Thursday, June 6, 2019

DC Jazz Festival Launches Tomorrow


From our friends at DC Jazz Festival...

DC Jazz Festival Set to Officially Launch Friday

15th Anniversary Celebration - June 7-16

The DC Jazz Festival is just a day away from welcoming a cornucopia of locally, nationally, and internationally acclaimed artists into a vast array of venues around the nation's capital, for the 15th anniversary of the DC JazzFest presented by Events DC, June 7-16. The Festival hit the ground running this past weekend at its hugely popular unofficial kickoff event: Jazz 'n Families Fun Days at The Phillips Collection.

Jon Batiste & Stay Human,Snarky Puppy, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Lean On Me: José James Celebrates Bill Withers, Joshua Redman Quartet, Honoring the Great Masters of Jazz hosted by Nick Cannon, Michael Franks, Joey Alexander Trio, Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science and Ethiopian keyboard and accordion star Hailu Mergia (a DC-based airport taxi driver when not on tour) are just some of the luminaries highlighting the 10-day Festival. Recognized by the 2019 JazzTimes magazine Critic's Poll for excellence, as the largest and most distinct music festival in the region, the DC JazzFest presented by Events DC reaches more than 100,000+ visitors of all ages each year.


"I'm frequently asked what I consider the 'don't miss' events of our festival; and my general response is 'all of it!'" said Willard Jenkins, DC JazzFest's Artistic Director. "But if pinned down, I would gracefully concede that there are indeed some signature programs not to be missed: Sunday, June 9 in the Kennedy Center Family Theater we have our unprecedented, multi-pianist Celebrating Randy Weston evening, which promises to be a joyous celebration of his rich, peerless artistry. And don't sleep on our closing weekend at The Wharf, with free Saturday/Sunday performances on four stages, and two great evenings at The Anthem, including a June 15 New Orleans Throwdown with Jon Batiste & Stay Human, house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and the Brass-A-Holics band. And here's much more for your listening pleasure..."

Signature programs include:
DC JazzFest at The Wharf presented by Events DC (June 14-16.) Featuring four main stages, with events on the District and Transit Piers free to the public. Events at The Anthem are ticketed. Artists include: Snarky Puppy, José James, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, Brass-A-Holics, Michael Franks, Joshua Redman Quartet with Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Gregory Hutchinson, Joey Alexander Trio, Ralph Peterson & GenNext Big Band (honoring the Art Blakey Centennial), Sean Jones Dizzy Spellz, DCJazzPrix winning band CornerStore, Tarus Mateen & Beyond Genre, and an international stage featuring guitarist Olli Soikkeli (Finland), saxophonist Evan Harris (Australia), Girls In Airports (Denmark), pianist Witness Matlou Trio (South Africa), & more talent to be announced. Free admission. Concerts at The Anthem are ticketed.

"Our marquee weekend at The Wharf, including two ticketed shows at The Anthem, is simply not to be missed, with two days of free performances on the beautiful Southwest waterfront," said DC Jazz Festival Artistic Director Willard Jenkins.

Address for The Wharf: 735 Water Street, SW

Schedule for The Anthem (901 Wharf Street SW):
June 14, 8:00 PM, doors 6:30 PM: Snarky Puppy, opening Jose James. tickets here.

June 15, 8:00 PM, doors 6:30 PM: Jon Batiste & Stay Human, opening Brass-a-Holics. tickets here.

DC JazzFest and the Kennedy Center Present (June 9-16):
Honoring the Great Masters of Jazz, hosted by Nick Cannon at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall (June 16) and Celebrating Randy Weston in the Family Theater (June 9), as well as free Millennium Stage concerts that are part of Jazz in the 'Hoods. This year's Millennium Stage series June 9-16, The Nat King Cole Legacy, will feature singing piano players in the Cole tradition.

June 9 Celebrating Randy Weston, click here.

June 16 Honoring the Great Masters of Jazz, hosted by Nick Cannon, click here.

Address: 2700 F Street, NW. Tickets available through Kennedy Center Box Office.

Jazz in the 'Hoods presented by Events DC (June 6-16.) Jazz takes over the District in 20+ neighborhoods with presentations curated by Jazz in the 'Hoods partners. Artists and schedule now live at dcjazzfest.org.

In addition to CapitalBop in Ivy City and East River Jazz in Anacostia, Jazz in the 'Hoods partners include Hamilton Live, City Winery, Downtown BID, Kreeger Museum, Twins Jazz, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Mr. Henry's, Atlas Performing Arts Center, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Pearl Street Warehouse, The Brixton, Ivy City Smokehouse, and many more.

For more information about the 2019 DC Jazz Fest presented by Events DC, including concert updates and ticketing information, stay connected to the DC Jazz festival at dcjazzfest.org.

ABOUT THE DC JAZZ FESTIVAL:
DC Jazz Festival presents world-renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz; unifies diverse communities; advances jazz and music education with exciting and adventurous musical experiences; shines the spotlight on DC-based musicians; and highlights DC as a premier cultural destination. Our signature programs are the annual DC JazzFest, now in its 15th year, with 150 performances in 40 venues including our tribute concerts in partnership with The Kennedy Center; Jazz in the 'Hoods with citywide partnerships in 20+ neighborhoods; DC JazzFest at The Wharf, our marquee weekend with free outdoor stages and The Anthem; the year-round DCJF Education in partnership with DC public and charter schools, and arts centers; the Charles Fishman Artist Embassy Series honoring our founder; and DCJazzPrix, an international band competition. The DC Jazz Festival won the 2018 DC Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence in Creative Industries. In 2015, The New York Times named DC JazzFest one of "50 Essential Summer Festivals." For more information, visit dcjazzfest.org.