Every weekend, on a little-known block in Adams Morgan, an otherwise quiet spot comes alive with street vendors and world-class live music.
Tiny Vinyl Shop (TVS), one of DC’s newest and most ambitious record stores, is hosting the Tiny Vintage Market, with musical guests representing a who’s who of the city’s finest musicians. On any given weekend this summer, alert pedestrians passing by Columbia Road at Champlain (adjacent to the small but colorful Unity Park) are likely to hear soulful sounds from Brubeck to Bartok, played expertly for all to freely enjoy.
Seeking to bring live music to the weekend markets, TVS owner Ty Cumbie enlisted the help of the excellent jazz French hornist, Abe Mamet, who handles the bulk of the booking duties. Mamet is a story in himself, being a rare bird in jazz. He doesn’t just play the French horn, he pushes the instrument as far as it can go, covering the gamut of jazz, from swing to free improv and his own unique compositions. Named one of Washington DC’s “artists to watch” by DCist, Mamet has a hipster’s hatful of accomplishments.
While Mamet books himself liberally, he doesn’t hog the spotlight, pulling in some of the brightest lights from DC’s jazz community. Especially noteworthy:
Accordionist, pianist, composer, and cultural force Simone Baron is a series regular, often performing solo. Baron blends jazz, classical, and world music with the kind of virtuosity you’d expect in the major concert halls. The Washington Post has described Baron’s playing as “gestural joie de vivre” with “living, breathing vitality and exquisite nuance.” JazzTimes gushed: “music that truly synthesizes traditions rather than simply flirting with them…ego-less, genre-agnostic and without expectations, it’s the sound of the future, today.” And Downbeat called Baron “a bandleader of impressive agility…a blossoming talent and inventive composer on the rise.” She leads her own bands and performs in festivals and on stages globally. simonebaron.com
Bassist, composer, and educator Zöe Jorgenson is another terrific local artist performing in the series. Equally at home as band leader and side musician, Zoë brings a fresh perspective to sounds both classic and creative. She has collaborated and recorded with many different projects including Goldmyth, a prominent indie/pop band; The Salt City Seven, a traditional jazz group; Emmanuel Trifilio, Argentine tango composer; Nataly Merezhuk, gypsy jazz violinist; Nathalie Braux, klezmer and jazz clarinetist; to name a few. She has performed in various festivals and venues around the world. zoejorgenson.com
Saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed is without question one of DC’s most dynamic rising talents. He has already appeared on dozens of recordings and performed on global stages with top players in the jazz world. He has been featured in the Washington Post, and elsewhere, and his quartet was the winner of the 2020 DC Jazz Prix. https://balbedmusic.com/
These are just a few of the artists we’re presenting in these free, open-air concerts in support of Tiny Vinyl Shop and Tiny Vintage Markets. Please come out and join us to support the community and our many wonderful vendors and musicians.
Tiny Vintage Market schedule:
Fridays, 6-10pm
Saturdays, 10am-5pm
Sundays, noon-5pm
Tiny Vinyl Shop is thrilled to be able to offer this beautiful music to the city. Our music schedule and lots of other info can be found at tinyvinylshop.com. Our live music is on select dates, so please see our schedule or contact [email protected] for additional details.