The Alexandria Jazz Fest (ALX Jazz Fest) returns to celebrate its 45th anniversary!  

Friday, June 16, 2023
6 - 9 pm
part of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival

About The Office of the Arts  
 

The Office of The Arts promotes the value of arts and culture in Alexandria by nurturing, investing in and celebrating the creative contributions of artists and arts organizations. Through engaging the community, encouraging participation, and facilitating access to the arts, the Office of the Arts works with local artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, workers and visitors.  

Schedule
 

• 6 - 9 pm
  Live Mural Painting during performances by artist Aniekan Udofia

• 6 - 6:10 pm
  Opening Remarks by Master of Ceremonies C. Alexandria-Bernard Thomas 
   

• 6:10 - 6:15 pm
  Poetry Reading by Zeina Azzam, Alexandria Poet Laureate
   

• 6:15 - 7 pm
  Music Performance by Joe Baione Quintet
   

• 7 - 7:15 pm
  Poetry Reading by Sami Miranda
   

• 7:15 - 8 pm
  Music Performance by Michael Hawkins and the Brotherhood
   

• 8 - 8:15 pm
  Poetry Reading by ACPS Student Poet Laureates
   

• 8:15 - 9 pm
  Music Performance by Sharon Clark

Jazz performances

6:15 – 7:00pm  

Joe Baione Quintet 

Joe Baione grew up in a jazz drenched musical environment. His father, the clarinetist-saxophonist-educator Jim Baione, is a graduate of Philadelphia’s prestigious Combs Conservatory of Music, where he earned both his B.A. and M.A. in Music Education Degrees and first met Joe’s musician mother, Barbara. The other musical members of the Baione family include Joe’s two older brothers, bassist Tom and guitarist Jimmy. Following in his father’s footsteps, Joe studied both music education and jazz performance, graduating from the University of Maryland E.S. in 1995. Since then he has gone on to become a passionate and creative band teacher by day and an energetic and innovative band leader and performer at night. Joe Baione has performed at some of the most prestigious festivals and venues in the world, including the Trinidad Jazz and Steelpan Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, The Iridium NYC, The Kimmel Center, The Freeman State and the Rehoboth Autumn Jazz Festival.  

7:15 – 8:00 pm 

Michael Hawkins and the Brotherhood 

Growing up in Alexandria Virginia, Michael Hawkins became influenced by the vibrant music scene. Local musicians would play at his neighborhood’s recreation centers and parks on a regular basis.  Hawkins began his music career as a trumpet player in his high school band. After switching to trombone, he finally settled on bass guitar. At 15, he began to work professionally in his native Alexandria, Va. By 16, he was leading his own band and performing regularly in the Washington, D.C., area. Upon receiving a full scholarship, Hawkins studied music at Virginia State University. Next, he made his way to New York City, where he earned a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Queen’s College and shared the stage with some of the world’s greatest musicians. 

Internationally, Hawkins has toured and performed with some of the biggest names in music.  Hawkins has toured abroad in Japan, Russia, Ukraine, China, Germany, Italy, Canada and Scandinavia. Michael has led groups and performed in prestigious venues such as New York City's, The Village Vangaurd,  Sweet Basil's,  Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center), and house Bassist at Cleopatra's Needle,  Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase (Chicago), Jazz Bakery (Los Angeles), Ragatta Bar, Sculler's (Boston),  The Dakota (Minneapolis) and Yoshi's (Oakland).   

A sought after side-man, Michael's dynamic Bass sound  can be heard on numerous recording projects such as Cyrus Chestnuts "You Are My Sunshine" (Warner Bros.),  "Genuine Chestnut" (Telarc),  and on various performances, and songwriting collaborations. 

8:15 – 9:00 pm 

Sharón Clark 

Washington, D.C. standout Sharón Clark has brought festival and concert audiences to their feet across the globe. Ms. Clark has made countless international tours, from Europe to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Russia, where she has developed a major following. Ms. Clark has performed as a featured soloist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony. 

Both the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and The Ludacris Foundation chose Ms. Clark to perform for their separate tributes to Quincy Jones. Ms. Clark won the Gold Medal and $10,000 top prize at the Savannah Music Festival's American Traditions Competition. She then took first place in the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, which offers a $2,500 prize along with a featured appearance with the Baltimore Symphony. 

Poetry readings

6:10 – 6:15 pm  

Zeina Azzam 

Zeina Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. She serves as the poet laureate of Alexandria, Virginia, for 2022-2025 and has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. Her poems appear in literary journals and anthologies, and her poetry collection, Some Things Never Leave You, will be released in summer 2023 by Tiger Bark Press. Zeina’s chapbook, Bayna Bayna, In-Between, was published in 2021 by The Poetry Box. She holds an MA in Arabic literature from Georgetown University and an MA in sociology from George Mason University. www.zeinaazzam.com  

 7:00 – 7:15 pm  

Sami Miranda 

Samuel "Sami" Miranda grew up in the South Bronx and resides in Washington, DC. He is a visual artist, poet, and teacher who uses his craft to highlight the value of everyday people and places. His work is heavily influenced by Puerto Rican culture and family history, as well as his interactions with his students, people he encounters in his travels, and DC locals. Much of his work is figurative and explores how the body and face illustrate the successes, hardships, and beliefs that people carry with them. He is the author of Protection from Erasure, published by Jaded Ibis Press, Departure, a chapbook published by Central Square Press, and We Is, published by Zozobra Publishing. He is currently working on collaborative projects with musicians and visual artists about the deep connections they can make through their artwork. Samuel's artwork has been exhibited internationally in Puerto Rico and Madrid, as well as New York and Washington, DC. Most recently, Samuel's artwork has been included in the Smithsonian's new Molina Family Latino Gallery inaugural exhibition ¡Presente! His artwork has been included in University and private collections.  

8:00 – 8:15 pm  

ACPS Student Poet Laureates 

Two recipients for the Alexandria City Public Schools Poetry Award will read a poem each as part of the closing set for the 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest. The student poet laureates will be announced at the April 26 ACPS Poetry Award Ceremony.  

Live mural painting during the performances

Experience the live creation of a masterpiece before your very eyes, inspired by the music and spoken word poetry on stage and produced by the artist behind famous murals featured at DC's Art All Night and Ben's Chili Bowl.  

6 - 9 pm  

Aniekan Udofia

Aniekan Udofia has built up a formidable reputation as a powerful Painter and illustrator. Whether through multi-layered compositional complexity and suggestive narrative or straightforward human form, there is often autobiographical narrative at play.

Udofia garnered national attention in the early 2000s with his illustrations, working for publications such as XXL, Vibe, DC Pulse, Frank151, While You Were Sleeping, and The Source.

In recent years he has become well known for his many vibrant murals around Washington DC with quite a solid clientele list, including Toyota, American Express, the Office of Unified Communications, Murals DC, the Museum of Public Art, and a host of small businesses and property owners.

His murals share the rich history and culture of the different communities they are created in, whether it's the gagged George Washington on 15th and U Street or the very bright and colorful Marvin Gaye in the Shaw area of Washington DC, and his most famous Ben's Chili Bowl mural, Udofia's public works speak for themselves.

Aniekan lives and works in his studio in the Adams Morgan area of Washington DC.

Master of Ceremonies 

Introduction 6:00 – 6:10 pm 

C. Alexandria-Bernard Thomas 

A Queer Black Non-Binary, award-winning poet, teaching artist, an advocate for Child Abuse Prevention, the LGBTQIA community, and Mental Health Awareness. Named a pioneer of poetry by the National Underground Spoken Word Poetry Award (NUSPA) in 2015, C. has the dynamic skill set of a performer AND host. They have mesmerized audiences at Angelina College, Howard University, Prince George’s Community College, Thomas Jefferson University, Busboys and Poets (as a featured poet and host), Studio 2001 Art Gallery, The Athenaeum, and the Torpedo Art Factory, just to name a few. 

They have partnered with the Northern Virginia Association of Fine Arts (NVAFA), Carlyle House Historic Park producing annual events highlighting African American excellence and leads their popular discussion-based writer’s workshop, Writing to Wellness™, that uses poetry as a tool for healing when navigating childhood trauma with Creative Suitland Arts Center and Heard. 

Their work as a community organizer has afforded them opportunities to educate adults on how to respond and react to Child Sexual Abuse through Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children® and becoming a board member for Touch Me I’m Tellin (TMIT). In addition, they have received honorable mentions from World Childhood Foundation USA, Buddy Speaks, End the Harvest Ministries, publications by The Zebra, and more.  

C. is a true force of nature and a necessary voice for uplifting the community and inspiring hope. Witnessing them perform, teaching in the classroom, or speaking is experiencing love in action. 

Non-binary, ladies, and gentlemen, C. Alexandria-Bernard Thomas! 

Special Thanks to

The 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest Activation Team 

 Comprised of professionals from the Smithsonian, NPR, and the Levine School of Music, the 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest Activation Team supported Office of the Arts staff in the review and selection of jazz musicians for the 2023 Alexandria Jazz Fest. Musicians were considered based on talent, range of jazz styles, live performance experience, as well as additional considerations for regional impact and/or cultural resonance with Alexandria.  

John Hasse    

During his 33-year tenure at the Smithsonian Institution, Curator Emeritus John Edward Hasse developed exhibitions on Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles. He led the Smithsonian’s efforts to build the world’s largest museum collection of jazz history, including the 200,000-page Duke Ellington Collection. John founded the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, now celebrating its 32nd season, and international Jazz Appreciation Month, celebrated in 40 countries. His books include Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington and Discover Jazz. He has written 50 articles on music for The Wall Street Journal and is the recipient of two Grammy Award nominations, two honorary doctorates, and two ASCAP awards for excellence in writing on music. John has lectured on leadership, the arts, and music in 25 countries. His website is: johnedwardhasse.com.   

Suraya Mohamed 

Suraya Mohamed is a senior manager on the NPR Music team. A 3-time Peabody award-winning producer, sound designer, and editor, she is also the recipient of 3 Gracie Allen Awards and an NEA Chairman’s Award for Distinguished Service. With years of experience in podcast creation and long-form documentary series production, she is a versatile media professional who also specializes in project management, content development, and multi-partnership collaborations.  

Jeremy Castillo 

Jeremy Castillo serves as the Director of Performance and Contemporary Music at the Levine School of Music. 

In celebration of its 45th year, the Alexandria Jazz Fest will host additional "ALX Jazz Fest Pop-Up" events at a location near you. Featuring jazz music, poetry, art activations, and more, these leaner pop-up events will celebrate our neighborhoods while keep you excited for the next annual ALX Jazz Fest. Part of the ongoing effort by the City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts to bring arts and community events to all Alexandria residents. 

Pop-up event details and lineups will be posted in the weeks ahead. 

To stay updated on information, follow the Office of the Arts at @alexartsoffice

Questions? Interested in performing? Volunteering at the events? Email arts@alexandriava.gov