“‘DC Jazz Jam’ relaunches Sunday evening jam sessions, at Haydee’s”

3102 Mount Pleasant Street NW

From an email:

“DC Jazz Jam which ran for over 10 years on U Street, has relaunched in-person Sunday evening jam sessions again after a 3-year Covid hiatus. Organized since 2009 by drummer Will Stephens, the jam session is open to jazz players of all levels, as well as jazz appreciators, friends, neighbors, and families. Using an arts grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the DC Jazz Jam brings in special guests to headline and host the jam session each week, playing alongside a varying house band rhythm section of piano, bass, guitar, and drums made up of some of the area’s best players.

Starting in March 2023, DC Jazz Jam found a new, regular home at Haydee’s Restaurant in Mount Pleasant neighborhood on Sunday evenings. In May 2023,

the jam will be hosted by some of the area’s best trombonists, including Greg Boyer, Reginald Cyntje, and Jen Krupa. And in June 2023, the jam will be led by trumpeters Thad Wilson, Joe Herrera, and Kenny Rittenhouse. The jam previously featured saxophonists to kick off its re-launch in March and April 2023, including Tedd Baker, Lionel Lyles, Herb Scott, Elijah Balbed, Sarah Hughes, and Jordon Dixon.

During Covid, the arts grant supported outdoor jazz combo performances–including the #jazzmob series–as well as outdoor jazz jam sessions and paying musicians in Fall 2022 for several of the other new jazz jam sessions in town–including at Tonic, Library Tavern, and Simple Bar.

Haydees has been a staple in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood since 1990. For decades, owner Haydee Vanegas has tended bar, and her husband Mario Alas has been the chef. And they’ve supported live music and local artists along the way.

Join the jam session Sundays at Haydee’s from 6:30pm-9:00pm. 3102 Mount Pleasant Street NW!”