Jazz legends, hometown heroes, and next-gen stars bring the festival
to more than a dozen neighborhoods citywide
The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) announces a dynamic wave of newly confirmed artists and performance venues for DC JazzFest 2025, August 27 to 31, 2025, transforming the District into a five-day citywide jazz takeover. From grand stages at the Wharf along the Southwest waterfront to storied venues in Downtown, U Street, Shaw, Eckington, Capitol Hill, Foggy Bottom, Foxhall, Takoma Park and beyond, the 2025 DC JazzFest is a true celebration of place, artistry and cultural legacy that contributes to Washington, DC’s standing as a premier destination.
New additions to the Wharf lineup include DMV treasure Eric Byrd Trio, celebrating a new release, Echoes of Arrival, and vocalist Allan Harris bringing his acclaimed project “The Poetry of Jazz” to Union Stage. New Music USA’s Next Jazz Legacy returns with an exceptional showcase of young talent including Alexandra Ridout, April May Webb, Nora Stanley, Chanelle Ignant, Carmen Quill, Melissa Almaguer and Brenda Navarrete-Guzman. These rising stars join headliners Marcus Miller, Lalah Hathaway, Branford Marsalis, Ron Carter and The String Queens, along with an Eddie Palmieri Tribute.
DC JazzFest takes place August 27–31 over Labor Day Weekend. Tickets are available at www.dcjazzfest.org.
“DC JazzFest will deliver an extraordinary experience showcasing the unifying power of music,” said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates. “Featuring a stellar lineup of renowned and emerging talent, this year’s festival highlights Washington, DC’s status as the global arts capital. We look forward to welcoming music lovers from near and far for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration.”
Other notable artists include The “Dean of DC Jazz” Allyn Johnson in a not-to-be-missed Organ Summit at Westminster Church in the Southwest neighborhood, paired with legendary keyboardist Charles Covington. A free outdoor concert will take place Downtown at Anthem Row and Eaton DC with New Orleans’ own Brass-A-Holics, DC’s go-go queens Be’La Dona, vocalists Heidi Martin and Reggie Bowens, keyboardist Benjie Porecki and rising alto sax phenom Langston Hughes II.
Afro Blue alum Imani-Grace Cooper brings her vibrant voice to the Kreeger Museum in the Foxhall neighborhood, while Marty Ehrlich Trio Exaltation with bassist John Hébert and drummer Nasheet Waits perform at Palisades Hub honoring the contributions of DC’s own Andrew Hill. Tenor saxman Elijah Eaton brings his awe-inspiring band to Takoma Station while across town, Joshua Bayer, Leigh Pilzer and Herb Scott present a wide array of jazz offerings at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
DC JazzFest at The Wharf, August 30–31, takes over the District Wharf waterfront neighborhood with six stages spanning the promenade and pier, including a full slate at Arena Stage. This scenic destination along the Potomac River offers top-tier performances, four hotels, 80+ shops and restaurants, and easy access via Metro, highway and water taxi.
The 2025 DC JazzFest Lineup, to date, includes: NEA Jazz Masters Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis, Gary Bartz and Marshall Allen (Sun Ra Arkestra); an Eddie Palmieri Tribute, Marcus Miller, Lalah Hathaway, The String Queens, The John Scofield Trio, The Baylor Project, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Emmet Cohen Trio, Keyon Harrold, Corcoran Holt Supergroup feat. George Cables, Steve Turre, Sean Jones, Billy Harper & Jeff "Tain" Watts, JazzDC All-Stars Orchestra directed by Allyn Johnson, Dado Moroni, Makoto Ozone & Gregoire Maret, Jongkuk Kim, Jazzmeia Horn Quartet, Steve Wilson, Matthew Whitaker, Birckhead, Corcoran Holt Quintet, Paul Carr & Vanessa Rubin, Christie Dashiell, Brandee Younger, Eric Byrd Trio, Tony Martucci Earth Tones, Hiruy Tirfe Quartet, Akua Allrich & The Tribe!, Brass-A-Holics, Next Jazz Legacy, Benjie Porecki, Todd Marcus Quartet, Lyle Link, Allan Harris, Herb Scott, Leigh Pilzer Startet, Joshua Bayer, Organ Summit feat. Charles Covington & Allyn Johnson, Heidi Martin, Reggie Bowens, Langston Hughes II, Beʼla Dona, Elijah Easton, Imani-Grace Cooper, Jahari Stampley Family Trio, DC JazzPrix Finals: Friendship, The Smoogies, José Luiz Martins, Dave Meder New American Hymnal Quartet & More
The 2025 DC JazzFest takes place August 27–31 over Labor Day Weekend. Tickets and concert updates are available at www.dcjazzfest.org.
For press inquiries, contact Lydia Liebman, DCJF publicist, at lydia@lydialiebmanpromotions.com.
Learn more about the DC Jazz Festival and all of our programs by visiting www.dcjazzfest.org.
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About DC Jazz Festival: The DC Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that celebrates America’s original musical art form by presenting year-round programs and performances. Our mission is to present internationally renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz, unify diverse communities and enable connections between artists and audiences, advance jazz, and music education, provide performance opportunities for DC-based musicians, and highlight DC as a major and vibrant center for jazz. With dozens of performances in venues across the city, the annual DC JazzFest is one of the world’s largest music festivals. This international event attracts jazz lovers from around the world to the nation’s capital. The 2025 DC JazzFest will take place citywide, August 27–31.
DCJF Media Contact:
Lydia Liebman, DCJF Publicist
lydia@lydialiebmanpromotions.com, 570.730.5279
DCJF Contacts:
Sunny Sumter, Executive Producer
Josh Brown, Marketing and Communications Associate
Keep up with DCJF:
- Twitter: @dcjazzfest
- Facebook: facebook.com/dcjazzfest
- Instagram: @dcjazzfest
- LinkedIn: DC Jazz Festival
- Everything Else: linktr.ee/dcjazzfest
