Delfeayo Marsalis of the well-known Marsalis family of jazz musicians and his band, the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, will headline the 17th edition of the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, officials announced.
The festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 10 from 3 – 10 p.m. and feature two stages on Veterans Plaza in front of the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Marsalis is the third member of the family to headline the festival, being preceded by Wynton and Branford. He is a trombonist leading the 14-piece orchestra that includes a large horn section known for jazz traditions such as riff playing, New Orleans polyphony and spontaneous arrangements.
Marsalis also is a composer and producer and active in music theater and education. He has played with jazz legends such as Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Slide Hampton, as well as leading his own groups.
Performers on the main stage will include local talent such as Marcus Johnson, who will be performing a jazz and go-go set with Crank and Flo.
The main stage also will feature Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band, a D.C. favorite, opening that portion of the show. A second stage includes groups such as Latin Jazz, while the entire show offers variety of acts providing “traditional straight ahead jazz, smooth jazz, funk, go-go, as well as jazz from Ethiopian, Afro Lusophone, and Latin jazz traditions,” according to organizers.
A full schedule and list of performers is available online.
New to this year’s show will be a third stage on Ellsworth Drive for a festival pre-party from 1–3 p.m. with The Linwood Battle Band.
Also new this year is a beer garden with offerings from the multiple breweries in the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District. The area will feature food service, comfortable seating, art and entertainment.
Photo from Delfeayo Marsalis website