New Jazz Underground, winners of the 2023 DCJazzPrixe, are slated to perform in this year's 20th Anniversary DC JazzFest. Band members are saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, drummer TJ Reddick, and bassist Sebastian Rios. (Courtesy of DC Jazz Festival)
New Jazz Underground, winners of the 2023 DCJazzPrixe, are slated to perform in this year's 20th Anniversary DC JazzFest. Band members are saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, drummer TJ Reddick, and bassist Sebastian Rios. (Courtesy of DC Jazz Festival)

This year’s 20th Anniversary DC JazzFest will be a sweet return for New Jazz Underground, the winning band from last year’s 2023 DCJazzPrix. New Jazz Underground includes Juilliard classmates saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, bassist Sebastian Rios, and drummer TJ Reddick. 

As last year’s DC JazzPrixe winning band, the group received a $15,000 grand prize, customized business development and career impact services, publicity, and a yearlong association with DC JazzFest programming, including the annual celebration, which runs from Aug.  28 to Sept. 1 throughout the District.

Rios said winning the competition has been fantastic for the band. 

“With the competition money, we could record an album at Sear Sound, one of the oldest and best-known independent recording studios in New York. That album will come out next year,” Rios said. “To be validated by DC JazzFest, a festival of their stature says, okay, you guys are doing something. It means a lot to young artists like us… Getting any type of leverage is difficult. It helps to have that competition win on our resume.”

New Jazz Underground performs the 20th Anniversary DC JazzFest on Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Transit Pier on The Wharf.

Donald Byrd and Kevin Toney Tribute Added to 2024 DC JazzFest Schedule

On Friday, Aug. 30, a special gathering of musicians at Westminster Church in Southwest, D.C. will honor the late National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and trumpeter Donald Byrd and pianist/composer Kevin Toney, one of the original members of The Blackyrds.

This photo of The Blackbyrds includes (clockwise from left) Joe Hall, Keith Killgo, Stephen Johnson, Orville Saunders and Kevin Toney. (Courtesy of The Blackbyrds)
This photo of The Blackbyrds includes (clockwise from left) Joe Hall, Keith Killgo, Stephen Johnson, Orville Saunders and Kevin Toney. (Courtesy of The Blackbyrds)

It was in 1973 when the lives of seven Howard University students were changed when legendary jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd anointed them The Blackbyrds, the jazz/R&B fusion group. Original members Kevin Toney, Keith Killgo, Joe Hall, Allan Barnes, Barney Perry and Perk Jacobs performed memorable hits worldwide but are always remembered as the pride of Howard University.


Killgo, also an original member of The Blackbyrds, will lead a group of musicians in a tribute to Byrd and Toney, who died in March from cancer. This concert has just been added to the 20th Anniversary JazzFest schedule.

For the full 20th anniversary DC JazzFest schedule and to learn more about the festival, for which The Washington Informer is a proud partner, visit dcjazzfest.org.

Special FREE Tix Offer for Washington Informer Readers! Use the code WINSAT for Saturday, Aug. 31 or WINSUN for Sunday, Sept. 1, to receive two free standing tickets to the DC JazzFest at the Wharf for a limited time. Go to dcjazzfest.org for more information.

Brenda Siler is an award-winning journalist and public relations strategist. Her communications career began in college as an advertising copywriter, a news reporter, public affairs producer/host and a...

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