Results for "Washington DC"

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra

In 1990 the U.S. Congress, recognizing the importance of jazz in American culture, authorized the establishment of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) as the orchestra-in-residence at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Whether a 17-member big band, quartet, septet, or small group, the SJMO presents concerts featuring transcribed works, new arrangements, commissioned works and programs that illuminate the work of jazz masters who contributed to the development of American jazz and defined the music’s character.

2020: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
January 2, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic put the jazz world in a tailspin, just like the world at large, in 2020. And there is plenty of uncertainty going into the new year about what “new normal: might emerge from the darkness. International Jazz Day, like so many other things, became an online virtual event this time around. Pianist Keith ...

Carl Cornwell

Born: April 5, 1950

With a 40 year career that’s included stints with Roy Haynes and Pharoah Sanders—not to mention co-founding Amnesia Express with Gil Scott-Heron—Carl Cornwell is a veteran saxophonist still performing high energy post-bop contemporary jazz with blues and latin influences.

Known in the '90s for his compositions & performances with progressive jazz ensemble UNIT CIRCLE, he has been the featured saxophonist with the Washington DC based Project Natale since 2002 and is now touring his own quartet at festivals and clubs around the mid-Atlantic corridor and beyond.

In addition to his small ensemble work, Carl has appeared as lead alto-saxophonist with the Bay Side Big Band and the Eubie Blake Jazz Institute Orchestra (Baltimore, MD) .

Bob Boguslaw and The Way

The Way has been performing together in one form or another since 1995. The group has received critical acclaim from Jazz Times, All About Jazz and Beyond Coltrane for their Summit Records CDs, The Way and Gabrielle’s Hand. They have performed numerous times at the Kennedy Center, the Corcoran Gallery of Art and at Blues Alley. Musically, the group combines elements of Latin jazz, contemporary jazz, and some aspects of classical structure with lots of original compositions, as well as some re-workings of standards and pop tunes. The group consists of Bob Boguslaw (piano), Frank Russo (drums), Pete Barenbregge (saxophones), Aaron Clay (acoustic bass), and Chris Rose (percussion)

Latin-Infused Jazz Duo Ariella Announce October 1st Virtual Tour Via Veeps

October 1, 2020

With a fervor for blues, jazz and vintage soul, enigmatic duo, ARIELLA, passionately transcend boundaries, transporting listeners to the heart of what makes music timeless. It’s a fluid daydream, seeping. With elegant vocals by the charismatic Ariella McManus, a singer with emotional depth and a songwriter rich with breadth, she eloquently combines stunning melodies with infectious ...

Fred Hughes

Born: March 19, 1961

From concerts, recordings and military service in Seoul, Korea to jazz festivals as a Jazz Ambassador; conducting orchestras across the United States as a musical director to recording and producing records as a pianist and leader of his own group; Fred Hughes has had a long and varied musical journey.   

Fred began studying keyboards and low brass at the age of 8 and by age 12 was a member of Local 294 of the American Federation of Musicians in his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He performed alongside his father in the New Holland and Bainbridge Bands on tuba and in his dad’s jazz group on organ.  Professional performances continued with his own organ trio until graduating from high school. 

Peter Fraize

Born: August 4, 1965

A distinct voice as both a saxophonist and composer, Peter Fraize is known for his impassioned high-energy playing, intricate and melodic writing, and his "no-boundaries" sensibility. His music draws from deep within the jazz tradition, exploratory free improvisation, modern rock and pop, and music from around the world. Based in Washington, DC, he is also familiar to international audiences through concert appearances in Peru, Japan and Europe. Most recently he toured the UK with his transatlantic organ group ATLANTICUS, appearing at the 2018 Love Supreme Festival.

Raised in a musical family in Northern Virginia, Peter took up the saxophone age nine

Sol Roots

The Sol Roots band performs a mix of raw funk, deep blues, heartfelt jazz and R&B, greasy soul, and hypnotic rhythms. Sol is a guitarist and vocalist who has toured around the world with many musical legends.

Sol's talent stretches from fiery rock to laid-back jazz, and from funky innovative grooves to soulful ballads, always drawing on a deep background in blues.

The Sol Roots band has shared the stage with acts such as Jon Cleary, Soulive, Booker T Jones, Cory Henry, Dumpstaphunk, The Wood Brothers, Sonny Landreth, Robert Randolph, Eric Lindell, Roosevelt Collier, Victor Wainwright, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Shemekia Copeland, Jackie Greene and many more.

Monty Alexander: Still Rolling

by Geno Thackara
July 19, 2019

If there's one defining quality to Monty Alexander's music, it's joy. An unmistakable undercurrent of happiness has been constant across several decades, dozens of recordings and countless performances all over the world. He could be honoring classic jazz balladeers, exploring the danceable “riddims" of his native Jamaica or anything in between, and you can always hear ...

Christian de Mesones

Born: July 11, 1961

Christian made his debut on the national stage in 2006 performing at the Capital Jazz Festival. His band, Groove Skool was chosen from 50 entries to compete against up and coming artists such as Ken Ford, Matt Marshak and Ragan Whiteside. Groove Skool went on to release "Limited Edition” which yielded a top 10 most requested song, "Latin Jive". The band also sold out the legendary Blues Alley Jazz and Supper CLub in Washington, DC, and played large outdoor events such as the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival in Mitchellville, Maryland, and the 2nd Street Festival in Richmond, Virginia, both with crowds of over six thousand in attendance