HillFest

About

HillFest is a music festival celebrating the jazz community of D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, with performances by local musicians from noon to 6 p.m. 12 p.m. HillFest kickoff with Marching Band 12:15 p.m. Rhythminic Accents The Rhythminic Accents perform a mixture of jazz standards, classic funk, R&B and pop. 1:15 p.m. Dash Garcia Vocalist Dash Garcia is a jazz voice student at Howard University, with a repertoire that spans jazz, R&B and musical theater. 2:15 p.m. Josh Morris Trumpeter Josh Morris may still be an undergrad at Peabody Conservatory, but under the tutelage of Sean Jones his playing sounds far more mature. Morris’ tone can be easily reminiscent of Jones or a figure like Wadada Leo Smith: clear, bright and forceful, like the bugle in a matador fight. 3:15 p.m. BJ Simmons Saxophonist BJ Simmons’ music is heavily layered, bridging elements of jazz, hip-hop and soul. His compositions feature a mixture of spoken word, velvety R&B style vocals, rich improvisational melodies, abstract soundscapes and chilled syncopated beats. 4:15 p.m. Yvette Spears New Orleans-born vocalist Yvette Spears has that classic, deep belter tone; there’s an undeniable richness to the way she sings standards. 5:15 p.m. Capitol Hill Jazz Orchestra The Capitol Hill Jazz Orchestra is a 20-piece ensemble composed of all-stars in the D.C. jazz scene. 6:15 p.m. UCB Live Go-go band UCB Live has been active since the mid-1990s, fusing elements of R&B, jazz and rap.