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Christie getting ready to sit in at the loft 3/16

“It’s always great to see a noble and right-minded concept rewarded with the appreciation it deserves. So it’s been rewarding to watch what happened when pianist and vocalist Amy K. Bormet organized the First Annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival: The D.C. jazz community has rallied around her, and her weekly shows throughout March have been well attended. They’ve also featured some burnin’ female instrumentalists and singers. This Wednesday’s show should be no different. D.C. vocalist Christie Dashiell and and alto saxophonist Sarah Hughes headline this show, the last edition of the WWJF until the second annual picks up 11 months from now. Dashiell, a recent graduate of Howard University’s Jazz Studies program, is D.C.’s most exciting rising vocal talent. She’s got pipes and an uncanny intellect as a scat improviser, but it’s the way she nestles into a tune, believes in the lyrics and makes them felt, that makes her so disarming. Hughes, meanwhile, is a melodic player who’s most influenced by 1950s and ’60s cool jazz. An unassuming personality, she crept up on folks at CapitalBop’s D.C. Jazz Loft and stole the Brad Linde Quartet’s set. Watch out – she might do the same here. $15 at the door, $10 minimum. Those with a $40 all-access pass to the festival get in free.”- CapitalBop.com

“The biggest news in the D.C. jazz scene over the past few weeks has almost indisputably been the Washington Women in Jazz Festival. That’s appropriate, given that March is Women’s History Month, but most folks would be lying if they said they predicted such a wide-ranging display of talent.
See, this city’s many expert female musicians too often fly under the radar – as is frequently the case in the male-dominated greater jazz world. But pianist and singer Amy K. Bormet’s festival has been a resounding success, with folks from around the city breathlessly taking note and taking part.”

http://www.capitalbop.com/2011/03/23/photos-women-in-jazz-festival-gets-lofty/

Vocalist Integriti Reeves
Dancer Melissa Frakman

Thanks to our great friends and fellow jazz advocates CapitalBop we have an extra special ADDITION to the WWJF.  You might have attended spectacular jazz loft events before, and we will continue with the same format. There are two featured performers, my fellow DESA Alum and current Howard Grad student in Jazz Voice, the marvelous Integriti Reeves. We truly reconnected at the Kurt Elling Masterclass last November. She was selected to sing for him at the Kennedy Center, and I accompanied the entire class on piano. When she found out about this festival she immediately got in touch with me to put her full support behind it, and has been at the first 2 shows selling tickets and handing out fabulous flyer for me! In the city of interns, she is the most talented one out there. Now she can take the stage herself and give a great show!
Also featured will be tap dancer extraordinaire Melissa Frakman. Melissa has been all over, from Asia to North America, studying and teaching dance. We were kindred spirits on our first meeting and she performed on my Graduate Recital at Howard last May. So here it is, A WWJF tap premiere! The whole DC Jazz community is benefiting from the DC Tap Fest next month (founded by another Ellington Alum–Maud Arnold). Melissa’s performance Wednesday will be a preview of our awesome dance community in April!

After the features, there will be an open jam session, everyone is invited to sit in, so bring your horn and we’ll party WWJF Jazz Loft style. See you there!

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WWJF/CapitalBop Jazz Loft

The Red Door

443 Eye St. NW(In the alley)
Washington, DC
8pm
$10 suggested donation