as an audience member.

-The Young Lions - Comprised of a mix of young up and comers: Quincy Phillips on drums and Kris Funn (formerly with Kenny Garret) on the upright bass and stand-out piano player Allyn Johnson, the Young Lions are unrivaled in their high octane, modern approach to improvising. Their chemistry is intrinsic and the results are always satisfying and current, Allyn often records his melodies and loops them while he elaborates on them. They formerly played every Thursday at Cafe Nema, with local hip-hop producers peppering the crowd, soaking up the loops and hooks, but are temporarily without a weekly gig; if you see their name, check them out.

-Brian Settles – Easily one of the most original musicians in DC, Brian is a local who’s spent most of his career in New York under the tutelage of masters. His playing is effusive, even guttural and his tone belies depth beyond his years.

more more more to come

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