Wed Oct 8
Fran Vielma's Pan-American Jazz Orchestra
7PM / $35 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
Fran Vielma Jazz Orchestra
Special guests: Taisha Estrada - Vocals & Victor Provost - Steel Pan.
Fran Vielma’s Pan American Jazz Orchestra, founded in 2021, celebrates contemporary jazz through the diverse musical traditions of Pan-America—a fusion rooted in 19th-century New Orleans and shaped by the Afro-Caribbean diaspora following the Haitian Revolution. Influenced by trailblazing artists such as Chano Pozo, Mario Bauzá, Machito, and Dizzy Gillespie—as well as Latin American legends like Aldemaro Romero, Lucho Bermúdez, and Astor Piazzolla—the orchestra showcases Vielma’s vision as a composer and percussionist.
The group is preparing its debut album for release in 2026 and has held a residency at Mr. Henry’s Jazz Club (D.C.) since 2022. It has performed across the Washington/Baltimore region and beyond, with appearances at Jazz in the Parks DC, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Blues Alley, and Terraza 7 in NYC, among others. Since 2023, the band has also hosted an annual free street concert on Kennedy St. NW, co-presented with HR Records and supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
About the Leader
Fran Vielma, a critically acclaimed, award-winning percussionist, composer, and educator from the Venezuelan Andes, is known for his distinctive use of rhythm, counterpoint, and instrumental color. His work seamlessly merges his deep research into the rhythms of the Americas with a passion for jazz and concert music. As described by Latin Jazz Network's Raul Da Gama, Vielma is a “percussion colourist of great distinction” whose artistry reflects a profound understanding of musical timbre and global rhythmic traditions.
Vielma has been commissioned by the prestigious Chamber Music America - New Jazz Works and has been a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow since 2019.
Guest artists:
Taisha Estrada – Vocals
Named a 2025 Tiny Desk Top Shelf artist, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Taisha Estrada has been a dynamic presence in Washington, D.C.’s music scene since her arrival, captivating audiences with her powerful, genre-blending voice and emotionally resonant, bilingual lyricism. Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, she grew up immersed in the rhythms of bomba y plena, influences that shaped her 2023 debut album Nostalgia Ajena. While honoring her cultural roots, Estrada continues to expand her musical scope beyond Latin music, as demonstrated in her latest single, “El Abstracto,” which earned her national recognition from NPR and revealed a bold evolution in her songwriting and compositional style.
Victor Provost – Steel Pan
Victor Provost, born and raised on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is internationally recognized as one of the foremost voices on the steelpan, known for his dazzling solo work and genre-bending approach. Grounded in bebop, enriched by Caribbean tradition, and shaped by a contemporary jazz sensibility, his innovative playing has earned him widespread acclaim—including being named Jazz Percussionist of the Year by Washington City Paper for six consecutive years. His album Bright Eyes debuted at #5 on the iTunes Jazz Charts and was praised by The Washington Post, DownBeat, and JazzTimes. Provost has performed and recorded with legends like Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D’Rivera, Hugh Masekela, Monty Alexander, and many more, establishing himself as a vital voice in modern jazz.
7PM / $35 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively Monday thru Saturday, and 4:30 PM & 7:15 PM Sundays.
4. No Photography or Recording of any kind during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.