by Steve Monroe
Jazz Black History Month Spotlight: Capital Jazz Festival 1985
Many years before the DC Jazz Festival took root, my souvenir booklet reminds us, we had this one: “As Mayor of the District of Columbia, I am pleased to extend greetings to the musicians, performers, sponsor, guests and audience of the first annual Capital City Jazz Festival being held here in our capital city on June 7 and 8, 1985” [Mayor Marion Barry Jr.] Performers at the DC Convention Center concert included Miles Davis, Max Roach and M’Boom, Philly Joe Jones and Dameronia, the World Saxophone Quartet, Howard University Jazz Repertory Orchestra and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
KAZE, Ethnic Heritage, Lena Seikaly, UDC Ensemble on Tap
Among the notable events this Black History Month, Transparent Productions Trombonist Reginald Cyntje, whose “Rise of the Protesters” recording last year precontinues its 23rd season by presenting sented a moving history of the movements for civil rights and justice, performs Feb. 9 KAZE with pianist Satoko Fujii at 8 p.m. at DC Jazz Jam and Feb. 21-22 at Twins Jazz. on Feb. 13 at Allyworld in Takoma Park, Maryland, and Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Fridays Vocal Jazz” series with Lena Seikaly at 8 p.m. on Heritage Ensemble at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 Feb. 21. Tickets are $20. See www.mrhenrysdc.com for at Rhizome in Northwest DC. Tickets are $20 in advance more information. (www.rhizomedc.org), $25 at the door. On Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m., Bobby Felder and Friends Mr. Henry’s, the longtime jazz spot at Sixth and Penncelebrate Black History Month with guest vocalists Tiya! sylvania Ave. SE that features Wednesday jam sessions is and Dick Smith in the “Jazz@Wesley” series at National “rebooting” its Sunday Sharon Clark Metropolitan SingUnited Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW. Call ers Jam, with shows from 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 16 and 23. 202-363-4900 for ticket information. The venue also hosts the launch of Chris Grasso’s “Third 30
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February Highlights: … Ahmad Jamal, Feb. 8, Kennedy Center … Michael Thomas, Feb. 8, Twins Jazz ... Dave Stryker, Warren Wolf, Feb. 8-9, Keystone Korner/Baltimore … Keiko Matsui, Feb. 8-9, Blues Alley … Bobby Muncy Quartet, Feb. 9, Twins Jazz … Reginald Cyntje, Feb. 9, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Integriti Reeves, Feb. 11, Blues Alley … Cyrille Aimee, Feb. 12, Blues Alley … Shacara Rogers, Feb. 14, Hill Center … Eugenie Jones, Feb. 14-15, Twins Jazz … Cyrille Aimee, Feb. 14-16, Keystone Korner/Baltimore … Jen Krupa, Feb. 16, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Roy Ayers, Feb. 20-23, Blues Alley … Akua Allrich Jazz Ensemble, Feb. 21, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Reginald Cyntje, Feb. 2122, Twins Jazz … Spot On Jazz/Dance, Feb. 23, Atlas … Raoul Midon and Lionel Loueke, Feb. 23, Amp at Strathmore/ North Bethesda … Matthew Niess, Feb. 23, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Peabody Jazz Faculty Ensemble w/Sean Jones, Kris Funn, Feb. 24, Blues Alley … Paul Piper Sextet, Feb. 27, Twins Jazz … Bowie State University Community Jazz Ensemble, Feb. 28, Westminster … Jason Moran/The Bandwagon w/Cassandra Wilson, Feb. 28, Kennedy Center … Project Natale, Feb. 28-29, Twins Jazz … Thinking About Jazz/Benny Goodman: King of Swing, Feb. 29, Westminster … Marlow Rosado Quintet, Feb. 29, Atlas … February Birthdays: James P. Johnson, Joshua Redman 1; Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz 2; Eubie Blake 7; Chick Webb 10; Machito 16; Stan Kenton, David Murray 19; Nancy Wilson 20; Tadd Dameron 21; James Moody 26; Mildred Bailey, Dexter Gordon 27.
