Friday, Oct. 8
Nasar Abadey is home! Just under a year ago, the imaginative virtuoso drummer (who calls his music “Multi-D“) was accepted for a State Department cultural tour that took him and his Supernova quartet (saxophonist Joe Ford, pianist Allyn Johnson, and bassist James King) to Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Mozambique for a series of concerts and master classes. But now Abadey and Supernova have returned to D.C., and with them their profoundly spiritual, post-Coltrane jazz, to be put on display at a spectacular performance at Montpelier in Laurel—- the proverbial “triumphant homecoming.” They’ve also got a surprise in tow: Abadey’s recording of his “Diamond in the Rough” suite, which had its world premiere at last year’s DC Jazz Festival, which will be available at Supernova’s homecoming concert at Montpelier Arts Center, 9650 Muirkirk Road in Laurel. $20.
Saturday, Oct. 9
OK—-he’s “The Other Eubanks Brother.” You know guitarist Kevin, late of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, if for some reason you watch The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. You may also know trombonist Robin, right-hand man of Dave Holland and a fierce innovator in his own right. Duane Eubanks is their trumpet-playing youngest brother (actually, one of a set of twins, along with trombonist Shane). The least famous and least recognized of the three, he is nonetheless equally deserving…and different. Though they both have clean and precise tone, Kevin and (especially) Robin are first and foremost interested in rhythm and groove; Eubanks’ concept is more melodic, navigating the changes with acrobatic phrases that are easily as clean and articulate as anyone else. It’s a gorgeous, adventurous, intoxicating sound. And you can hear it this weekend when he leads a band at Bohemian Caverns, 2001 Eleventh Street NW. $22.
Tuesday, Oct. 12
With all the talk of Butch Warren‘s surprising departure from his longtime association with Columbia Station, it bears repeating that he still has a steady gig. Warren, 71, is among the last of the final generation of bebop players; the accolades he receives come from his decades as one of the most splendid bop bass players in the world. For all his many troubles and onstage antics over the years, if you catch him on one of his good nights he will emit at least one solo that will, guaranteed, knock your socks off. Ask around, and you’ll hear the same awestruck description over and over again: “He makes it look so easy.” That’s why Warren has long been, and today remains, the most venerated living jazz musician in the District of Columbia—-and why, if you haven’t already, you should hoof it down to see him at the beloved hipster coffeehouse/bar/hangout Tryst, 2459 18th Street NW. Free.