(***1/2)
And so, they gathered. From near and far they came to Columbia Maryland for the 32nd Capital Jazz Festival. Music lovers. Musicians. All seeking great performances and good spirits.
The 20,000+ participants at the fest roamed around 36 acres in Symphony Woods Park. Some holding tickets for the roof-covered, 19,000+-seat Merriweather Post Pavilion amphitheater, a showcase for the jazz artists. Those who didn’t have seats for the Pavilion sat on a hill behind the theater or gathered on the grassy hills at the Symphony Woods Stage. That’s where the R&B artists held audiences in a state of rapture. Three nights. Lots of music. Folks listening, singing along when they could and creating a festival vibe fueled by good will.
Friday/Saturday
Friday night started with jazz trumpeter and recording artist Tom Browne, along with the jazz fusion group The Headhunters. Then Saturday at Symphony Stage, audiences were captivated by soul artists: Brownstone, Bilal, the Teddy Riley Experience, a tribute to Angie Stone, Dru Hill and headliner Keith Sweat. Over at the Pavillion, the parade of talented musicians continued with performers like Najee, Avery*Sunshine, soul balladeer Will Downing, jazz trumpet troubadour Chris Botti and Grammy-winner Esperanza Spalding as the main attraction.
Sunday at Symphony Stage
Sunday night the level of music and performances seemed to go up a notch. Symphony Stage rocked all day with performances by Big Daddy Kane, After 7 and the love guru Eric Benét. Then En Vogue, the queens of funky diva music, launched into “Free Your Mind” and their very saucy hit “My Lovin’.” And as hot as they were, TLC turned that flame up even higher. Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda” Chilli” Thomas were in the house singing classic ‘90s hits that the audience knew backwards and forwards. They chased “Waterfalls” and gleefully joked about the men who weren’t up to snuff with “No Scrubs.” They brought back the hip hop mood of yesteryears but still sounded fresh today.
Sunday at Pavillion
The opening acts on the Pavillion stage set the tone for the last night of the festival. The musicianship grew and grew until all in attendance remembered exactly why they come to the festival year after year. Quality music, stellar line-ups and a lovefest. Cellist Anessa Strings started the program. She was followed by New York-based vocalist/composer José James with his unique blend of jazz, soul hip hop and spoken word. Then Washington D.C.’s own rhythm and blues, jazz fusion group The Blackbyrds took the stage. After, Malcolm-Jamal Warner & Miles Long performed. The former The Cosby Show actor brought a unique take on spoken word mixed with jazz.
(Click on names above photos to go to performance links.)
Bob James
The last stretch of music proved to be the best in the fest. Bob James, a jazz keyboardist most famous for forming the group Fourplay, strode on stage at age 85. He was backed by three younger musicians, one third of his age: James Adkins on drums, Michael Palazzolo on bass and Andrey Chmut on saxophone. James told the audience that Chmut, who’s from Ukraine, auditioned for his band with a stirring sax solo. That convinced the octogenarian that he was perfect for the job. The sax player returned to his country the next day, and that was the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The band played gorgeous jazz music and Chmut played with a vigor that showed a love for his country. The audience felt it.
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright’s G-Funk band, featuring singer Leon Timbo, got the audience in a rousing mood. Dressed in white pants, a shiny lime-green shirt and a white baseball hat, Albright brought his own brand of contemporary jazz, with a touch of funk. He introduced Timbo as a singer he met on the road who he wanted to tour with. The vocalist added a dimension to the band that made their set even more appealing. Albright’s most enthralling number was his interpretation of the Luther Vandross classic, “So Amazing.” His sax sang the song like it had vocal cords. Timbo chimed in and when Albright asked the audience to sing along, they gave him the backup choir he was looking for.
Marcus Miller’s David Sanborn Tribute
Bassist extraordinaire Marcus Miller recalled his experiences with the late sax player David Sanborn and talked about his love and respect for the man he played with who’d passed away May 12, 2024. On this night, Miller paid homage to the alto saxophonist known for his blissful blend of jazz, pop instrumentals and R&B. Miller called horn players onto the stage, including Gerald Albright. They played Sanborn’s music, which peaked when a singer came out and interpreted a Sanborn classic, “Since I Fell For You.” It’s a song that had appeared on his 1986 album Double Vision, which was created by Sanborn and Bob James. That hit featured a solo by the late Al Jarreau, and its performance stole the night.
Samara Joy
Grammy-winner Samara Joy followed in those hallowed footsteps with her band and a set that showcased her wonderfully toned voice and musicianship. She has Sarah Vaughn’s pipes, Betty Carter’s musical instincts and knows how to phrase a song. She revealed that she’s still adjusting to the fame that came with winning five Grammy Awards: Best New Artist in 2023; Best Jazz Vocal Albums 2023 and 2025; Best Jazz Performance 2024 and 2025. She graciously hailed the jazz artists who came before her and showed where the future of jazz was headed. Her vocals were so strong, it’s like she wasn’t just singing for the audience, but for the stars above.
Take 6
As the evening and festival ended, Take 6, an army of a cappella singers with perfect pitch, took the stage. They became the evening’s cheerleaders. They’re enthusiasm showed when they mentioned that their rendition of Christopher Cross’s song “Sailing” spent more time on the top of the charts than any of their other records. They sang it with reverence and glee. Moving around the stage, swaying in unison, exchanging vocals with precision and wooing the audience like consummate showmen. Their performance of Stevie Wonder’s song “Overjoyed,” was a highlight, too.
Take 6 gave the fest its exalted coda. When their set ended, thousands walked out into the night, smiles on their faces and spreading the joy they captured. A communal spirit that keeps them coming back to the Capital Jazz Festival.
For more info on the fest, click here: Capital Jazz Fest.
Visit NNPA News Wire Travel Writer Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.