MONDAY >> It wasn't too far from here -- just a couple hours south in Midlothian, VA, where Aimee Mann got her start. Now the guitar playing song weaver is a bonafide modern music legend. She's treating The Birchmere to her 2nd Annual Christmas Show, and it's not something you should miss. $45.50, 7:30 p.m. >> Roofwalkers (pictured), the band formerly known as Pagoda, are treating the Galaxy Hut crowd to an evening of......

>> If Billie Holiday and Björk had a love child, Grazyna Auguscik would be the result. Combining a thorough knowledge of traditional jazz with the sparse and ethereal qualities of traditional northern European music, this singer/composer comes to Blues Alley tonight for 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets available here. $20 + $10 food/drink minimum. >> This Thursday, legendary pianist/keyboardist/composer George Duke begins a four night stand at Blues Alley. This gentleman has played......

MONDAY >> This ain’t not J-Pop, we swear. If you want good old-fashioned Japanese rock ‘n’ roll (OK, it’s true, we don’t really know what that’s supposed to sound like either), The Captains from some place in Japan (the city name on their MySpace page uses Japanese characters) will drop by The Red & The Black tonight. They will be supported by Sugarcane Crawl, formerly known as Blues Hammer, and D.C.'s The Bourbon Dynasty. 9......

Yes, the tickets were expensive as hell and yes, the venue is not the most convenient in the world, but it's Herbie Hancock for cryin' out loud. They came, they saw, they killed. Those who made the effort to head over to The Birchmere on Sunday night got their $75 worth and then some as the the jazz icon, along with his most recent band, took the audience on a journey around the world and......

FRIDAY: >> We will be hard pressed to find a better drinking buddy this Friday night than Freddy Noe, son of Booker Noe and great-grandson of Col. James B. Beam. For those not in the "Noe," this is the family that gave us Jim Beam. Whiskey fans can pay homage to Freddy, Master Distiller Emeritus and Jim Beam brand ambassador (uh, where can we apply for that job?), from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on......

Well, we've definitely reached the doldrums of August, so things have slowed down quite a bit in Jazz Land. Nonetheless, there's still some interesting stuff to check out this week. >> Tonight, catch the Afro Bop Alliance, a Latin jazz ensemble based out of Annapolis, as they pay a visit to the Millennium Stage. The free show begins at 6 p.m. >> Also tonight, 17-year old Elijah Balbed takes the stage at Twins Jazz with......

>> Along with Hugh Masekela, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim (pictured) is one of the most influential jazz musicians to come out of South Africa. A professional musician since 1949, Ibrahim has toured all over the world with his blend of jazz harmonies and traditional rhythms. Tonight this week's must-see comes to Blues Alley for an evening of solo piano performance. Sets are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m and tickets are available online. $25 + $10......

It's a slow week in jazz land because of the holiday, but there's still some great music happening. Happy 4th of July, everyone! >> Smooth jazz saxophonist Walter Beasley comes to Blues Alley for a four night stand, beginning this Thursday, with daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $35. >> This week's top pick is legendary drummer Andrew Cyrille (pictured), who brings a group to Twins Jazz this Friday and Saturday. This man has......

>> The keepers of traditional New Orleans jazz, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (pictured), whose members range in age from 31 to 88, visit The Lincoln Theater tonight. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show are $30. >> For those who prefer to look to the future instead of the past, fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty comes to The Birchmere to perform his unique blend of jazz, rock, and world music. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.......

Early in last night's set at The Birchmere, jazz vocalist par excellence Cassandra Wilson announced that she was on tour despite not having an album to support (in fact she has released thirteen albums during her stellar career). As a result, last night's audience was witness to a lighthearted and informal evening of music that was as much jam session as it was a concert. Wilson and her first-rate band came out without a set......

>> We've checked out Page France a couple of times and are sure you'll have a good time if you head down to the Red and the Black tonight. They're playing with Austin's excellent Peel for a 9 p.m. show, only $8. >> The action at SILVERDOCS continues, and if you've been having trouble getting advance tickets to evening screenings and aren't willing to wait in the stand-by lines, consider taking advantage of the......

>> Tonight a jazz institution takes the stage at Blues Alley as The Yellowjackets begin a 4-night stint. The quartet, which is in its third decade of music making, will play daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. There is a $35 cover + $10 food and drink minimum. Tickets are available through the club's web site. >> On Thursday, The Minor Thoughts Quintet visits Twins Jazz. This local quintet plays a mix of standards......

For all the gentle bitching and tempered moaning we do about certain aspects of our local music venues, on the whole, they're nothing to sneeze at. Sometimes amidst endless debates about sound quality and beer prices, we forget that we're rather lucky to have so many high quality venues in the area. Luckily, the fine folks at Pollstar haven't forgotten. Wolf Trap's Filene Center, Merriweather Post Pavillion, The Birchmere and the 9:30 Club have all......

MONDAY >> Indie rock heroes Built to Spill and Camper Van Beethoven will be headlining the 9:30 Club for two nights in a row. Show up early and check out a band with a name only graphic designers could love. $20. >> No joke: The members of The Station Myth are all named Daniel. Well, that's what their Web site says, anyway. You can ask them about it at the Velvet Lounge tonight, where they'll......

MONDAY >> We’re not sure if anybody has heard of the Maryland-based Institute of Musical Traditions, but they are celebrating Bob Dylan’s birthday (which is technically on the 24th) with “Dylan 65 – A Birthday Tribute.” They are promising some good times with Dylan tunes performed by “a variety of the region's best artists” – most of whom are Wammie winners. However, Dylan won’t be there. If he’s like us on our birthday, he likes......

MONDAY >> His life is brilliant. His love is pure. And if you want to hear British pop singer James Blunt call you “beautiful” in person at the 9:30 Club tonight with The Boy Least Likely To, you’re going to have to try your luck on Craigslist, because this show is sold out. >> Iota hosts a triple 80’s Brit pop, garage rock inspired lineup with DCist Three Stars alum, The Bonapartes, with Metropolitan and......

Monday: Canada's been busy lately, producing musical exports that bring the indie kids to their knees. Check out the latest offering from our neighbors to the north tonight, as Kiss Me Deadly comes to DC9, with the Spoils of NW and Five Four. $5, 9 p.m. We've caught Andy Zipf (pictured) opening for a few shows in recent months, and his voice leaves us wanting more every time. Head to IOTA and see what we......