The DC Jazz Festival begins tonight, Friday, June 7. With shows every night until June 16, it’s your chance to explore the great jazz in the District. It’s also an opportunity to explore the exceptional array of renowned masters and emerging artists from across the jazz spectrum and beyond. The ten-day showcase features performances throughout the District.
Check out the sounds your own neighborhood through Jazz in the ’Hoods, which kicks off at noon Saturday, June 8 at The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) Meetup Tent (2015 MLK Ave SE). At the same time, do the Jazz Hop by seeing a variety of dynamic performances that begin at four locations within the Anacostia BID: the East River JazzFest Café at the Meetup Tent) Busboys and Poets (2004 MLK, Ave SE), Check-It Enterprises (1920 MLK, Ave SE) and the Anacostia Arts Center (1231 Good Hope Rd SE). Jazz takes over the District in 20+ neighborhoods with presentations curated by Jazz in the ‘Hoods partners including The Hamilton Live, City Winery, CapitalBop, East River JazzFest, and more.
Visit Anacostia and the Big Chair for East River JazzFest, with a Saturday Nite Bebop/Hip-Hop Jam with spoken word artist EL Jay’Em of Speakezie and saxophonist Herb Scott. Or go to the Vinyl Listening Event Sunday at the Anacostia Art Center.
Head to Buzzard Point to check out the CapitalBop Series, including a blowout concert called present::futures, on Saturday, June 8 featuring Georgia Ann Muldrow, Justin Brown’s Nyeusi and Miles Okazaki during the festival’s first weekend.
DC JazzFest reaches a crescendo at The Wharf during the final weekend (June 14 to 16) with an all-day street party. There will be four main stages and events on the District and Transit Piers are free to the public. Artists include: Snarky Puppy, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Michael Franks, the Joey Alexander Trio, DCJazzPrix winning band Cornerstore, and an international stage eaturing guitarist Olli Soikkeli (Finland), saxophonist Evan Harris (Australia), Girls In Airports (Denmark), Witness Matlou Trio (South Africa), and more.
While at DC JazzFest at The Wharf, check out the diverse marketplace and the Education Village, featuring the Meet the Artist series. Concerts on the District and Transit Piers, and Pearl Street Warehouse are free to the public, and concerts at The Anthem are ticketed.
To conclude the festival, Nick Cannon will host Great Masters of Jazz, a tribute to the work of masters such as Quincy Jones, Nancy Wilson and Fred Foss, on June 16 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall
To view the entire DCJazzFest lineup, click here.
Purchase DC JazzFest at the Wharf VIP Packages HERE, and check out the complete schedule for 2019 DC JazzFest HERE.
