Calvin Jones BIG BAND Jazz Festival

Calvin Jones BIG BAND Jazz Festival

The powerhouse jazz ensembles from the University of the District of Columbia (directed by Allyn Johnson), Howard University (directed by Paul Carr), and the University of Maryland (directed by Mark A. Williams) return to celebrate thirty-seven years of world-class jazz.

This year, the festival welcomes Paul Carr as director of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. We also honor the memory of Faunée – a prominent and beloved voice on D.C. jazz radio and the festival’s longtime host. Join us as we honor her legacy and the music she championed for decades.

Produced by the University of the District of Columbia Jazz Studies Program and the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, the festival began in 1987 as part of a citywide tribute to Duke Ellington. Today, it remains one of the most anticipated events on Washington, D.C.'s jazz calendar.