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DCJF News


Jazz is a Four-Letter Word
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


DC JazzFest 2025 Citywide Celebration Expands: More Artists, More Neighborhoods, More Jazz
Jazz legends, hometown heroes, and next-gen stars bring the festival to more than a dozen neighborhoods citywide WASHINGTON, DC (July 29,...


Listening with Purpose from a City in Crisis
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,...


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


Lalah Hathaway and Matthew Whitaker to Open DC JazzFest at The Wharf 2025 at The Anthem
Kicking off a weekend of must-see performances along the Potomac at The District Wharf The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is thrilled to...


What Does Jazz Mean to You?
By Jason Toney In Late March of this year, the Mellon Foundation hosted a virtual symposium called American Jazz, American Culture....


Stay and Play! DC JazzFest Announces 2025 Hotel Partners
DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) today announces its 2025 DC JazzFest hotel partners . One of the largest annual tourist events in the District,...


2025 DC JazzFest to Present Renowned Artists at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
WASHINGTON, DC – March 25, 2025 – DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) today announces 2025 DC JazzFest programming for its indoor festival home at...


DC Jazz Festival Announces Initial Lineup for 2025 DC JazzFest
Eddie Palmieri, Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis, Lalah Hathaway, John Scofield, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Sun Ra Arkestra, The Baylor...
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