Thursday, July 10
The last year or so has really been the making of Integriti Reeves. She’s not exactly a newcomer to D.C. jazz, being a native Washingtonian, a graduate of both the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Howard University, and a veteran of most of the city’s jazz bandstands. But last fall Reeves was an artist in residence at Strathmore, and this spring she released her sumptuous recording Stairway to the Stars. The album, especially, showcases what she calls a “modern vintage” approach—-a Billie Holiday-inspired take on the repertory past and present, including more contemporary pop tunes (like the Cardigans’ “Lovefool,” which kicks off the CD). She’s become one of our finest singers. So what more elegant a setting for Reeves than Jazz on Jackson Place, under the evening sky in the courtyard of one of Washington’s finest historic homes? Integriti Reeves sings at 6:30 p.m. at Decatur House, 748 Jackson Place NW. $30.
Sunday, July 13
CapitalBop could have been forgiven, even encouraged, to take July off from their monthly Jazz Loft, after ending June with the tremendous contributions they made to this year’s DC Jazz Festival. But the jazz scene doesn’t sleep, and neither does CB. This Sunday, CB provides an important showcase for two of the area’s steam-gathering young musicians—-both coincidentally named Aaron—-and one of the newest projects by a more familiar commodity. Saxophonist Aaron Seeber has been headlining sets at Twins for a while now; close followers of the jazz scene have also likely seen him sharpening his craft on the burgeoning jam session circuit. The dark, soulful, surprisingly dusty voice of Aaron Myers II has been heard at Black Fox Lounge in Dupont. And Brad Linde has been heard everywhere, less so his new Team Players ensemble (though it appeared at Twins this spring as well), featuring two saxes, guitar, and drums. Exciting stuff. The DC Jazz Loft takes place at 7 p.m. at Union Arts, 411 New York Avenue NE. $15 (suggested donation).
Monday, July 14
Still smarting from having missed Wycliffe Gordon‘s sit-in with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra last week? Well, there’s no time like the present to go and catch up on what the BCJO is putting down. Indeed, this is a particularly good week for it because it’s another week of special programming. Monday night is tenor saxophonist Billy Wolfe‘s final performance with the BCJO before he moves to Utah, and he says farewell with an intermission performance by his own Tetradectet—-a 14-piece, brass-heavy, avant-garde-leaning big band whose personnel overlaps substantially (but not entirely) with the BCJO. Overlapping personnel or not, though, what it means for you is a solid, uninterrupted three hours of large-ensemble jazz. It begins at 8 p.m. at Bohemian Caverns, 2001 Eleventh Street NW. $10.
Tuesday, July 15
Just when I was calling John “The Smoker” Kocur‘s performances in D.C. “a special treat,” he goes and steps up his District appearances. Specifically, Kocur makes them a weekly happening, at least during the month of July—-that’s right, the alto saxophonist is the new artist in residence at Bohemian Caverns, where he’ll be leading a version of his new quartet (Cristian Perez on guitar, Charlie Himel on bass, and Andrew Hare on drums). But the spike in frequency shouldn’t be taken as a sign that seeing Kocur is less valuable a pursuit, because the sax man has a carrot to dangle: Each week of his residency, Kocur will be premiering a new tune, each of which, he says, will appear on his next album. C’mon, who walks away from the promise of new work? The John Kocur Quartet performs at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Bohemian Caverns. $10.