The DC Jazz Festival announced Tuesday the addition of the Cuban sensation Climafunk to District Stage at The Wharf in Southwest, a Hamilton Live lineup with JazzDC All-Stars directed by piano great Allyn Johnson with special guest alto saxophone Antonio Hart and fast-rising vocal stylist Christie Dashiell, and an Opening Day noon concert at Franklin Park Downtown in Northwest with DC faves The JoGo Project.
Climafunk, an Afro-Cuban band, will play at the District Stage at The Wharf on Aug. 31. Climafunk’s continues the festival’s tradition of introducing global music experiences.
The JoGo Project has become a certified District sensation, blending jazz and the city’s own go-go rhythms in a very popular fusion. The Franklin Park performance will take place at noon on August 28.
The JazzDC All-Stars are under the direction of pianist-composer-educator Allyn Johnson considered by a local publication as “The Dean” of the District’s jazz scene. The Johnson concert will take place on Aug. 28.
Registration is required for the Johnson concert. The two soloists Hart and Dashiell will be featured with the latter having played with Howard University’s Afro Blue vocal ensemble.
In addition to presenting jazz masters and internationally renowned touring artists, the DC JazzFest will showcase many of DC’s finest resident jazz artists including go-go favorite the Chuck Brown Band, the vocal artistry of Sharón Clark, Muneer Nasser Quintet, Reginald Cyntje, Stephen Arnold & Sea Change, the BJ Simmons Quintet, Barry Moton’s Billy Strayhorn project, special musical tributes to DC jazz legends Sonny Stitt, Donald Byrd and Kevin Toney.
The five-day DC JazzFest, kicking off August 28, promises to be a citywide takeover with over 100 concerts in more than a dozen neighborhoods, from August 31 to September 1.
“This year’s 20th anniversary DC JazzFest will present a sumptuous array of great jazz, extensions of the art form, and distinctly jazz-informed artists and bands at venues across the District, culminating our grand 20th anniversary weekend at The Wharf and Arena Stage,” said DC Jazz Festival Artistic Director Willard Jenkins. “From great masters to emerging artists, DC JazzFest 2024 will deliver an incredible array of talents and sounds that make DC Jazz Festival such a vibrant home for amazing music.”
For more information about the 2024 DC JazzFest, go to www.dcjazzfest.org.