Celebrating DC Jazz Festival’s 20th Anniversary
WASHINGTON, DC – August 28, 2024 – The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) today announced it will celebrate DC JazzFest 2024, its 20th anniversary festival, with an amazing array of regional and national artists, NEA Jazz Masters, GRAMMY winners, emerging jazz generations, and international talents at inviting indoor and open-air venues across DC neighborhoods, August 28 - September 1. DC JazzFest will culminate in its’ traditional, two-day tentpole event over Labor Day weekend at The Wharf on the scenic Potomac Riverfront, and across Maine Avenue SW at Arena Stage. For a complete schedule and ticket information, visit: www.dcjazzfest.org.
In addition to presenting many rising stars and renowned artists, DC JazzFest will once again host an informative and entertaining Meet the Artist stage indoors at Arena Stage. These free programs include unique up-close-and-personal interviews, panel discussions and topical conversations. Audiences experience their favorite DC JazzFest artists off-the-bandstand, as only DC JazzFest can provide. The complete Meet the Artist schedule is available here or https://www.dcjazzfest.org/event-details/meet-the-artists-dcjf2024
An auspicious new addition to the 20th anniversary DC JazzFest humanities program is the Terri Lyne Carrington-curated New Standards: Shifting The Narrative at Arena Stage. This exciting exhibition addresses the theme of Jazz and Gender Justice by examining the intersection of history, gender, race and innovation with provocative multimedia art and performances. The exhibition will open Saturday, August 31, 2024 with a talk, tour and concert by a specially-selected all-star ensemble led by Carrington. The exhibition will be on view through October 13, 2024.
DC JazzFest will once again deliver scintillating artistic exemplars of the state of jazz and jazz-informed music to the nation’s capital including Samara Joy, Jacob Collier and NEA Jazz Masters Dianne Reeves, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Stanley Clarke N 4Ever and Terri Lyne Carrington New Standards. Bassist-bandleader-educator Corcoran Holt, DCJF’s 2024 artist-in-residence, will pay homage to DC’s own drummer, bandleader and NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart. The tenor saxophone will be royally represented by the David Murray Quartet and Houston Person, who will join the pianist and remarkable online sensation Emmet Cohen. The smoking hot alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin will open DC JazzFest ’24 in a special evening at the stunning Embassy of Australia.
Carmen Lundy will lend her captivating songwriting and vocal artistry, and Bill Frisell will represent the state of the jazz guitar. The marvelous trumpeter Nicholas Payton will honor the tradition of what he calls postmodern New Orleans music. A very special program will commemorate the centennial of the great saxophonist Sonny Stitt. German-born pianist-composer Monika Herzig’s Sheroes will feature an outstanding, all-women ensemble performing her original compositions.
Latin and Caribbean sounds will explode on the stages with Bobby Sanabria’s Multiverse Big Band, and the infectious sounds of Cimafunk straight from Havana. Funk will be in the house, courtesy of New Orleans’ own powerhouse Galactic, and the hallmark go-go sounds of DC’s Chuck Brown Band. Kris Davis Diatom Ribbons will deliver original compositions, and the Brandee Younger Trio will mesmerize audiences with jazz performed on the harp. The winner of an ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, pianist Joe Block Open Heart Trio will introduce his artistry. DCJazzPrix ’23 winners New Jazz Underground will represent the next generation of jazz ensembles.
The international language of jazz will be auspiciously represented by Australian multi-instrumentalist and media personality James Morrison (as special guest on Fest opening night at the Embassy of Australia), trumpeter Paolo Fresu (Italy), pianist Joonas Haavisto (Finland), and bassist Clovis Nicholas Quartet (France; featuring trumpet ace Jeremy Pelt).
The DMV region will have excellent representation on DCJF stages, including Nasar Abadey and Supernova, theMichael Thomas Quintet, Amy K. Bormet Trio, Stephen Arnold & Sea Change, trumpeter Muneer Nasser Quintet, trombonist Reginald Cyntje, and saxophonist BJ Simmons Quintet. Opening Night, August 28, will also feature the JazzDC All-Stars directed by Allyn Johnson at the beautiful Carlyle Room. Pearl Street Stage at The Wharf will feature some of the area’s finest youth jazz ensembles in performance on Saturday, August 31.
The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage will feature bassist Eliot Seppa, Baltimore teen sax sensations Ebban & Ephraim Dorsey and trombonist Shannon Gunn’s Saffron Ensemble. A host of activities take place in neighborhoods across the city including saxophonist Paul Carr with the Junto Trio at Takoma Station and Barry Moton’s Billy Strayhorn project at Mr. Henry’s.
The DCJazzPrix Finals returns to Union Stage on Saturday, August 31 with four bands –Micah Thomas Trio, Alex Weitz Group, Hiruy Tirfe Quartet and Dabin Ryu Band – competing for a coveted $15,000 prize.
For the full lineup, visit: DC JazzFest Lineup
For the daily schedule, visit: DC JazzFest Daily Schedule
For frequently asked questions about DC JazzFest at The Wharf, visit: DC JazzFest at The Wharf FAQ
Recognized as the region’s largest and most distinctive music festival, the DC JazzFest reaches more than 70,000 visitors of all ages to enjoy great music and explore DC’s environs each and every year.
For more information about the 2024 20th anniversary DC JazzFest, including concert updates and ticketing information, stay connected to the DC Jazz Festival at dcjazzfest.org.
For press inquiries, please contact Lydia Liebman, DCJF publicist, at lydia@lydialiebmanpromotions.com.
Learn more about the DC Jazz Festival and all of our programs by visiting www.dcjazzfest.org.
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About DC Jazz Festival: The DC Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that celebrates America’s unique original art form by presenting year-round programs and performances featuring local, national, and internationally acclaimed artists. The mission of the DC Jazz Festival is to present internationally renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz, unify diverse communities and enable connections between artists and audiences, advance jazz, and music education, provide performance opportunities for DC-based musicians, and highlight DC as a major and vibrant center for jazz. With dozens of performances in venues across the city, the annual DC JazzFest is one of the largest music festivals in the country. This international event attracts jazz lovers from around the world to the nation’s capital. The 2024 DC JazzFest will take place August 31-September 4. For more information about the DCJF and its activities, visit dcjazzfest.org.
DCJF Media Contact:
Lydia Liebman, DCJF Publicist
lydia@lydialiebmanpromotions.com, 570.730.5279
DCJF Contacts:
Josh Brown, Marketing and Communications
Keep up with DCJF:
· Twitter: @dcjazzfest
· Facebook: facebook.com/dcjazzfest
· Instagram: @dcjazzfest
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· Everything Else: linktr.ee/dcjazzfest
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