There have been tons of high points over the course of DC Jazz Fest’s two-decade history, and the upcoming 20th anniversary will put the musical celebration into overdrive.
Under the leadership of native Washingtonian Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of the DC Jazz Festival (DCJF), the 20th-anniversary event promises the Washington area will be flooded with an extraordinary group of jazz talent and fans for the love of the music.
DCJF was founded in 2004 by jazz producer Charles Fishman and his wife, attorney Stephanie Peters. Sumter said the festival continues to carry out its original mission.
“Charlie was envisioning that we would celebrate D.C. as one of the major jazz hubs in the world,” said Sumter. “I think this city is such a vibrant place for this music. For us to be one of the leading organizations driving that, for me as a Washingtonian, it means the world to me.”
Making Talent Fit Together
Festival Artistic Director Willard Jenkins said planning for the events is a meticulous process. Jenkins, a recent 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, spoke about organizing what attendees will experience.
“We are exposing audiences to some artists that they would not hear otherwise,” said Jenkins about what makes DC Jazz Fest special. “It’s one thing to bring together a whole lot of talent. It’s another thing to make sure it fits together.”
Sumpter and Jenkins ensure DCJF is an event that is multi-generational and includes gender equity, veterans, up-and-coming artists, hometown D.C. talent, and celebrates a global presence of jazz.
Some choice music sets include one of the hottest sax players currently on the scene, Lakecia Benjamin, and Australian trumpeter James Morrison who perform at the Embassy of Australia on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Then there’s an interesting mix of music featuring Samara Joy, Jacob Collier, and DJ D-Nice at the Anthem on the Wharf on Friday, Aug. 30, and pianist Emmet Cohen with 89-year-old saxophonist Houston Person will perform a set on Aug. 31.
For the first time at DCJF, Confluencia, an all-female contemporary jazz fusion band from Santiago, Chile, will perform. Italian trumpet and flugelhorn player Paolo Fresu will also perform at the festival. Both Confluencia and Fresu will perform on Aug. 31.
Last year, New York-based New Jazz Underground won the DCJF 2023 Grand Prixe Band competition for newer bands and will be performing.
Finally, Harpist Brandee Younger will bring her trio, delivering soulful sounds reminiscent of Alice Coltrane.
D.C.-Area Jazz Artists
An intergenerational pairing of D.C. musicians who are both educators in higher education includes DCJF Artist-in-Residence and bassist Corcoran Holt and NEA Jazz Master and drummer Billy Hart. They will collaborate for a set called “Generations of Drumming on Aug. 31.
In addition to these two D.C. natives, there are so many artists and groups performing who got their start in the DMV area.
Check the schedule for bassist Eliot Seppa, The JoGo Project, pianist and educator Allyn Johnson leading the DCJazz All-Stars, siblings and saxophonists Ebban and Ephram Dorsey leading their quintet, saxophonist Paul Carr, Sharón Clark, Shannon Gunn, percussionist and Peabody Institute educator Nasar Abadey and his group Supernova, Chuck Brown Band, and trumpeter Muneer Nasser. Plus, other local jazz artists might show up and sit in on someone’s set or join in on the fun.
NEA Jazz Masters and Special Tributes
Pianist Kenny Barron and drummer Hart are among the many NEA Jazz Masters who are performing at the 20th Anniversary DCJF.
Others include drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, bassist Ron Carter, bassist Stanley Clarke, vocalist Dianne Reeves and, of course, Jenkins, the 2024 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy, who has overseen bringing together an outstanding roster of talent for DCJF program since 2015.
When reviewing the schedule, look for tributes where several artists will perform honoring Billy Strayhorn and for the Sonny Stitt Centennial.
Music Beyond the Southwest Wharf
Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 28, the best sounds in jazz will not only be at the Southwest Wharf, but the schedule shows they can also be heard at Franklin Park in downtown D.C., Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and Arena Stage, which is within walking distance to the Southwest Wharf.
The Washington Informer is a proud partner for the 20th anniversary of the D.C. Jazz Festival. For schedule and ticket information or to volunteer, go to the DCJF website at dcjazzfest.org.
Special FREE Tix Offer for Washington Informer Readers! Use the code WINSAT for Saturday, Aug. 31 or WINSUN for Sunday, Sept. 1 to receive two free standing tickets to the DC JazzFest at the Wharf. Limit two standing tickets for a limited time. Go to dcjazzfest.org for more information.
