Results for "Washington DC"

Kenny Rittenhouse

Born: October 2, 1966

Kenny Rittenhouse has been performing professionally for over 30 years, serving as a veteran of the U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) for three decades. A pivotal member of the prestigious Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, he excelled as a section player, jazz soloist, and eventually as the Element Leader, overseeing all administrative duties. Additionally, Kenny was a member of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra (PJO), led by renowned trumpeter Sean Jones. He actively participated in PJO concerts featuring jazz legends Freddie Cole, Ahmad Jamal, and Jimmy Heath.

Kenny's musical versatility extends to the stage of musical theater, with notable performances in acclaimed productions such as Dreamgirls, Ain't Misbehavin', After Midnight, Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, Shout Sister Shout!, Play On!, The Great Gatsby, Suffs, and 1776.

Stephen Arnold

Born: July 22, 1995

Stephen Arnold is a bassist and composer from Greenfield, Massachusetts and based in Washington, DC. A pianist from a young age, Arnold picked up the upright bass at the George Washington University, where he studied with Herman Burney, Jr. Shortly after college he was selected to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center under the direction of Jason Moran. Arnold contributes to projects by a wide variety of artists including Fran Vielma, Sharón Clark, Todd Marcus, Brandon Woody, Aleks Izotov, Keith Butler, Jr., and ¡FIASCO! Since 2018 he has contributed to over 40 recording projects and performed at many great venues, such as the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, and the Howard Theater

Danny Gatton

Born: September 4, 1945

Danny Gatton (full name Daniel Wood Gatton Jr.) was an American virtuoso guitarist renowned for his extraordinary technical skill and his ability to seamlessly blend multiple genres, including blues, rockabilly, jazz, country, and more. He often described his style as "redneck jazz," a term reflecting his fusion of country roots with jazz improvisation and other influences.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Washington, D.C., Gatton began playing guitar at age nine, influenced by his father (a rhythm guitarist) and early exposure to legends like Les Paul. Largely self-taught after brief lessons, he developed an incredible ear and technique. By his teens, he was performing in bands like the Offbeats (1960–1964), playing jazz and other styles. He later worked as a session musician in Nashville, returned to the D.C. area, and built a reputation through local clubs and bands.

Matt Ingeneri

Matt Ingeneri is a renowned Jazz guitarist based in Washington, DC, celebrated for his performances at festivals and prestigious venues around the globe, including China, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Known for infusing The Great American Songbook with bluesy elements of Hard Bop and Soul Jazz, Matt captivates audiences with his dynamic style.

“Matt Ingeneri plays Jazz guitar in the classic style of Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and early George Benson." – Time Out Magazine

Deeply rooted in Washington DC’s vibrant Hard Bop tradition, Matt’s trio was a staple at the historic Bohemian Caverns Club, a venue graced by Jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker. Matt has showcased his talents at the DC Jazz Festival, Boston Arts Festival, China's West Meets East Festival, and the JazzKif and Ca Swing a Kin festivals in Africa. His international performances have also included The Piano Man Jazz Club in New Delhi, No Black Tie in Kuala Lumpur, Jazz@Southbridge in Singapore, and the Blue Note bar in Guangzhou, China.

Jerald Daemyon

Jerald Daemyon is a groundbreaking electric violinist, producer, and keyboardist whose artistry has redefined the violin’s role in contemporary music. Born and raised in Detroit, he merges the soul of Jazz, R&B, Gospel, funk, Hip-Hop, Latin, and World music with the precision of classical training—creating a sound that is bold, emotional, and sonically adventurous. His improvisatory flair draws comparisons to great virtuosos like Paganini and Sarasate, yet his style remains distinctly modern, rooted in the rhythm and pulse of urban music.

Classically trained since the age of ten, Jerald studied with Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s former Assistant Concertmaster, Dr. Morris Hochberg and Slovak violin virtuoso Peter Michalica, building on his early instruction from Connie Miner and Angela Thomas-Lott. He later refined his craft, immersing himself in Detroit’s jazz scene, performing with saxophonist Donald Walden and trumpeter Marcus Belgrave as a member of The Detroit Jazz Orchestra.

Showboat's-A-Swingin'

by Troy Hoffman
June 9, 2025

Washington DC's Showboat Lounge hosted a vast array of ground-breaking talent from the '40s, into the late '70s. The establishment was located at the corner of Columbia Road NW and 18th Street, and owned by Pete Lambros, who maintained an all-jazz policy for many years. The DC Showboat built up the reputation as a mad-house type ...

Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap at Kennedy Center

by Mark Edelman
May 28, 2025

Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap Kennedy Center Washington, DC May 5, 2025 In advance of the much anticipated release of her forthcoming album “Elemental" on Mack Avenue Records, three-time Grammy ® Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater gave a powerful performance to open this year's Mary Lou Williams (previously “Women In ...

Jackson Dunkin

Born: February 28, 2003

Jackson Dunkin is a senior majoring in music business with a jazz guitar minor at Howard University, hails from Greenwood Lake, New York. A versatile guitarist, he has performed at iconic venues like Minton's Playhouse and the Silver Lining Lounge in NYC and participated in the Jazz Night Series at Ciel Social Club. As a dedicated educator, Jackson simultaneously teaches guitar at The Salvation Army and Sitar Arts Center in Washington, DC. His diverse performance experience includes serving as bandleader for Glenmere Mansion's jazz brunch series and playing in productions like Carrie: The Musical, American Idiot, and Broadway Our Way

Dimitri Nassar

Born: January 23

Pianist/Music Educator

Dimitri Nassar was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, where he began playing the piano at five years old at the insistence of his father Ivan Nassar, a professional piano tuner. Dimitri’s early piano studies took place at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Cleveland Institute of Music under distinguished pianist and jazz educator Cliff Habian. With more than a decade of piano instruction under his belt, Dimitri Nassar was accepted into Shaw High School's jazz ensemble “Rhythm Teens” and was later recruited to further his talents at South Carolina State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in music education. Dimitri later earned a master’s degree in music education from Anderson University.  

Melinda Rose Rodriguez

Born: November 16, 1995

At just 28 years old, Melinda Rose Rodriguez has already established herself as a rising star in the jazz world. She began her professional music journey at The New England Conservatory of Music and completed her degree with distinction at Florida International University under the guidance of Dr. Lisanne Lyons. Since high school, Melinda has been honored with four Downbeat Music Awards and two YoungArts awards.

Her performance credits are extensive, including appearances at the Miami Downtown Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, and international venues in Bermuda, Japan, and Puerto Rico. Melinda has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Michael Feinstein, Fred Hersch, Cyrille Aimee, and Jane Monheit, and has frequently collaborated with jazz luminary Kevin Mahogany.