This summer, our interns are once again helping to deliver the energy, creativity, and community spirit of DC JazzFest. Set along Washington, DC’s vibrant Southwest waterfront, the festival offers interns a front-row look at what it takes to work in an arts organization and produce a major cultural event—from artist and audience support to communications, hospitality, logistics, and community engagement. Why It Matters One of the most exciting parts of the internship experien

By Willard Jenkins, Artistic Director As the 2026 edition of DC JazzFest rolls out, our events will provide a vivid reflection of the goal of celebrating jazz as both an expression of American history and a progressive, innovative art form. The evolution of jazz as a constantly developing art form serves as a powerful metaphor for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. As a vital component of DC250, DCJF will continue its ongoing celebration of the enormous contribut

DCJF’s incomparable annual band competition enters its 11th year of recognizing and supporting top jazz ensemble talent WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 28, 2026 — The DC Jazz Festival® (DCJF) today announced the four bands selected as the 2026 DCJazzPrix™ Finalists, all of whom will perform Saturday, September 5, 2026 during the 11th annual DCJazzPrix Finals at Union Stage, part of the 2026 DC JazzFest. The 2026 DCJazzPrix finalists are: AMINA SCOTT QUINTET (New Orleans, LA): Led by

Labor Day Weekend festival brings jazz legends, rising stars, and hometown talent to Washington, DC, September 2–6, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC — The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) today announced major additions to the 2026 DC JazzFest lineup: GRAMMY-winning drummer Nate Smith, NEA Jazz Masters Donald Harrison and Amina Claudine Myers, and a dynamic slate of DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) artists joining a powerhouse roster that includes Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joshua Redman, Kurt Elling

By Jason Toney It hasn’t happened to me recently, but late last year, my regular Saturday morning ritual of exploring new music was often derailed by self-published, artificial sound-alikes. Most times, I sensed artifice in seconds and moved on, but occasionally, I’d tap along a while before questioning what I was hearing. In each instance, I left disappointed and deflated by AI-generated music. There’s a lot of concern about the impact of artificial intelligence on our lives

by Willard Jenkins, DC JazzFest Artistic Director DC JazzFest 2026 will once again deliver a veritable cornucopia of jazz flavors and vivid colors, presenting a tantalizing bounty of the music that makes 21 st century jazz an evolving, multi-stylistic expression. As an international jazz festival, one of our primary responsibilities is to showcase an appealing and mind-expanding range of the stylistic nuances that make jazz such a broad and vibrant art form, including presen

WASHINGTON, DC – March 5, 2026 – The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) today announced the confirmation of four new Board members. Now comprising 30 leaders from across the District’s civic, artistic, and corporate communities, the DCJF Board reflects a dynamic group of stakeholders committed to strengthening DC’s cultural fabric. Together, this accomplished body will help guide the organization’s growth – further enhancing DC JazzFest as one of the city’s signature cultural events and

By Sunny Sumter I’ve watched the Olympics my whole life, on living room floors with my grandparents, squeezed onto sofas with elders telling stories between routines, and later holding my babies while the world gathered around one stage. To me, it has often felt a little like jazz — improvised dreams on a global bandstand. Recently, one of my closest friends blessed our home with a visit, arriving with curated treats from DC’s Union Market, and we settled in to watch the

Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joshua Redman, Kurt Elling, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, Danilo Pérez, Bill Frisell, Nate Smith and More to Headline September 2-6, 2026 Citywide Celebration WASHINGTON, DC — February 24, 2026 — The DC Jazz Festival ® (DCJF) today announced the first wave of artists for the 2026 DC JazzFes t , taking place September 2-6, 2026 , across 20 venues spanning a dozen neighborhoods across Washington, DC, highlighting the city’s vibrant cultural corridors f

Emmet Cohen and Janelle Gill to Lead Year-Long Performances, Education, and Community Engagement Across Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The DC Jazz Festival ® (DCJF) proudly announces internationally acclaimed pianist and bandleade r Emmet Cohen, and distinctive DMV pianist, composer, and educator Janelle Gill as the Festival’s 2026 Artists-in-Residence. The dual residency brings together two generations of jazz innovators for a year of performances, master classes,

Dear Friends, What a year. DC JazzFest 2025 reminded us that jazz is more than music—it is expression, community, and a shared language that connects us. From the first notes downtown to the final performances along The Wharf, our city came alive with creativity and possibility. We didn’t just present a festival—we helped energize a movement. Our goal this year was simple but bold: open doors wider . We brought world-class jazz back to downtown, transformed Anthem Row int

By Willard Jenkins, Artistic Director, DC Jazz Festival Last winter I was delighted to be selected as a Jazz Scholar for 2025. In subsequent weeks leading up to my LOC talk on Wednesday, June 18 – as a pre-concert conversation to that evening’s performance by NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz – I spent some very valuable hours examining some of the LOC’s vast jazz Collections. Here’s my report from that wonderful experience. As a Jazz Scholar at the Library Of Congress, I eagerly

By Jason Toney On trumpeter and composer Nicholas Payton ’s latest album, TRIUNE , Esperanza Spalding sings: “Jazz is a four-letter word. It’s not either or. It’s this and that and this and that and this and that.” Payton, a native of New Orleans and a GRAMMY Award winner, has dedicated his career to challenging rigid definitions of jazz, often referring to his work as "Black American Music." Spalding, a four-time GRAMMY winner and MacArthur Fellow, is celebrated for her ex

Jazz legends, hometown heroes, and next-gen stars bring the festival to more than a dozen neighborhoods citywide WASHINGTON, DC (July 29,...

By Jason Toney “I feel like, as an artist, the whole point of the platform, other than making music, is to inform. However we do that,...

WASHINGTON, DC – July 15, 2025 – The DC Jazz Festival ® (DCJF) announces its Opening Night celebration of the 21st annual DC JazzFest...

Kicking off a weekend of must-see performances along the Potomac at The District Wharf The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is thrilled to...

DC Jazz Festival Adds Iconic Bass Virtuoso Marcus Miller to 2025 DC JazzFest Lineup! Great Masters and Next Gen Artists Perform on...

DCJF’s incomparable international band competition celebrates its 10th year of recognizing and supporting top emerging jazz ensembles...

By Jason Toney In Late March of this year, the Mellon Foundation hosted a virtual symposium called American Jazz, American Culture....