These will begin as only bibliographies, but will eventually be expanded into detailed entries.
Note: The qualifications for inclusion in this encyclopedia are that the individual must have resided in the Washington, DC area (including nearby Maryland and Virginia) while contributing to the D.C. jazz scene as professional. For example, those born in Washington who moved away before starting their careers and then returned to perform only as visiting artists are outside of its scope, as are those who retired to the area after concluding their careers. On the other hand, students attending local colleges are included if they participated as professionals during their university stays.
- Baldwin, Bill
- Bayen, Chips
- Betts, Keter
- Bonnike, Gene
- Booker, Walter
- Botts, George
- Bovello, Joe
- Bricker, Pam
- Broumas, Jamie
- Brower, William A.
- Brown, George 'Dude'
- Brown, Reuben
- Byrd, Charlie
- Byrd, Joe
- Carson, Tee
- Clark, Sharón
- Clarke, Buck
- Cobb, Jimmy
- Copland, Marc
- Cuje, Lennie
- Deppenschmidt, Buddy
- Eanet, Larry
- Eaton, John
- Elliston, Ron
- Garner, Wally
- Gibson, Elsworth
- Gwaltney, Tommy
- Hampton, Charlie
- Harris, Bill
- Hawkins, Marshall
- Henderson, Rick
- Hill, Roger 'Buck'
- Holloway, Ron
- Horn, Shirley
- Houser, Allen
- Jefferson, Carter
- Jones, Calvin
- Jones, Eddie
- Jordan, Steve
- Kearns, Ron
- Keys, Marshall
- Knox, Bertell
- Malachi, John
- McNeill, Lloyd
- Merkle, Freddy
- Morgan, Dick
- Myles, Tommy
- Nimitz, Jack
- Northern, Bob
- Novosel, Steve
- Oliver, Mert
- Page, Nathen
- Perry, Van
- Phyfe, Eddie
- Posey, Hal
- Potts, Bill
- Powers, Lewis
- Redd, Chuck
- Reichenbach, Bill
- Rouse, Charlie
- Saunders, Stump
- Stokes, W. Royal
- Sweetney, Bernard
- Taylor, Billy, Jr.
- Taylor, Billy, Sr.
- Taylor, Dr. Billy
- Taylor, Tony
- Toperzer, Mickey
- Warren, Butch
- Wells, Ronnie
- Wess, Frank
- Wheatley, Lawrence
- Whelan, Wild Bill
- White, Andrew
- Williams, Norman
- Young, Webster
Don’t see the DC jazz people you remember? Please tell us in a comment below so we can add them!
Bob Bruno was born in DC and was on the jazz scene there at many times throughout his playing career, along with his father, a trumpet player/composer/arranger. Here’s some excerpts from his website:
Bob Bruno played in bars since he was five years old . His grandparents owned a bar and he was playing and singing till four o’clock in the morning on the weekends from about 1950 or less . His father was a professional trumpet player , arranger , and later a composer , playing Washington DC till he left his mother , brother and him in 1957 for Las Angeles . He taught Bob to play the trumpet which he played throughout highschool as well as the baritone horn and the stringed bass . He was working as a stringed bassist by the age of fifteen.
In the summer of 1964 and played with Charlie Hampton and Harold”Philly” Chavis at “The Brass Rail” . Many nights they were joined by Buck Hill on tenor sax . It was that summer that Bob met bassist Steve Novacel ,who also would sit in with the band and experiment with two bass things .
Bruno played the New York area with his bands till 1973 when he moved South to the Washington DC area . Bob was the first pianist to perform at the National Press Club after Nixon played that piano in 1974 . He did many trips on the Auto Train , traveling the noisy tracks to Florida and back playing the piano onboard. In Washington he played society work including performances for one of the Reagan Inauguration Parties and later several performances for the Clinton administration and the Democratic Committee . Mr. Bruno has continued playing organ , piano bars , singing , doing sidework , leading trios and bigger groups.
What about Drummer Steve Williams? Also drummer Jim West worked with Dick Morgan, Charlie Hampton. Gene Bonnike. Also, drummer Mike Smith and many other local players.
Hello Jim –
Thanks so much for visiting and for your excellent suggestions! I’ll be in touch.
Born in Washington DC in 1943. Attended Greensboro College, graduated 1965. At age 23, took up playing the bass.
Led house band at Blues Alley from Sept. of 1972 till February 1974. Left DC for NYC and went to work for Bobby Hackett, Marian McPartland, Zoot Sims, Barbara Carroll, and other. Later worked with the Alden Barrett Quintet, and Ruby Bragg. Also worked for Pearl Bailey from 1983 to 1990. Then on to the Bobby Short gig at the Carlyle Hotel for 9 years.
Currently, at age 81, still free lancing.
Chips Bayen died 32 yrs ago today. We know him as Malaku Bayen Jr. Those who met him at Ethiopian restaurants in DC knew little about his music career. I really appreciate your work of introducing him to the music community. We have been visiting his dad and mom’s resting place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx for more than a decade. We are not sure if there are any survivors from Bayen’s family. If any info on the resting place of Chips Bayen, let me know.