Headliners
DC JAZZFEST 2025
EDDIE PALMIERI AFRO-CARIBBEAN JAZZ OCTET
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
One of the reigning kings of Latin jazz, multiple GRAMMY-winning pianist, composer, bandleader and NEA Jazz Master Eddie Palmieri is a leading figure in the evolution of the genre. A true legend, this celebrated artist from Puerto Rico will electrify the masses gathered at The Wharf for DC JazzFest® 2025.
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RON CARTER
ARENA STAGE - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
The Guiness Book of World Records designee as the most recorded bassist in the immense history of recorded music, 2024/2025 DC Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence and NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter is quite simply one of the most distinguished artists in American Music. Though his incomparable public profile was set primarily as a member of the great Miles Davis’ mid-60s “second great quintet” with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Miles, Ron Carter has contributed to a vast array of recorded projects and on bandstands across the globe as an extraordinary bandleader – from his legendary trio with the late guitarist Russell Malone, to his peerless “Piccolo Quartet”, which he led from his unique piccolo bass instrument, to his ongoing big band projects and various & sundry ensembles in between.
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
No jazz festival is complete without great saxophone, and DC JazzFest ’25 has one of the best in NEA Jazz Master Branford Marsalis and his brilliant quartet. A robust, deeply expressive tenor saxophonist, these days Branford’s soprano saxophone may indeed be his most distinctive horn! His longtime quartet includes pianist Joey Caldarazzo, drummer Justin Faulkner and bassist Eric Revis.
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LALAH HATHAWAY
DC JAZZFEST AT THE ANTHEM - FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
Endowed with a deep well of vocal expression, Lalah Hathaway effortlessly crosses multiple genres from R&B to jazz and is embraced by hip-hop artists for her rich contralto expressions. A singer-songwriter of the first order, she has topped the charts on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. On the jazz side, she collaborated with the great pianist Joe Sample for The Song Lives On.
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MARCUS MILLER
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Marcus Miller is a trailblazing bass guitarist, and much in-demand bandleader on platforms ranging from festivals to jazz cruises, who has not only established influential technique frontiers for bass players but is also a media personality with his SiriusXM radio series.
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THE STRING QUEENS
ARENA STAGE - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
With their performing profile increasing on a global scale, DCJF is proud to have presented The String Queens from the ensemble’s inception. Recipients of a DCJF “Jazz Education Award” The String Queens, three dynamic women who are dedicated DC public school teachers, continue to excite global audiences with their vibrant mix of music from the Baroque period to modern jazz and beyond.
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JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B.
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THE BAYLOR PROJECT
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
One of the most vibrant, consistently crowd-pleasing bands in modern jazz, The Baylor Project is co-led by the spousal unit of vocalist Jean Baylor and drummer Marcus Baylor. This multi-GRAMMY nominated ensemble is at once deep in the jazz pocket with its explosive horn section and Marcus’ drums and soulfully expressive via Jean’s gospel and R&B-enriched vocalizations.
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CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT
ARENA STAGE - THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
An inventive and courageous singer, Cécile McLorin Salvant has elevated the current state of the jazz vocal tradition. Equally at home with standard American Songbook repertoire as she is with crafting her own original music, she performs an eclectic array of songs with strong narratives, unexpected twists and humor. Her storytelling skills are magnetic and imbued with a singular vocal sensibility.
EMMET COHEN TRIO
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
A young artist with an old soul, pianist Emmet Cohen has established himself through rewarding partnerships with his jazz elders – including NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Cobb and Ron Carter, as well as saxophonist Houston Person – both in-studio and onstage. During the pandemic, his “Live from Emmet’s Place” concerts from his Harlem apartment became hugely popular, garnering millions of views.
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GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
The recipient of a 2024 NEA Jazz Master award, alto and soprano saxophonist Gary Bartz is a proud son of Baltimore whose legacy runs deep in the DMV, where he has developed a robust audience. Bartz’s Ntu Troop is an electrifying ensemble that delivers a powerful message of struggle, love and hope, exploring Black consciousness within the realm of jazz.
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SUN RA ARKESTRA
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Though its leader, the Afro-Futurist and NEA Jazz Master Sun Ra, , this uniquely colorful large ensemble continues to carry on its leader’s traditions in music ranging from swing time to no time. Now led by 2025 NEA Jazz Master Marshall Allen, the Arkestra includes vivid elements of song, dance and film in its expressions of Sun Ra’s cosmic pursuits.
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KEYON HARROLD
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
A thoroughly modern jazz trumpeter, as a bandleader Keyon Harrold has expressed his artistry in recorded and performance settings that incorporate the art of improvisationers and music of his generation, hip hop. His career has ranged from performing on trumpet in the Miles Ahead film about Miles Davis to crafting instrumental backdrops for Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and a host of other musical greats.
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THE JAZZDC ALL-STARS ORCHESTRA WITH SAXOPHONIST STEVE WILSON AND VOCALIST CHRISTIE DASHIELLE
ARENA STAGE - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
DCJF proudly presents our festival ensemble, The JazzDC All-Stars Orchestra, comprised of some of the DMV's finest musicians, in concert with special guests saxophonist Steve Wilson and Grammy-nominated vocalist Christie Dashiell for a special performance of the compositions of Billy Childs.
JazzDC™ is made possible by major support from the Galena Yorktown Foundation and the Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation. Additional support provided by Tanner Powell, Peter Gillon, Leslie Whipkey, Debbie Veney, Carmencita Whonder, Erik Moses, Stephen Riddick, Jeffrey Freund, Sunny Sumter, D'Qwell Jackson, Pamela Frazier, and Patricia Sarcone.
THE JAZZMEIA HORN QUARTET
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
After winning the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition in 2015, this magnetic vocalist has received two GRAMMY nominations. Her broad repertoire ranges from jazz standards n the tradition of Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan to distinctive jazz remakes of material by artists like Stevie Wonder.
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MATTHEW WHITAKER
DC JAZZFEST AT THE ANTHEM - FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
New Jersey native Matthew Whitaker continues to amass an impressive audience through his kinetic and deeply soulful keyboard work. Blind since birth, he has performed at the virtual DC JazzFest Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater, where he opened for Stevie Wonder’s Hall of Fame induction concert.
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BIRCKHEAD
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Alto saxophonist Brent Birckhead honed his talents in the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, where he received DownBeat magazine accolades including “Best Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist” and “Outstanding Instrumental Jazz Soloist” - testifying to the depth of his versatility. The New York Times has hailed him as “one of the most riveting young improvisers in New York.”
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CORCORAN HOLT
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
The 2024/2025 DC Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence, Corcoran Holt is a DC native and graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Currently teaching at Arizona State University, he has graced toured and recorded with jazz pioneers includings NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Cobb, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Kenny Garrett. Corcoran began his musical pursuits at age 4 when he studied West African percussion instruments.
PAUL CARR & VANESSA RUBIN
ARENA STAGE - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
Paul Carr, a Houston native and 1985 Howard University graduate, has dedicated his professional career to performing and promoting Jazz through education and community outreach. He carries on the Texas tenor tradition espoused by great heroes such as the late Houstonians Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson who served as his early idols and mentors. He grew up in inner-city Houston, Texas and was a member of the Kashmere High School Stage Band, whose director, the late Conrad Johnson, is the subject of a documentary, Thunder Soul, produced by actor, Jamie Foxx.
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HIRUY TIRFE QUARTET
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
Winner of the 2024 DCJazzPrix, this energetic quartet is helmed by the soaring tenor saxophone of Philly-based Hiruy Tirfe, who is of Eritrean descent. He has collaborated with The Roots, Patti LaBelle and Solange Knowles, among others.
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AKUA ALLRICH & THE TRIBE!
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Jazz vocalist and DC-native Akua Allrich has proven herself to be a musician of extraordinary talent and crowd-moving passion. With finesse and charisma, this vocalist, composer and teacher, has successfully etched out a place for her unique musical expression, electrifying audiences in and around the nation’s capital with sold-out performances.
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TONY MARTUCCI EARTH TONES
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Tony Martucci has cultivated an original and interpretive drum style that is both supportive and interactive, reflecting his deep understanding of the jazz tradition. With a career-spanning decades, he has become a sought-after collaborator, known for his impeccable timing, dynamic sensitivity, and ability to elevate any musical setting. His playing seamlessly bridges swing, bebop, and modern jazz, demonstrating a deep respect for the past while embracing the present. Whether anchoring a rhythm section or engaging in spirited improvisation, Martucci, as a leader of EARTH TONES, brings a level of artistry that makes him a vital force in DC's jazz community.
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TODD MARCUS
ARENA STAGE - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
The Baltimore-based composer and bandleaders has been aptly characterized as one of only a handful of jazz artists in the world to focus their work primarily on the bass clarinet, though he also excels on the clarinet. As a bandleader he has embraced the jazz clarinet tradition, including collaborations with such masters of the instrument as Don Byron.
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MAKOTO OZONE &
GREGOIRE MARET
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
A renowned Japanese pianist who studied at the Berklee College of Music, where he first encountered and subsequently performed with vibraphonist Gary Burton. He has made over 40 albums as a leader or co-leader, including partnerships with NEA Jazz Masters Chick Corea and Burton. Additionally he has composed film soundtracks and has worked extensively in jazz education.
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LYLE LINK
DC JAZZFEST AT THE WHARF - SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
One of the DMV’s most in-demand tenor saxophonists and flutists, he has performed with an array of jazz and pop greats. He has also performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In addition to leading his group, the Lyle Link Quartet, he is a music educator at the Sheridan School and the Levine School of Music.
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JOSHUA BAYER
KENNEDY CENTER MILLENIUM STAGE - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
The guitarist has performed at venues across the region, including Blues Alley, NPR, the Kennedy Center, and Philadelphia’s Chris’s Jazz Café. He has recorded for the Jazzheads and Interlace Records labels, and served on the music faculties at the Peabody Conservatory, American University, and the Washington Conservatory of Music.
LEIGH PILZER
DC JAZZFEST AT THE KENNEDY CENTER - THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
The most in-demand baritone saxophonist in the DMV, she has been described as “A force of nature on the baritone” (CapitalBop). A member of the JazzDC All-Stars, she has also performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Baltimore’s Soulful Symphony, and has been a fixture on the annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival and is a member of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra.
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HERB SCOTT
DC JAZZFEST AT THE KENNEDY CENTER - FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
One of the leading saxophonists in the DMV, Herb has been quite active on the jazz advocacy side as a co-founder of the Capital Hill Jazz Foundation. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, he studied at Michigan State University under Rodney Whitaker. He is the recipient of the 2023 Mayor’s Arts Award. He has performed at venues ranging from DC’s renowned Mr. Henry’s, where is a regular, to the Kennedy Center and the White House.
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