16

MONDAY

Trumpeter Donald Byrd began as a hardbopper in the ’50s and jammed with all the biggies. In the ’70s, playing the soul and R&B sounds of the Blackbyrds made the former Howard University professor the most sampled artist this side of James Brown. Blue Note’s massive reissue campaign of Byrd’s rare groove catalog has revealed many albums of Love Boat quality funk, but CDs like Kofi, Fancy Free, and Electric Byrd are some of the strongest records in jazz fusion. Expect “Rock Creek Park” to be closed, though, when Byrd meets with Dr. Billy Taylor for some straight-ahead bopping and conversation at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Theater Lab. $15. (202) 467-4600. (CP)