DC JazzFest 2026: Reflecting DC's 250th

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 contributions of the distinguished DC jazz community by showcasing the artistry of local musicians on our stages. Programs highlighting the remarkable contributions of DC-area artists to Washington’s rich arts and cultural landscape will include two performances by the JazzDC All-Stars, an orchestral ensemble of DC-based artists under the baton of acclaimed jazz educator and saxophonist Paul Carr, including their Opening Night (September 2) concert featuring DC vocalist and Grammy Award nominee Christie Dashiell.

Emerging & New Voices

Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater’s We Exist includes her accompanying ensemble of three emerging young women on piano (Alexis Lombre), bass (Liany Mateo) and drums (Shirazette Tinnin).  A We Exist alum, bassist Hannah Marks will make her DCJF debut as a leader.  Violinist Chelsey Green, who will be our special guest with the JazzDC All-Stars (under the direction of Paul Carr) opening night performance at Hamilton Live, continues to unfold her sound on an instrument whose jazz exponents have been fairly limited as she strives in the footsteps of such greats as NEA Jazz Master Regina Carter.  The DMV-based Alfred Yun is a Korean-American pianist-keyboardist-composer whose influences include jazz, hip hop, and K-pop from a foundation of traditional Korean music.  Baltimore-based trumpeter Brandon Woody has been widely hailed as ‘who’s next’ on the jazz trumpet on the strength of his debut recording for the historic Blue Note jazz label.

Artists Blending Jazz with Global Sounds

DC JazzFest has established a number of fruitful global collaborations, not the least of which has been our ongoing series of embassy partnerships.  Guitarist Vilem Spilka will represent the Czech Republic on our DCJF stage.  Percussionist-bandleader and educator Fran Vielma integrates the rhythmic elements of his native Venezuela in his jazz expressions.  The band Son Cubano Subterraneo delivers the musical sounds of Cuba’s so-called golden era, bringing the Cuban “Son” tradition, which is a core element of salsa.  Flutist Elsa Nilsson will bring her Swedish perspectives to the DCJF stage, and pianist Domas Zeromskas will showcase Lithuanian sensibilities in his music.

Panama’s jazz ambassador, pianist-composer-educator Danilo Pérez, invites our DC JazzFest audience to join him in celebrating the 30^th anniversary of his historic record release PanaMonk, his highly successful Panamanian take on the music of Thelonious Monk.  Korean saxophonist Pureum Jin filters the blues through her own cultural blender.  DCJazzPrix 2025 winner, pianist José Luiz Martins, will deliver rich textures of his native Brazil to our audiences. 

Shifting to the Caribbean islands, KES performs vibrant soca, the soul of calypso, to most assuredly encourage DCJF patrons to rise up out of their seats and dance.  Meanwhile, also from Trinidad & Tobago comes the irresistible Caribbean folkloric stylings of trumpeter Etienne Charles & Creole Soul. 

Young & Boundary-pushing Artists

Audiences will surely delight in the sounds of the amazing young pianist José André, who was born in Bolivia and graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Juilliard.  DC JazzFest will also showcase two Howard University grads and alums of the noted vocal ensemble Afro Blue. Shacara Rogers will bring her decidedly gospel roots to her performance, and Ekep Nkwelle will likewise illustrate the ongoing evolution of jazz vocal artistry. 

Centennial Celebrations

In this exciting year of prominent centennials of jazz history makers, DC JazzFest 2026 has engaged several bands to pay specific homage.  Honoring the incomparable pathfinders John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Randy Weston will be DCJF ’26 Artist-In-Residence/pianist Emmet Cohen, drummer-bandleader Nasar Abadey, and powerhouse Chicago saxophonist Isaiah Collier.  The African Rhythms Alumni Band will feature members of centennial celebrant pianist-composer Randy Weston’s longtime touring ensembles.

Our 2026 DCJF Artist-in-Residence, Emmet Cohen will lead a quintet, with tenor saxophonist Tivan Pennicott and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt in the frontline, along with the same explosive rhythm section that delighted the Cosmos Club: drummer Joe Farnsworth & bassist Yasushi Nakamura in a program honoring the John Coltrane & Miles Davis centennials.

In “Collier Plays Coltrane,” the widely acclaimed young rising tenor saxophonist, Isaiah Collier, and Chicago’s own member of the proud no-compromise tradition of the internationally acclaimed Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) will honor the John Coltrane centennial and threaten to blow the roof off the Transit Stage with his spiritual homage.