2026 LINEUP
DC JazzFest
WE EXIST!
THE DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER QUARTET
The recipient of a 2017 NEA Jazz Masters fellowship, Dee Dee Bridgewater is one of the leading voices of jazz vocal artistry. A triple Grammy Award-winning artist, as well as a Tony Award winner for her role in The Wiz, Bridgewater has also been a tireless champion for women in jazz, including as long-time host of the annual Mary Lou Williams Festival at the Kennedy Center, which annually celebrates women’s contributions to the art form. For her DC JazzFest ’26 performance, Dee Dee Bridgewater will be accompanied by her specially assembled stellar ensemble of young women in jazz known as “We Exist”. In addition to her own exceptional compositions, Bridgewater is also renowned for her celebration of the music of Ella Fitzgerald and other of her jazz vocal elders.
Dee Dee Bridgewater- Vocals
Carmen Staaf- Piano
Amina Scott- Bass
Shirazette Tinnin- Drums
JOSHUA REDMAN
One of the premier practitioners on one of the signature instruments of jazz expression, the tenor saxophone, Joshua Redman, has been a leading force in the music ever since his introductory first-prize win in the Thelonious Monk Competition in 1991. That win came on the heels of his graduating summa cum laude with a degree in social studies from Harvard University and came at a time when he was about to enter Yale Law School. Instead, Redman, toured into an extremely productive full-time career as a saxophonist and bandleader. In the latter role, he performed with his father, the late tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, and embraced others of his approximate generation as Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Brian Blade and Roy Hargrove, as well as collaborations with such renowned elders as NEA Jazz Masters Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins among others.
KURT ELLING & YELLOWJACKETS
CELEBRATE WEATHER REPORT
In a jazz vocal field dominated by women artists, Kurt Elling has long been one of the leading practitioners from the male side. A proud native of Chicago, his early vocal exploits came in service to his Lutheran church, which led to his enrollment in divinity school, and is a major reason his artistry has always been marked by a deeply spiritual side. In 1995, Elling signed with the prestigious Blue Note label and was almost immediately Grammy nominated for his distinctive artistry. Notably, that debut featured contributions from jazz elders such as saxophonists Von Freeman and Ed Peterson, from whom he had learned much at sessions around Chicago when he determined to pursue a music career. Elling is one of the leading embodiments of the vocalese style of his influence Jon Hendricks, where he blends poetic lyricism with improvisational scat singing. He is currently starring on Broadway as Hermes in the Tony-winning musical Hadestown. The Yellowjackets are a Grammy Award–winning jazz fusion quartet formed in 1977 in Los Angeles, known for blending post-bop sophistication with funk, R&B, and contemporary jazz textures. Originally emerging from the backing band for guitarist Robben Ford, the group evolved into one of the most enduring and influential ensembles in modern jazz, featuring longtime members Russell Ferrante and Bob Mintzer.
CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES
THE NEXT 250 YEARS: A VISION FOR JAZZ
A native of Brooklyn,organist-pianist-keyboardist Cory Henry, who is equally versed in jazz and gospel music, first came to prominence as a member of the band Snarky Puppy. Among his playing affiliates have been renowned artists ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Michael McDonald, to NEA Jazz Master Kenny Garrett, The Roots, and gospel giant Kirk Franklin. As an educator, Henry has taught songwriting workshops at Brown University. His most recent recordings have been “Operation Funk” (’22) and “Church” (’24).
NATE SMITH
Nate Smith is the newly appointed artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival. Following in the footsteps of such signature jazz drummer-bandleaders, Nate Smith is a 3-time Grammy nominee, songwriter and producer from Chesapeake, Virginia. While studying at James Madison University, he performed at a jazz education conference in Atlanta where he encountered NEA Jazz Master Betty Carter. She subsequently mentored the young drummer, who subsequently performed with her at the famed Blue Note and was invited to Ms. Carter’s enduring jazz mentoring program Jazz Ahead. There he encountered NEA Jazz Master bassist Dave Holland, whose band he joined in ’03. His bands have released four Eps and two albums. Nate Smith is a 2026 double Grammy Award-winner, in the categories of Best Alternative Jazz Album; and Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for his latest release Live-Action.
BILL FRISEL TRIO
featuring Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston
[THE NEXT 250 YEARS: A VISION FOR JAZZ]
Possessor of a thoroughly unique guitar sound and approach, Bill Frisell brings a sort of inside/outside perspective to his guitar sound, befitting his collaborations with such folks as Downtown NYC scenester saxophonist John Zorn, the distinctive late drummer-bandleader Paul Motian, NEA Jazz Master bassist Ron Carter, and others. Frisell’s work as a jazz improviser has incorporated uncanny elements of folk, country, rock blues and other elements that blend into a thoroughly singular sound and style. He is a Grammy winner and a 6-time Grammy nominee whose work has been documented by such prestigious record labels as ECM, Nonesuch, Savoy, and Blue Note on his 40+ discography dates as a bandleader.
Bill Frisell
Thomas Morgan
Rudy Royston
DANILO PÉREZ, BEN STREET
& ADAM CRUZ TRIO
A proud native of Panama, the pianist-composer-bandleader, Danilo Perez, is also the founding educator of Berklee College of Music’s noted Global Jazz Institute, a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through the embrace of global perspectives. Perez came to Berklee to study on the heels of achieving a Fullbright Scholarship, and Berklee’s Quincy Jones Scholarship. As a student he was engaged by such NEA Jazz Masters as Jon Hendricks, Terence Blanchard, and Paquito D’Rivera. From 1989-1992 he was a member of and toured with Dizzy Gillespie’s famed United Nation Orchestra. One of his most noted affiliations was as a member of NEA Jazz Master saxophonist-composer Wayne Shorter’s poll-winning quartet, which began in 2000, a stint which was only interrupted by the master’s 2023 passing. In 2003, Perez founded the Panama Jazz Festival, which has fostered previously unprecedented music education for countless Panamanian youth, as well as presented a richly illustrative festival for audiences in his home country. He is considered a true artistic ambassador of Panama.
EMMET COHEN
DC Jazz Festival’s 2026 Artist-In-Residence, pianist Emmet Cohen has become a bit of a social media phenomenon on the wings of his brilliant playing, and his winning series of At Home pandemic-era online live performances, and his welcoming spirit. A native of Miami, Cohen was raised in Montclair, New Jersey and studied at Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, later receiving a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. He won first place in the American Piano Awards, after being a finalist in the Thelonious Monk Institute competition. He made his first recording as a leader in 2021 on Mack Avenue Records. Cohen has exhibited a truly collaborative spirit, interacting not only on the bandstand and in the recording studio with great masters and his peers, but in his own unique series of At Home concerts from his living room, a practice which earned him high praise and a subsequent large following as legions eagerly streamed his performances, which proved a “live” music balm for a populace largely confined to the indoors during the pandemic of 2020-2021.
The Artist in Residence program is supported, in part, by grants from the Galena Yorktown Foundation and the Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation.
ETIENNE CHARLES CREOLE SOUL
Born on the culturally wealthy island of Trinidad, trumpeter, Etienne Charles, has gone on to not only sparkle as a performer and bandleader, but he has also embarked upon deep investigations of the spiritual power of Caribbean musical traditions and incorporated those elements in his performances. Charles is a 2015 Guggenheim Fellow and 2022 Creative Capital awardee to support his intensive Caribbean culture research and subsequent engagement in his recordings and live appearances. He will bring his Creole Soul unit to DC JazzFest at the Wharf.
LISA FISCHER
Like the late, great singer Luther Vandross, Lisa Fischer toiled onstage and in the studio as a highly valued back-up singer for a number of artists, from Sting and the Rolling Stones, to Tina Turner and Vandross himself. She was one of the leading artists profiled in the exceptional 2013 documentary film “20 Feet From Stardom”. Her 1991 debut album, So Intense, produced the Grammy Award-winning hit single “How Can I Ease the Pain”. For her DC JazzFest debut, Fischer will continue her productive partnership with pianist-composer Orrin Evans’ Trio.
ORRIN EVANS TRIO
One of the most prolific pianist-bandleaders of the current era, Orrin Evans is not only an exceptional pianist, he is one of today’s leading jazz bandleaders. From his Captain Black Big Band to various small ensembles, including the Orrin Evans Trio, which he will bring to DC JazzFest at the Wharf. Orrin Evans is a tireless collaborator who has not only recorded many of his cohorts on his own Imani Records imprint, he has also invited countless guests onto his various bandstands. Such will be the case with his DC JazzFest 2026 performance including the vocalist Lisa Fischer. Born in Trenton and raised in Philadelphia, Evans is the son of a noted playwright, studied music at Rutgers University with NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, and has worked as a sideman on numerous bandstands. He has made dozens of recordings as a leader since 1994 and recorded with numerous other artists, including Bobby Watson, Ralph Peterson, and Duane Eubanks.
MICHELE ROSEWOMAN
& QUINTESSENCE
Pianist-composer-bandleader, Michele Rosewoman, is a recipient of the inaugural Jazz Legacies Fellowship award from the Jazz Foundation of America’s new Mellon Foundation-funded fellowship program for senior-level artists. Michele Rosewoman’s ensemble Quintessence emerged in 1986 with a commanding debut at Cooper Union’s Great Hall in New York City. Their self-titled 1987 release on Enja Records was hailed as one of the year’s finest jazz recordings and is now regarded as a standout of the decade. Over the next two decades, the group released five acclaimed albums—culminating in The In Side Out (2006)—that traced Rosewoman’s evolving vision, fusing modern jazz with Afro-Cuban, folkloric, spiritual, and avant-garde influences. Marked by compositional rigor, rhythmic vitality, and deep ensemble interplay, these works became touchstones in contemporary jazz. In 2026, Rosewoman revives Quintessence in renewed form—rooted in legacy yet energized by new voices. She reunites veteran members, including Greg Osby and Tyshawn Sorey, with some of today’s most inventive artists to premiere an all-new repertoire of recent compositions. This reimagined ensemble honors its history while expanding outward, reflecting jazz’s ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation. Following this series, Quintessence plans to record a new album for 2026 release, advancing Rosewoman’s compositional voice and nurturing the next generation of creative artists.
This performance is supported, in part, by Chamber Music America.
AFRICAN RHYTHMS ALUMNI QUINTET: RANDY WESTON CENTENNIAL
Bringing their celebration of the 2026 centennial year of NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston, this potent unit includes the members of Weston’s enduring African Rhythms bands. Personnel will include saxophonist-flutist T.K. Blue, hand drummer Neil Clarke, bassist Alex Blake, trombonist Robert Trowers, and Weston acolyte pianist Sharp Radway.
JAZZDC ALL-STARS
directed by Paul Carr
In the proud tradition of fostering resident jazz ensembles, the DCJF has assembled a crew of some of the DMV’s finest jazz artists as the JazzDC All-Stars. This flexible ensemble of top-shelf musicians is designed to perform in various contexts ranging from small chamber-like ensembles, to full jazz orchestra. The JazzDC All-Stars are under the direction of one of the DMV’s finest, saxophonist-bandleader-educator Paul Carr. The JazzDC All-Stars perform programs year-round of a thematic nature, and with “special guest” soloists. The JazzDC All-Stars include Paul Carr (Tenor Sax), Lyle Link (Alto Sax), Reginald Cyntje (Trombone), Kenny Rittenhouse (Trumpet), Janelle Gill (piano)—our DCJF Artist-In-Residence, Herman Burney (Bass); CV Dashiell (Drums), and David Cole (Guitar), among others.
This JazzDC® program is supported, in part, by major grants from the Mellon Foundation, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Galena Yorktown Foundation and the Leonard and Elaine Silverstein Family Foundation.
BEN WILLIAMS
"Between Church & State, I am a Man”
EMERGING ARTISTS & NEW VOICES/JAZZ AS A VEHICLE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
After picking up the bass at the tender age of 10, he subsequently graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts under Davey Yarborough. Later he earned his BA in Music Education from Michigan State University, and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the Juilliard School. Winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition, he has gone on to make several recordings under his own name, with a particular focus on social justice and civil rights themes.
ISAIAH COLLIER
Tribute to John Coltrane Centennial
Following in the historic tenor sax tradition of Chicago that includes such stalwarts as Gene Ammons, Von Freeman, Johnny Griffin, Fred Anderson, John Gilmore and Roscoe Mitchell, Isaiah Collier is blazing his own trails. For this DCJF appearance, Collier will pay special homage to the signature tenor saxophonist John Coltrane in the centennial month of his birth.
BRANDON WOODY
One of the latest products of the proud Baltimore jazz tradition, the trumpeter has been hailed as a rising force in contemporary jazz by the New York Times and the L.A. Times on the heels of his signing and subsequent debut recording for the legendary Blue Note label. This will be his debut DC JazzFest appearance.
NASAR ABADEY & SUPERNOVA
Jazz drummer, composer, educator, and bandleader, is known for his expansive creative voice and deep roots in jazz tradition. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Abadey began playing drums at age five and has performed professionally for decades, working with acclaimed artists across jazz and beyond. Abadey’s music blends hard bop, modal, Afro-Cuban and free-form influences, drawing inspiration from legends like Tony Williams, Max Roach, and John Coltrane. He serves as a Professor of Jazz Percussion, Jazz History, and Jazz Combo at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and is highly respected for his work as a performer, teacher, and community leader. Hs band, SUPERNOVA® is the ensemble founded and led by Abadey, performing original music that stretches “from the threshold of jazz to beyond space and time,” incorporating elements of traditional African rhythms, bebop, fusion, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, and free jazz. The group has released recordings including Mirage and Diamond in the Rough and has toured internationally, including as part of the U.S. State Department’s American Music Abroad program. SUPERNOVA is known for its adventurous compositions, improvisational depth, and blending of diverse musical traditions.
JANELLE GILL
Janelle Gill is currently DC Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence. Gill, a cornerstone of the DC-area jazz community, is celebrated for her lyrical touch and wide stylistic range. Introduced to jazz by NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis, Gill studied at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Howard University. She has performed with Oliver Lake, The Blackbyrds, David Murray, and many leading DMV artists, and appears on recordings with Kenny Rittenhouse, Kris Funn, Mauro Marcondes, and others. Her artistry reflects deep roots in the District alongside a forward-looking creative vision.
EKEP NKWELLE
Referred to by All About Jazz as “…a rising star of her own”, this young vocalist is a proud product of the rich Howard University vocal jazz ensemble Afro Blue. She is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, achieved her bachelor’s degree from Howard, and a Masters from The Juilliard School where she studied under Wynton Marsalis, who has since engaged her as a guest vocalist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Her subsequent big stage performances have included Umbria Jazz in Italy, SFJazz in San Francisco, and an appearance on National Public Radio’s celebrated Tiny Desk Concert series.
JOSÉ LUIZ MARTINS
The Brazilian pianist-composer and bandleader was the winner of the 2025 edition of the DCJazzPrix, DC Jazz Festival’s annual emerging international band competition. His vibrant ensemble brings distinct flavors of jazz from his Brazil homeland in an irresistible fusion with straight ahead jazz aesthetics. The band includes Jose’s partner, flutist-vocalist Alex Hamburger in the frontline.
ELSA NILSSON
Embassy of Sweden
Elsa Nilsson is a Swedish-born flutist, composer, and improviser whose work bridges jazz, folk traditions, and contemporary classical music. Now based in New York, she is known for her lyrical tone, fearless improvisation, and deep commitment to collaboration across disciplines. Rooted in both Scandinavian sensibilities and the vibrant creative music scene of the United States, Nilsson’s projects explore nature, poetry, and social themes through expansive, genre-defying soundscapes. Whether performing original compositions or engaging in spontaneous dialogue with fellow artists, she brings a distinct voice that is at once meditative, adventurous, and emotionally resonant.
LAURA ANGLADE
Embassy of France
Laura Anglade is a French-American jazz vocalist celebrated for her warm tone, intimate phrasing, and deep connection to the Great American Songbook. Raised in France and now based in New York, she brings a transatlantic sensibility to her interpretations—blending classic swing with understated elegance and emotional clarity. Praised for her nuanced storytelling and refined musicality, Anglade has earned recognition on international stages and through acclaimed recordings that highlight her reverence for jazz tradition while offering a fresh, contemporary voice.
JAZZ PRIX FINALS
One of the more eagerly anticipated DC JazzFest programs is the annual DCJazzPrix emerging bands competition Finals. Three judge-selected bands will square off before an eager audience and our panel of judges in what is always a spirited competition performed before a raucous, SRO audience.