Washington, D.C.’s fourth annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will celebrate the city’s vibrant music scene, featuring performances and master classes spread all over town. From October 1st through the 7th, the Kennedy Center, Bohemian Caverns, Blues Alley, Twins, and an array of other venues will host national and regional acts.
Performances by Paquito D’Rivera (pictured), Christian McBride, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Anat Cohen will be sure to generate the most buzz, but what gives this festival its character is the assortment of local performers, including saxophonist Antonio Parker, trumpeter and arranger Thad Wilson, and drummer Nasar Abadey. These pillars of D.C. jazz are what give the city’s music scene its distinct vibe. They also happen to have been a big influence on me when I was a kid just getting interested in jazz while growing up in the D.C. area.
I’ll be going down to attend the festival, so check in for my DEJF coverage.
Photo Courtesy of Brad Barket / Getty Images
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