Every weekend, Mr. Henry’s is delighted to host Jazz Dinner shows upstairs on our historic stage. While there isn’t a bad seat in the house, make sure you grab your tickets in advance to guarantee yourself a seat!
Doors open at 6pm, and there is a $15 food and beverage minimum per person. Tickets can be purchased via Instantseats for each event by clicking the link below.
April/May
Kevin Cordt Quartet//04.19.2024//8-11pm
Classically trained at the University of Michigan, Kevin Cordt changed course in the late 90s, joining Spottiswoode and His Enemies and Last Train Home, and learning jazz standards w/ friends. A new record/collection of songs is in the works, including some original compositions and covers of some of his favorite songwriters’ tunes. Cordt has performed alongside some terrific performers, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, the Indigo Girls, Nickle Creek, Phil Lesh, The Roots, Cyndi Lauper, Sandra Bernhard, Natalie Merchant, Alan Toussaint, and many others. A resident of Washington DC, Cordt loves the energy of live music performance, and thanks all those who support it.
Aaron Myers// 04.26.2024 //8-11pm
“It takes courage to begin, but the art is finishing.”
Entertainer. Artist. Veteran. Entrepreneur. Believer.
These are just a few of the titles claimed by DC-based jazz artist Aaron Myers, whose life story is anything but typical. Originally from Goodlow, Texas, Myers found his passion for performing at an early age while playing music in the church, eventually choosing the piano as his instrument of choice. His soulful baritone voice, second-to-none stage presence and captivating personality make him one of the most exciting up-and-coming acts in jazz!
As a young man, Aaron joined the United States Army where he served for 2 years before enrolling at Navarro College where he majored in business and theater. After college, Aaron headed out west to Los Angeles where he got his first taste of life as a professional entertainer. While in California, he was the featured talent at the Fashion TV’s 10 year Anniversary Party, made his rounds as a studio musician and served as a Music Supervisor for the film “A Song and a Prayer.” Within ministry, he was the Assistant to the Youth Pastor at West Angeles Church of God in Christ – never straying too far from his gospel roots.
After a life-altering accident that almost claimed his right hand, Aaron decided he needed a change. So, he joined the Obama Campaign for Change in 2008 as a Field Organizer in the battleground states of Texas and Florida, finding his love for community organizing and engagement, and slowly working his way back into playing shape. After the campaign was over, he moved to Washington D.C. where fostered his gift for advocacy and began establishing himself as a musician-to-know in the vibrant jazz scene of Chocolate City.
Upon Aaron’s arrival in our Nation’s Capital, he immediately began activating spaces for live performances around the city, ultimately serving as Resident Artist at the Black Fox Lounge for 5 years while producing over 150 shows before becoming the current Resident Artist at the storied Mr. Henry’s Restaurant in Capitol Hill. He remained committed to his role as an activist as well, becoming the National Director for the now defunct Global Family Program headed by the late Linda Grover, staying active with the DC Young Democrats and by forming the DC Jazz Lobby in 2016 which focuses on music and arts policy initiatives at the federal and local levels. As part of his advocacy, he chairs the Board of Directors for the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation as well as serves as Board Secretary of Crittenton Services of Greater Washington. He sits as a member of the board of directors for CTE Vision Foundation and Covenant Full Potential Development Center. During the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, he has led the DMV Music Stakeholders cohort as they share resources, offer relief, and advocate for community needs to help strengthen and preserve Washington’s music ecosystem. Myers has been lucky enough to have had his share of performance, festival and hosting opportunities throughout his career as a musician. He’s played numerous events in his hometown of DC including the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association 100th Anniversary, Rehearsing/Directing/Performing with the 100 Voice Choir at the World AIDS Conference, performing at the Library of Congress and having the pleasure of being a repeat featured artist for the DC Jazz Festival. In 2019, Myers was invited to participate in the Folk Alliance Festival in Montreal Canada, speaking on a panel that discussed the intersection of Arts & Activism, before embarking upon a 6-week, 24 show Jazz Revolution Tour that saw him playing in 20 different cities throughout Russia. His crdits include 4 albums… “Leo Rising”, “The Lion’s Den”, “Snowing in Vegas” and “The Pride Album”. He is also the host of “Jazz Stories” on WPFW 89.3FM.
Fran Vielma’s Jazz Orchestra// 05.03.2024 //8-11pm
This stellar band was premiered in 2021 to showcase contemporary Pan-American jazz, a historic blend that started around the 19th century in New Orleans with the Afro-Caribbean diaspora greatly encouraged by the Haitian Revolution. Artists like Justo Aspiazú, Chano Pozo, Mario Bauza, Machito, Chico O’Farrell, Dizzy Gillespie, as well as Lucho Bermudez in Colombia, Aldemaro Romero in Venezuela, and Astor Piazzolla in Argentina have been an inspiration to the multi-awarded composer and percussionist Fran Vielma.
The orchestra is working on its debut album to be released in 2025, featuring a cast of world-class musicians after holding a residency at Mr. Henry’s Jazz Club -DC since 2022. It has performed extensively around the Washington/Baltimore Metropolitan area including the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Sonic Lifeline Baltimore Jazz Series, Hispanic Jazz Series of the legendary Blues Alley Jazz Club, and Takoma Station Latin Jazz Series among other venues.
About the leader: “a percussion colourist of great distinction… leans heavily on his aptitude for, and particular genius for counterpoint and most of all – his understanding of instrumental timbre…” –Raul Da Gama, Latin Jazz Network 2018.
Hailing from the Venezuelan Andes, Fran Vielma is a critically acclaimed and award-winning multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. His continuous research on the rhythms of America, and beyond, is integrated with his attraction to concert music and the freedom of jazz.
Stickman// 05.10.2024 //7:30-10:30pm
Stickman boasts an impressive repertoire of engaging original compositions, topped off with arrangements of modern jazz and fusion classics. All of the group’s members are contributing composers and arrangers and, stylistically, their sound is a musical melting pot. Straight ahead, modern funk, and world beat rhythms, combined with an adventurous compositional style, are fused into a tight ensemble sound with a creative jazz spirit at its heart. In the 90’s, Stickman opened for David Sanborn at the Mellon Jazz Festival in Pittsburg, PA, and comedian Jamie Foxx. They have performed at such prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center, DC’s legendary Blues Alley jazz club, Keystone Korner in Baltimore, and at the Rosslyn, VA jazz festival. Stickman’s line-up contains Peter Fraize on tenor and soprano saxophones, Jim Levy on keyboards, Matt Rinker on guitar, Liza Albright on bass, Francis Thompson on drums, and Dawn Elliott Robinson on vocals. All six are accomplished performers in their own right and have pooled their individual talents to give the group its distinctive, modern sound.
Kevin Cordt Quartet//05.17.2024//8-11pm
Classically trained at the University of Michigan, Kevin Cordt changed course in the late 90s, joining Spottiswoode and His Enemies and Last Train Home, and learning jazz standards w/ friends. A new record/collection of songs is in the works, including some original compositions and covers of some of his favorite songwriters’ tunes. Cordt has performed alongside some terrific performers, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, the Indigo Girls, Nickle Creek, Phil Lesh, The Roots, Cyndi Lauper, Sandra Bernhard, Natalie Merchant, Alan Toussaint, and many others. A resident of Washington DC, Cordt loves the energy of live music performance, and thanks all those who support it.
Cindy Moses//05.24.2024//8-11pm
Cindy Moses grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, where her outstanding voice was first recognized by Mrs. Davis, her elementary school music teacher. In fulfilling a bucket list item, Cindy started her journey into jazz by studying voice with DC jazz great Lena Seikaly and jazz performance with Chris Grasso and Wayne Wilentz. She has performed at Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Mr. Henry’s, The Carlisle Club, and Normandie Farm Restaurant. Her multi-lingual talent has fueled an exploration beyond American Standards into international jazz.She’s passionate about discovering little-known and unusual gems, bringing a fresh perspective to every performance.
Jack Irby//05.31.2024//8-11pm
Come out for a dazzling night of standards, modern compositions, and low tones with the Jack Irby Quartet. Irby will uniquely display the dexterity and lyricism of the fiery, rich tone of his baritone saxophone as a lead instrument with a program of his favorite tunes featuring compositions by Wayne Shorter, Pepper Adams, and Bud Powell. No stranger to the DC music scene, Irby has established himself as an in-demand section player supporting big bands from the bottom with such ensembles as Jazzmeia Horn and her Noble Force, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra, the Capitol Hill Jazz Orchestra, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, the Herm Hopkins Soul Big Band, and the Fran Vielma Jazz Orchestra. Irby’s performances have led him to share the bandstand with great artists like Kurt Elling, Jazzmeia Horn, Bobby Watson, Vanessa Rubin, Don Braden, Herb Scott, and Paul Carr; and he has been fortunate enough to play the stages of the Kennedy Center, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Blues Alley, Mr. Henry’s, HillFest, and many other venues around the DMV. Friday, May 31st, Irby is coming to Mr. Henry’s for the first time as a bandleader, and he is incredibly excited to showcase the extraordinary talent of his DC-based quartet and the sound of the baritone saxophone.
