DC Jazz Fest 2022

Date: September 5, 2022
Time: 4:00 P.M. EDT

Hello Jazz Buddies,

Rather than travel to my hometown Detroit this Labor Day Weekend for the highly-acclaimed (and free) Detroit Jazz Festival, I decided to stay local for the OUTSTANDING 2022 DC Jazz Fest at the Wharf waterfront in WDC.

There were two main stages: District Pier and Transit Pier.  I walked between venues as the staggered performances slightly overlapped.  Shown are the performers whom I saw:

Thursday

  • Regina Carter Quartet w/Carla Cook: Gone in a Phrase of Air & Talkback (Arena Stage)

Friday

  • Dianne Reeves & Orrin Evans Captain Black Big Band (Arena Stage)

Saturday

  • “Hargrove” Documentary Screening & Talkback Panel (Arena Stage)
  • Heidi Martin (Vocalist)
  • Giveton Gelin Quintet
  • Ron Carter Trio
  • The Baylor Project
  • Cindy Blackman Santana Quintet
  • Orrin Evans Jam Session (Union Stage)

Sunday

  • Donvonte McCoy Quintet
  • Dan Wilson Quartet
  • Marc Cary Trio
  • Emmet Cohen Trio
  • Christian McBride & Inside Straight

Regina Carter’s work, “Gone In A Phrase of Air”, comprising of new music and multimedia, explores how hustling, bustling Black and immigrant inner-city neighborhoods in many large U.S. cities were systematically destroyed in the 1950s and 1960s by city planners to make way for freeways in order to accommodate suburban whites with their commute to downtown jobs.  In the process, most Blacks and immigrants were displaced and grossly undercompensated for their homes and businesses.

 The “Hargrove” film was amazing, thought-provoking, revelatory, and raw.  Highly recommended if you have not yet viewed.  The talkback that followed included the film’s director, Eliane Henri, as well as great Jazz pianists, Marc Cary and Orrin Evans.

And following the Christian McBride & Inside Straight performance, I escorted a visually-impaired Jazz fan through the large crowd and trekked slowly back to the corner of Maine Ave. & 9th St., SW, for his pre-scheduled 7:30 P.M. taxi pick-up. Well, while we’re standing there next to the bike path, guess who strolls by slowly in a chauffeured-driven golf cart headed to the Recreation Pier for its “Conversation with….” series to discuss, From James Brown to P-Funk to Jazz??? None other than the main man himself, Christian McBride! Ride On!!! :v)

I have to take my hats off to the two organizers, Sunny Sumter (CEO) and Willard Jenkins (Artistic Director).  The latter is a Jazz radio legend in these parts (WPFW).  Overall, very impressed with the DC Jazz Fest!!!  Take care!

Kenneth