Showboat's-A-Swingin'

by Troy Hoffman
June 9, 2025

Washington DC's Showboat Lounge hosted a vast array of ground-breaking talent from the '40s, into the late '70s. The establishment was located at the corner of Columbia Road NW and 18th Street, and owned by Pete Lambros, who maintained an all-jazz policy for many years. The DC Showboat built up the reputation as a mad-house type ...

Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap at Kennedy Center

by Mark Edelman
May 28, 2025

Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap Kennedy Center Washington, DC May 5, 2025 In advance of the much anticipated release of her forthcoming album “Elemental" on Mack Avenue Records, three-time Grammy ? Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater gave a powerful performance to open this year's Mary Lou Williams (previously “Women In ...

Jackson Dunkin

Born: February 28, 2003

Jackson Dunkin is a senior majoring in music business with a jazz guitar minor at Howard University, hails from Greenwood Lake, New York. A versatile guitarist, he has performed at iconic venues like Minton's Playhouse and the Silver Lining Lounge in NYC and participated in the Jazz Night Series at Ciel Social Club. As a dedicated educator, Jackson simultaneously teaches guitar at The Salvation Army and Sitar Arts Center in Washington, DC. His diverse performance experience includes serving as bandleader for Glenmere Mansion's jazz brunch series and playing in productions like Carrie: The Musical, American Idiot, and Broadway Our Way

Dimitri Nassar

Born: January 23

Pianist/Music Educator

Dimitri Nassar was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, where he began playing the piano at five years old at the insistence of his father Ivan Nassar, a professional piano tuner. Dimitri’s early piano studies took place at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Cleveland Institute of Music under distinguished pianist and jazz educator Cliff Habian. With more than a decade of piano instruction under his belt, Dimitri Nassar was accepted into Shaw High School's jazz ensemble “Rhythm Teens” and was later recruited to further his talents at South Carolina State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in music education. Dimitri later earned a master’s degree in music education from Anderson University.  

Melinda Rose Rodriguez

Born: November 16, 1995

At just 28 years old, Melinda Rose Rodriguez has already established herself as a rising star in the jazz world. She began her professional music journey at The New England Conservatory of Music and completed her degree with distinction at Florida International University under the guidance of Dr. Lisanne Lyons. Since high school, Melinda has been honored with four Downbeat Music Awards and two YoungArts awards.

Her performance credits are extensive, including appearances at the Miami Downtown Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, and international venues in Bermuda, Japan, and Puerto Rico. Melinda has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Michael Feinstein, Fred Hersch, Cyrille Aimee, and Jane Monheit, and has frequently collaborated with jazz luminary Kevin Mahogany.

Geoffrey Dean

Dr. Geoffrey Dean is a jazz pianist, composer, author and educator currently performing in the Washington DC area. His music spans the entire genre of jazz – from blues and hard bop influences to classical music, R&B and modern jazz.

Geoffrey Dean currently performs and teaches in the Northern Virginia/DC region. His newest jazz quartet album "Foundations" featuring Harish Raghavan on Bass, Dr. Eric Binder on Drums, and Justin Copeland on Trumpet can be found streaming everywhere as well as on CD and vinyl. Dr. Dean has recently authored an educational book on how to play modern jazz piano titled “Kenny Kirkland’s Harmonic and Rhythmic Language: A Model For The Modern Jazz Pianist”. It can be purchased at kennykirkland.com as well as the Jamey Aebersold website at jazzbooks.com

Alfred Yun

Born: November 25

Alfred Yun is a composer, pianist, producer, audio engineer, and music teacher. 

In 2019, Alfred Yun composed a score for Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea. The video was featured on national television, movie theaters, subways, and airports. 

?Recently, Alfred Yun was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore, and is planning to have a string of concerts and a workshop in January 2024. 

As a pianist, he has performed across the world: from Seoul to Boston and Washington DC. For several months, he has been leading a series of duos at Lake Anne Coffeehouse. He also performs regularly at Capitol Cider House in Washington DC . 

As a leader, Alfred Yun has led groups at the Marriott Bethesda, Crystal Gateway Marriott, the Ronald Reagan Building, and the Embassy Suites International by Dulles Airport. Led groups at venues like An Die Musik Live, Franklin Park Arts Center, and Mr. Henry's. As a sideman, he has performed at the Four Seasons DC, the Hay-Adams DC, and the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Alfred Yun has had the fortune of performing at festivals like the KORUS Festival, Lake Anne Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Country Festival, Crossroads Festival, the Yellowdoor Concert Series, and Nowon Festival in Seoul, South Korea. 

Tedd Baker

Born: August 29, 1974

Tenor and soprano saxophonist Tedd Baker brings raw energy to every performance by creating a unique soulful sound full of original phrases based firmly in the tradition. Tedd strives to connect immediately with his patrons and fellow band mates as is evident in the approving hollers on the bandstand and the applause in the audience. Tedd is also well respected among his peers and has a great rapport among fellow musicians. Both a composer and performer, Tedd is celebrating the release of his all-original debut CD "MUGSHOTS" this year. Born in Binghamton, NY, Tedd was raised near Boston and started studying piano at the age of 6

Anthony Walker

Jan Knutson

Washington based guitarist and composer, Jan Knutson, incorporates elements of Jazz and Classical , Bluegrass and Pop to create his original works and unique takes on classic jazz standards. His music explores and stretches the wide range of the guitar as a solo instrument, showcasing his lyricism and virtuosic command. He has performed with some of the world’s finest guitarists including Frank Vignola, Martin Taylor, and Julian Lage, and recorded four solo albums, Looking Both Ways (2016) ,Out of Nowhere (2014), Tunnel Visions (2023), and  Here's the Thing (2023). He has performed in several music festivals including the Savannah Acoustic Music Seminar, Richmond Folk Festival, True Blue Jazz Festival, Marlow International Guitar Series, and was an Artist in Residence at the Strathmore Music Center in Washington, DC.