I’ve already recommended Stacey Kent‘s performance at Blues Alley for Saturday night. But if you can’t make that show, yet still want to see some live jazz on Saturday, you’ve got no shortage of choices.

The other biggie, of course is Terence Blanchard, who’s performing a program of his own film scores for Spike Lee at the Kennedy Center. Joining Blanchard will be his quintet, a chamber orchestra, and host Bill Cosby. Blanchard will also take part in an interview Saturday afternoon, discussing the creative process, the current state of jazz, and music in film, and work with a master class of musicians. Tickets to the concert are $20-$45; the afternoon lecture is $15.

Or, you could drop by the Voice of America Auditorium at 330 Independence Ave. SW, where the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra will at 7:30 be trotting out the holiday classic Nutcracker Suite – as arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for members.

Or, you could stop into two of the best jazz clubs in the city and see some sparkling local talent. Trumpeter Michael Thomas holds court at Twins on U Street, and just a couple of blocks away on 14th, the Luis Faife Quartet is playing HR-57.

And if none of that floats your boat, there’s still the regular rotation of live jazz at the restaurants and bars of U Street and Adams Morgan, such as Columbia Station, U-Topia, JoJo, and the Islander Caribbean Restaurant. I personally recommend ace guitarist Mark Mosley, who performs every Saturday night at Sala Thai, and a stop after 11 pm into Creme Cafe and Lounge across the street to see who’s playing there.