Feb. 3, 2004
This clip captures what might be the central tenet of Botts’ style: ?ess is more. It’s in his playing: straight, unembellished renditions of the melodies, short, well-spaced phrases in his solos. But it filters down to his between-song speech, too. He introduces his band only by name and instruments, and his songs with equal simplicity: “Right now we’d like to do a composition by the great Duke Ellington: ‘All Too Soon.’”

Feb. 3, 2005
Botts loved the Great American Songbook, and it’s evident here not just in his choice of tunes (part of a KenCen “songs of the ’40s” theme) but in the quotes he sneaks into his improvisations. “The Way You Look Tonight” references “I Was Doing All Right” and “Shave and a Haircut”; “Laura” has snatches of “These Foolish Things” and “Misty”; and “Candy” contains a very sly echo of “I’m Beginning to See the Light.”

June 23, 2005
This clip compounds a lot of the hallmarks of the previous two, given both the concise playing and the quotations of “Tea for Two” and “All the Things You Are” in opening number “Tangerine.” But what it really shows is 1) Bott’s hipness, even in formal dress (check out that suit, down to the silk handkerchief in the pocket!); and 2) Botts’ generosity of spirit—in the space he gives his bandmates for soloing, in the extra tune he allots “the trio,” and in his sweet dedication of “There Is No Greater Love” to “you, just to let you know how we feel about you.”

Friday

• Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn. Strathmore. $25-$48.

• The Sneaky Bastards, The Silver Liners. The Red & The Black. $8.

• C.J. Chenier. IOTA Club & Cafe. $17.

• Rebelution, Zion-I, Jah Works. 9:30 Club. $17.50.

• The Sometime Favorites, Farm Vegas, The Bootleg Gatsby, Carl & Carleigh. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.

• Stealin' the Deal. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet. Wolf Trap. $35.

• Invisible Hands, Andrew Cedermark, The Coastals. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Marco Benevento Trio, Nathan Moore. Jammin Java. $15.

• Wanda Jackson, The Lustre Kings. Black Cat mainstage. $20.

• National Symphony Orchestra Pops: And the Winner Is... . Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $20-$85.

Saturday

• Hollis Brown, Scott Lucas & The Married Men. The Red & The Black. $6.

• Federico Aubele. IOTA Club & Cafe. $15.

• Lotus, Toubab Krewe. 9:30 Club. $17.

• We Were Promised Jetpacks, Bad Veins, Typefighter. Rock and Roll Hotel. $12 in advance, $14 at door.

• Deja Blue. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• The Association, Keegan Corbey. Birchmere. $35.

• A Tribute to Neil Finn/Crowded House: Naked Blue, Jon Carroll, Margot MacDonald, John Jennings, David Kitchen Band, King Teddy, Cal Everett, Victoria Vox, Deeme Katson, Luke Brindley, Todd Wright, Alfonso Velez, Harry Traynham, Bruno Loves Danger, Diane Rosenthal, Rocky Roberts. Wolf Trap. $25.

• Pet Parade, Art Daniels, Sal Go Shocks The Black And Blues. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Punch Drunk Poets, Brainfang, The Resistance. Jammin Java. $10.

• Second Saturdays: Suns of Guns, Dark Sea Dream. Black Cat backstage. $8.

• Abrassive Actions, Engulfed in Flames, Orgy of the Damned, Gomorrah, Silver Cyanide, Invader, Undercurrent. Jaxx. $8 in advance, $10 day of.

• Greg Laswell, John Brodeur. DC9. $12.

• Valerie Vigoda, Brendan Milburn. Kennedy Center Millenium Stage. Free.

Sunday

• Barton Carroll, Machines on Vacation. The Red & The Black. $8.

• Next Big Thing: featuring over 20 local alternative and punk acts. 9:30 Club (and various other venues). $15.

• D.C. Record Fair: DJs Eric Hilton, Ian MacKaye, Geologist, Kid Congo Powers, Bluebrain, Casper Bangs. Black Cat mainstage. $2.

• Nile, Immolation, Krisiun, Rose Funeral, Dreaming Dead, Krass Judgement. Jaxx. $23 in advance, $25 day of.

• National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloists (competition). Kennedy Center Millenium Stage. Free.

• All You Need is Love Songwriters Circle—Tribute to the Beatles and Love Songs: Anthony Fiacco, Shane Hines, Todd Wright, Luke Brindley. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

C.J. Chenier photo by James Fraher, via MySpace.

Local's new “Marcio Local says, “Don Dree Don Day Don don”: Adventures in Samba Soul” on Luaka Bop won't be officially released until May 12th, but this 32 year-old's offerings with his band on myspace sound promising. Local says he's trying to deliver a 2009-style combination of Jorge Ben and Banda Black Rio. That means vibrant, sunny Portuguese melodies over funky keys, bass, and percussion grooves with horns booming in and out.

Garotas Suecas' version of samba is filtered through the Brazilian tropicalia movement and garage rock. Suecas feature shouted vocals with a touch of classic Brazilian lilt along with mid-sixties guitar, organ, and harmonica sounds inspired by both UK and American acts. Expect Chamberlain's pre- and post-band spinning to tie together multiple Brazilian genres both old and new.

Marcio Local performs from 6 to 7 at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 2700 F. St. NW. Free.

Garotas Suecas and DJ Neville Chamberlain will be at Comet Ping Pong beginning at 9 p.m. at 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, Tickets: $10. Doors: 9pm.