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JAN. 15
Every Friday night for the past 11 years, one of DC’s best nights —- and best bargains —- for local jazz has taken place far away from the clubs and other usual suspects. I speak, of course, of Jazz Night in Southwest at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where the music takes place right in the sanctuary and delicious food – fried fish and chicken – are served in the basement. (No alcohol; this is a family environment.) This week the program celebrates its anniversary with a stellar quintet lineup. Pianist Vince Evans leads the pack, along with two horns (DeAndre Howard on trumpet, Antonio Parker on alto sax), bass (Herman Burney), and drums (Nasar Abadey. Crowds are lively and appreciative, and with the low admission and couples bringing their children it tends to fill up incredibly fast. The show begins at 6 PM – and ends at 9 PM sharp – at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4th and I Streets SW. $5 for adults; admission is free for children under 16.
JAN. 16
Blues Alley’s yearly celebration of jazz in other nations concludes its Holland showcase this weekend with a fierce experimenter: pianist Michiel Borstlap. Also a gifted composer (he won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Composition Competition in 1996), Borstlap’s sets tend to drift between two very different formats: stormy solo piano, where he plays both standards and originals with heavy European accents; and effect-laden electronic sounds, with his eighty-eights peering out over the cauldron of experimental sonics. The club advertises his two-night stand as a trio performance, and it will no doubt contain solo showcases for his forthcoming record (the aptly titled Solo 2010)…but expect the unexpected. The Michiel Borstlap trio performs at 8 and 10 pm at Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW. (Cosponsored by the Dutch Embassy). $25.
JAN. 18
The fact that they’re named after a character from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks should tell you volumes about killer BOB: that they’re edgy, surreal, and a challenge to grasp. All of that is true. killer BOB is noise-jazz extraordinaire, led by drummer Max Jaffe and featuring saxophonist Johan Andersson, guitarist David Scanlon (also the band’s primary composer), and bassist Rob Lundberg. Their live set features intriguing jams and sometimes surprisingly intricate interplay—-and a lot of yelling. Not coincidentally they’re as frequently booked in punk clubs as jazz ones, a fact to be kept in mind when booking your tickets to see them at Twins Jazz, 1344 U Street NW. $10.