Wednesday, January 29, 2025
By Mark Edelman
With Valentine’s Day coming up, take that special someone to hear some great jazz. We can’t promise you romance; but whether it’s “luck be a lady tonight” or you find yourself at “a quarter to three, no one in the place” having “one for my baby and one more for the road,”rest assured that the music’s gonna swing either way. Hey, it worked for Sinatra.
Capitol Hill Jazz Jam
Every Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Mr Henry’s
Any Wednesday of the week, the sweet sounds of alto sax and jazz guitar drive the train at Mr. Henry’s on Pennsylvania Ave in Capitol Hill. It’s the Capitol Hill Jazz Jam, presided over by reedman Herb Scott. Celebrating ten years of great jazz in the DMV, Herb and a rotating cast of sidemen make the 8-11 p.m. Wednesday night Mr. Henry’s gig the place to be and be heard if you’re a DMV jazz aficionado.
Guitarist Dave Manley has been along for the ride with Scott since the Spring of 2020. Back then, the jam sessions had to take place online due to COVID. Their return was wholeheartedly welcomed by Mr. Henry’s regulars, or as Manley explains it, “ there’s a lot of young talented musicians that make their home here in D.C., and there are a lot of people that actually love the music that live here who come out to listen.”
After an initial set by Scott, Manley and a sharp rhythm section, musicians sign up to play on the jazz jam. Elder statesman Herman “Hawk” Hawkins might be around to kick things off with his vocal rendition of a couple of Great American Songbook classics, then the young cats take the stage. One recent night, half a big band—tenor, alto and baritone sax and trombone—sauntered up to the podium, picked a number they all knew (in this case the Charlie Parker chestnut “Donna Lee”) and swung the hell out of it.
“I remember playing the session right after the insurrection on January 6,” Manley said. “ It was definitely eerie being in that part of town, but the energy in the room was amazing. So many people came out to support and listen and play. That is definitely one date that I’ll always remember.”
You’ll remember your trip to Mr Henry’s for a Wednesday Capitol Hill Jazz Jam. There’s a $10 cover; good food and drinks are on the menu. Wednesday, February 12 marks the gig’s 10-year anniversary—cover may go up a bit that night. Check it out at mrhenrysdc.com.
February at the Clubs:
Besides the aforementioned Wednesday Jam sessions at Mr. Henry’s , the Pennsylvania Ave/Capitol Hill boite plays host to vocalist Sarah Laven Jones and her ensemble on February 1. Bassist Phil Ravita and his Ravita Jazz Ensemble take the stage on February 15, followed by trumpet player Kevin Cordt and his quartet on the 21. Direct from New Orleans, the Hot 8 Brass Band keep this jumping at the Pearl Street Warehouse down on the Wharf February 20. In Alexandria, Laporta’s offers up nightly jazz plus brunch on Sundays. Back in the District, JOJO’s plays host to keyboardist Colin Chambers fronting a combo on Friday nights and guitarist Sol Roots’ Trio on Sundays. The historic Tabard Inn offers a romantic setting from some great jazz duos on Sunday and Mondays 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Keystone Korner in Baltimore headlines guitarist Mike Stern fronting a trio to begin the month, February 1 and 2.
Blues Alley in Georgetown welcomes jazz combo Mysterious Traveler covering the music of Weather Report February 5. Marion Meadows fronts a group February 13-16 with his signature soprano sax and smooth jazz licks, followed by trombonist Herm Hopkins channeling the music of Lou Donaldson on February 18. Maryland born and bred Kim Waters lights up the Blues Alley stage with his own saxophone group February 21-23. The Baylor Project, husband and wife duo Marcus and Jean (he played with the Yellow Jackets) finishes off the month February 27 and 28. Read all about it, including performance days and times, at www.bluesalley.com.
February in Concert:
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with soloist Branford Marsalis gets February going with a performance February 1 at the Center for the Arts on the George Mason campus in Fairfax. Strathmore’s artist-in-residence Maximillian Jacobs channels jazz violinist Eddie South, who shared a bandstand with Django Reinhardt and Benny Goodman, in the intimate Mansion venue on successive Wednesday nights, Feb 12, 19 and 26 And In the main concert hall, you’ll find Grammy® Award winner Lalah Hathaway exploring her soul, R&B and jazz roots,
The Kennedy Center’s intimate lobby venue Millennium Stage has a Valentine’s Day gift for all: pianist Charles Covington’s jazz trio, along with vocalist Sandy Crawford. The Millennium welcomes Alice Waller and the Excursion in a vibrant blend of jazz, soul and vernacular sounds on February 22 and Afro-Cuban songstress Dayome Arocena Feb 26. Over at the Ken Center’s Studio K, Redwood—Sequoia Snyder’s keyboard artistry—plays February 7 and the Ken Cen’s Jazz program’s artistic director Jason Moran holds court with drummer Marcus Gilmore and electronic music and tape loop specialist BlankFor.ms. More info at www.kennedy-center.org.
The writer has been a member of the Jazz Journalists Assn since 2010. Prior to moving to the DC area, he was publisher of JAM Magazine and executive produced 12th Street Jump, public radio’s weekly jazz, blues and comedy jam.