This Week in Jazz
Valery Ponomarev
>> Trombonist Bobby Felder assembles a big band on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest, for the first of several chances to see jazz orchestras over the next few days. The ensemble is pretty much a who's who of veteran local talent. 6 to 9 p.m. $5
>> Smooth jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon starts a three night stand at Blues Alley on Friday. Tickets to the nightly 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $27.50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Saxophonist Anthony Parker will make his regular appearance on Friday at HR-57. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $12.
>> On Friday,Three Stars alum Will Rast leads his Afrobeat band, Funk Ark at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge. The band will swap sets with DJ Underdog. 10 p.m. $5
>> Inspired by the jazz program on Voice of America, trumpeter Valery Ponomarev grew up in the Soviet Union with dreams of playing with Art Blakey's famous Jazz Messengers. Ponomarev defected to the States in the 1970s, and eventually fulfilled his ambitions, spending several years with the legendary drummer. He will be leading his own group on Friday and Saturday at Twins Jazz, where he will also be signing his autobiography, The Flip Side of Sound. Tickets to the 9 and 11 p.m. sets are $15 + $12 minimum/surcharge.
>> The Annapolis based and Latin Grammy winning Afro Bop Alliance will be playing 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. Their sets will feature piano wunderkind Alex Brown, a player to watch. Tickets are $15.
>> Pianist Bob Boguslaw's regular gig is playing for the U.S. Marine Corp's President's Own ceremonial band. On Saturday, he'll be leading a jazz group on the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free
>> Three Stars alum Thad Wilson leads his quartet at HR-57 on Saturday. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $12
>> Saxophonist Bruce Swaim, a regular at Twins Jazz, will return to the club on Sunday. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.
>> In 1960, the great Duke Ellington re-arranged Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite for his big band. Catch this charming adaptation of a holiday classic on Tuesday at the Millennium Stage, where the U.S. Army Blues will perform it in its entirety. 6 p.m. Free
>> Alan Baylock is the lead arranger for the Airmen of Note, the U.S. Air Force's premiere jazz ensemble. Additionally, he is an in-demand composer and educator who has worked with many a jazz great. Baylock will lead his own big band on Tuesday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley, in a program titled Baylock, Beatles & Bells. Tickets are $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.
>> Veteran local drummer and Three Stars alum Tony Martucci leads a trio next Tuesday at U-topia. The band will feature two other D.C. regulars, saxophonist Lyle Link and bassist Gavin Fallow. 9 p.m. No cover
Filed in Arts and Events and tagged jazz, jazz agenda, music