The DC Traveler

Grammy-winner Cassandra Wilson was named “America’s Best Singer” by TIME magazine in 2001.
Interpreting classic jazz standards or singing her own bluesy jazz pieces is her sound today, but her background is varied, from playing in marching bands as a child to a back up singer with Joni Mitchell and  singer in funk bands.
In the 1980 she explored into the New York jazz scene and has since recorded over 20 albums, won a Grammy and was named the female Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Down Beat magazine, three years in a row.
Cassandra Wilson
Warner Theatre
513 13th Street, NW, between E …read more

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The U.S. State Department sends American musicians on international tours to act as roving cultural ambassadors. During the 1950’s through the 1970’s, many legendary jazz musicians such as Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Dave Brubeck hit the road to spread the all-American sound of jazz. 

The photo exhibit Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World at the White-Meyer House near U Street, celebrates this unique form of cultural diplomacy.  The exhibit includes over 100 photos of these famous musicians as they toured the globe, meeting world leaders and playing to enthusiastic audiences.
Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the …read more

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The annual 3-day Capital Jazz Fest is next weekend, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in suburban Washington, DC.
The list of performances by jazz and smooth jazz headliners includes some great names, including:

Justin Young, Boney James and Brian McKnight – Friday, June 6, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. $36.50 
Spyro Gyra, Kim Waters, Roberta Flack, Wayman Tisdale,  Dianne Reeves, and Chris Botti — Saturday, June 7, noon – 10:00 p.m. $45.50
Down to the Bone, Rick Braun & Richard Elliot, Randy Crawford & Joe Sample, Jonathan Butler and Brian Culbertson  – Sunday, June 8, noon – 10 p.m. $45.50

Capital Jazz Fest 2008Merriweather Post Pavilion 10475 …read more

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In May, there’s lots of great music in and around Washington, DC,  including the first shows at Wolftrap and lots of classic bands. So lets take the highlight tour.
At the Birchmere this month, a couple great guitarists, a killer mandolin player and a smooth piano player.

Smooth jazz guitarist, Norman Brown. Sunday May 4, 2008  at 7:30 -$45.00
Another guitarist, this one acoustic, Leo Kottke, brings his unconventional folksy 6 and 12-string slide guitar picking sound. Tuesday, May 13, 7:30 – $35.00

Sultry sounding jazz pianist, Alex Bugnon – Saturday May 24, 7:30 – $29.50
Bluegrass mandolin player David …read more

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The annual Big Band JAM features 10-days of the big band sounds from world-famous musicians and bands, college, high school, military and area jazz bands as well as tributes to a few legends of the hot sounds of jazz. 
A few of the highlights include performances by The Duke Ellington Orchestra, a special tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and its “Tribute to Quincy Jones”.
Check the Big Band JAM schedule for performance information.

Venues include:

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument
Voice of America Stage (Auditorium)
Smithsonian Institution
Grace Episcopal Church
Blues Alley at 1073 Wisconsin Ave. …read more

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One of most enjoyable things for many people to do on a beautiful spring evening is to listen to live music and enjoy a nice glass of wine while relaxing on a beautiful lawn.
And the annual Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate is once such event.
The gardens at Mt. Vernon will be in full bloom and the views of the Potomac River from the lawn, accompanied by live jazz, should make for a perfect evening of relaxation.
An evening Candlelit Mansion tour is also available and includes a visit to the rarely-visited basement cellar. The …read more

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A friend of mine (thanks Holli) recently turned me on to a great jazz singer, Stacey Kent.
This engaging young jazz vocalist delivers heart-felt interpretations of moody ballads, well-known standards from the 30s and 40s and upbeat swing tunes with a sweet delivery that highlights her unique phrasing.  She has a simple, clean and simply unaffected, easy to listen to voice.
 
Since her first album in 1997, Stacey has won critical and popular acclaim, as well as the 2001 British Jazz Award, the 2002 BBC Jazz Award for ‘Best Vocalist,’ and the 2006 “Album of the Year” for her release of ‘The Lyric’.
     …read more

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You might not think of our Nation’s Capital as a place for jazz, but DC has some rich jazz history. There are a couple top places for hearing live jazz that have been around for years.
Blues Alley
Located in an alley in historic Georgetown, just a block from Wisconsin Ave. and M Street, Blues Alley has been a music mainstay in DC since 1965. It  bills itself as the oldest continuing jazz supper club in the country. 
They offer a full dinner menu with all their dishes named for famous performers that have played the club, such as Maynard Ferguson’s Shrimp and Pepper Pasta or …read more

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