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DC Jazz Festival Announces Headliners for Fest at the Yards

Regina Carter
Regina Carter

“Celebrating the international language of jazz, the 2016 DC Jazz Festival represents our broadest, most varied menu of jazz and jazz extensions offerings ever!” said Willard Jenkins, DC JazzFest Artistic Director.

And so, the fastest growing jazz festival in the U.S., the DC Jazz Festival® (DC JazzFest), recently announced the performers and schedule for its Events DC Presents: DC JazzFest at The Yards, an annual outdoor showcase at The Yards Park on the Capitol Riverfront that features a weekend

Kamasi Washington
Kamasi Washington

of cool music and first-class artists in a picturesque and family-friendly setting, June 17-19.  Tickets go on sale March 14 through Ticketmaster.com.

“DC JazzFest has become an event that residents and visitors from around the world circle on their calendar each year,” stated Erik A. Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC, Sports & Entertainment. “The lineup that DCJF has secured for the 2016 Events DC presents: DC Jazz Fest at The Yards will be the most eclectic group of top performers to date.”

Events DC Presents: DC JazzFest at The Yards begins with a free show on Friday, June 17 at 5:00 pm, featuring the scintillating DC-based Brazilian vocalist Cissa Paz and Introducing Sharel Cassity & Elektra.
Continuing on Saturday, June 18 are 2016 GRAMMY winner Cécile McLorin Salvant, cited for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for her album For One To MaceoParker1Love; DC’s legendary The Chuck Brown Band, and GRAMMY Award-winning pianist, band leader, composer and NEA Jazz Master Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet. The afternoon will commence with performances from the three finalists of DCJazzPrix™, DC JazzFest’s exciting new jazz band competition, all eager to capture the first place cash prize and a year-long association with the DC Jazz Festival.
Adding a third date at The Yards this year, Sunday, June 19, promises more spectacular music in the idyllic waterfront setting beginning with DC’s own, saxophonist Fred Foss presenting a Tribute to NEA Jazz Master Jackie McLean; drummer, composer and bandleader E.J. Strickland takes the stage for Introducing E.J. Strickland & Transient Beings; Igmar Thomas & The Revive Big Band featuring singer/songwriter Bilal, hip hop artist Talib Kweli and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, son of the legendary John Coltrane; and concluding with the year’s most widely-discussed jazz saxophonist, composer and band leader Kamasi Washington, a central figure in the Los Angeles jazz scene who has toured for over a decade with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Lauryn Hill and Snoop Dogg. (Kamasi’s profile grew exponentially with his collaboration on Kendrick Lamar’s universally praised, Grammy-winning album To Pimp A Butterfly. Kamasi moved into his own spotlight with the 2015 release of his acclaimed album The Epic, which landed on a multitude of Best Records of 2015 lists.)
Images courtesy