Twins Jazz has never been afraid to book acts that are willing to push the boundaries of music and challenge an audience. One such group is coming to the club on Wednesday night in the form of New York's Prana Trio, an ensemble that melds the contemporary and ancient, combining the influences of modern new music, free-form improvisation, and ancient literature. "Being tough to pigeon hole can make it difficult to find the right place......

While there are some great shows coming up in January, this week is still subject to holiday doldrums. Here are a few shows to check out. >> Tomorrow, vocalist/pianist Mose Allison comes to Blues Alley to begin a four night stand with daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. It is common for touring jazz acts to hire local rhythm sections, and concert goers will be treated to two of D.C.'s finest in bassist Tommy......

>> Beginning tonight, piano legend Ahmad Jamal (pictured with bassist James Cammack) continues his annual tradition of closing each year with a week-long residence at Blues Alley. Daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets begin tonight and run through Sunday. Tickets are $30 + $12.50 surcharge/drink minimum. On New Year's Eve, the Keter Betts memorial band, which includes celebrated guitarist Paul Bollenback and local drumming ace Lenny Robinson, will join Jamal to ring in 2008......

>> Blues Alley's Christmas music extravaganza continues tonight with The Redd Brothers, a group led by vibraphonist Chuck Redd and pianist Robert Redd. Sets are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $18 + $12.50 surcharge/minimum. >> If smooth jazz is your thing, head down to the Birchmere tonight to hear Boney James play selections off his latest release, Christmas Present. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show are sold out, but that's what Craigslist......

>> Woolly Mammoth's popular One Man Star Wars Trilogy is back, written and performed by Charles Ross. Tickets are $28 for the 8 p.m. show. >> The Alliance Francaise and Twins Jazz present the Dupont T quartet, a group led by bassist Hubert Dupont, a major player in the jazz scene in Paris. Tickets to the 8 and 10:30 p.m. sets are $20. >> Take the opportunity to check out the new Busboys and......

>> Tonight, the Alliance Francaise and Twins Jazz present the Dupont T quartet, a group led by bassist Hubert Dupont, a major player in the jazz scene in Paris. Tickets to the 8 and 10:30 p.m. sets are $20. Discounted tickets are available to Alliance members. >> Marshall Allen (pictured) is a long-time member of the influential avant-garde outfit, the Sun Ra Arkestra. Tonight, Allen brings his own group to George Washington Univ, Phillips Hall,......

>> Tonight, New York based woodwind player Rob Jacoby comes to Twins Jazz for an evening of straight ahead jazz. Call (202) 234-0072 for set time and cover information. >> The Big Apple sends another one of its gifted talents to Twins. Daniela Schaechter, a skilled composer, vocalist, and pianist, has already wan numerous awards including the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition 2005, The Sister in Jazz Competition 2002, and the Betty Carter’s Jazz......

This review is long past due. DCist began its jazz coverage over six months ago and only now are we covering a performance at the venerable Twins Jazz. A mainstay of the D.C. jazz scene, first with its Colorado Ave. location and now with new digs on U Street, the club, especially on weekends, hosts respected musicians who draw national attention, but who are also a bit too experimental for venues such as Blues Alley......

It's an unusually slow week in JazzLand, but there's still some great stuff to check out and a must-see show coming up this weekend. >> For jazz fans who prefer the smoother side of things, Pieces of A Dream will be playing tonight through Sunday at Blues Alley. Tickets to the daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets are $27.50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge. >> HR-57 presents a great program tonight that will be much easier......

>> Tonight, head over to Twins Jazz to check out New York's Mark Feldman (violin) and Sylvie Courvoisier (piano) as they team up for an evening of experimental jazz. Feldman has recorded with artists as diverse as John Zorn and They Might Be Giants while Courvoisier has worked with a number of notable European artists. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information. >> Most of you will be stuffing your faces with Turkey Day......

>> One of the biggest names in smooth jazz, altoist David Sanborn, begins a five night stint at Blues Alley tonight with daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets are $50 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge. >> Our first must see of the week takes place at Twins Jazz, where the club will feature three ensembles under the direction of local saxophonist Brad Linde. The University of Maryland Jazz Chamber Ensemble will play the first set......

>> Tonight's a big night for music, beginning with a celebration of one of the great musicians of the 20th century, Frank Zappa. His son, Dweezil, leads a group of Zappa-alums for this tribute, which takes place at Warner Theater. 7:30 p.m., $50/$75 + Ticketmaster fees. >> Tonight, the musical flavor of New Orleans comes to the Wonderland Ballroom tonight as Yamomanem takes the stage. Call 202-232-5263 for cover information. 9 p.m. >> Also tonight,......

>> Those who want to hear smooth sounds with global influences should head down to Blues Alley this week as guitarist Jonathan Butler comes to town for a 3-night stand beginning Thursday. Tickets to the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets are available here. $43 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge. >> Mavis "Swan" Poole, an up-and-coming young vocalist who is an alum of the prestigious Betty Carter Straight Ahead Jazz Workshop will perform at Twins Jazz on......

>> Rachelle Farell, one of the few vocalists who successfully straddles the line between jazz, R&B and pop, will be playing at Blues Alley tonight, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Sets are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The rather outrageously priced tickets are available here. $60 + $10 food/drink minimum. >> Two local ladies of jazz come to Twins Jazz tonight for our first must see. Trombonist Jen Krupa, a member of the Navy Commodores......

>> This week's first must see takes place tonight at Blues Alley as one of the area's finest drummers, Nasar Abadey, takes the stage with SuperNova (pictured right), a local jazz supergroup. The band features Allyn Johnson on piano, Gary Thomas, Jazz Studies Chair at Peabody, altoist Joe Ford, and bassist James King. Sets are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. $18 + $10 food/drink minimum. Tickets available here. >> Also tonight, Twins Jazz hosts......

>> Tonight, check out bassist/composer Howard Britz as he brings his repertoire of original post-bop compositions to Twins Jazz. Call (202) 234-0072 for set times and cover information. >> This week's first of many must see shows takes place at GW's Lisner Auditorium on Thursday as The Global Drum Project (pictured) takes the stage. Comprised of four percussionists hailing from very different musical traditions, the ensemble features Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, tabla master......

>> 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......

For the second week in a row, the dog days of August plague Jazz Land. Next week, we'll be telling you all about the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, but until then, enjoy your holiday and check out these cool shows. >> Tonight, local bassist Keith Wesby brings his quintet of fine local talent to Twins Jazz. Call the club at (202) 234-0072 for showtime and cover information. >> Puerto Rican native Jose Negroni brings is......

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......

>> Our first item this week has absolutely nothing to do with jazz but it's just too noteworthy not to mention. This week, The Millennium Stage hosts the 2007 Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships. Tonight through Sunday, each free 6 p.m. concert will showcase a different internationally renowned accordion ensemble. Admit it, you're curious. >> As we told you yesterday, trumpeter Terence Blanchard will be celebrating the release of his new album with a four......

>> 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......

>> Tonight, Yamomanem brings the funky sounds of New Orleans to the Wonderland Ballroom. The music starts at 9 p.m., no cover. >> A native of China’s Hunan province, vocalist Coco Zhao discovered jazz at 17 and later studied at The Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He comes to the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage tonight at 6 p.m. Free. >> Two guitarists come to town on Thursday. Jazz guitarist Wayne Wilkinson, a former member of the......

>> Twin brothers Peter and Will Anderson (pictured right), natives of Bethesda, are just 20 years old, but they have already performed internationally and racked up an impressive number of awards. Currently students at Juilliard, they are in town for the summer and are bringing their quintet to Twins Jazz this Wednesday and Thursday. The music starts at 8 p.m. Call (202) 234-0072 for cover information. >> Tonight, journeyman drummer Ralph Peterson teams up with......

>> Tonight, Baltimore-based funk/fusion act Basshound comes to DC9 for a night of highly danceable grooves. With Hello Society and DJ Robinson. 8:30 p.m., $8. >> On Thursday, the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage presents Ecuador's Jazz Envoys, a group that blends the indigenous sounds of its homeland with jazz to create a unique groove. The free show begins at 6 p.m. >> Latin jazz legend Paquito D'Rivera comes to Strathmore on Thursday to play with......

>> Tonight, jazz veteran and six-time Grammy nominee Mark Murphy pays a visit to Blues Alley for 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets are available online. $25 cover + $10 food/drink minimum. >> Keyboardist Marcus Johnson brings his smooth jazz stylings to Blues Alley for a four night stand beginning Thursday. Sets are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. $25 cover + $10 food/drink minimum. >> Velvet Lounge will host some not-so-run-of-the-mill improvisation this......

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......

>> Local group Ocio brings its repertoire of classic jazz standards to Twins Jazz tonight. Call (202) 234-0072 for cover information. >> It might be a bit of a drive for those of us who live in D.C., but Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update, a stellar band comprised of saxophonist Antoniuk, bassist Tom Baldwin, pianist Wade Beach, and drummer Tony Martucci, plays tonight at 49 West in Annapolis. Their album, Here Today, has charted......

>> 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.......

>> 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......

>> The funky sounds of New Orleans come to the Wonderland Ballroom tonight with Yamomanem. The music starts at 9 p.m. >> It may come as a surprise, but some of the most innovative jazz in the world is now coming out of Norway. The scene's music is known for its fearlessness and avant-garde sensibilities. The Zanussi Five, led by bassist Per Zanussi, is one such group and they are making a stop at Twins......